Huskers positional breakdown
Heading into spring football practices, there are a few questions to be answered on the roster. Here's a breakdown of each position for the Huskers.
Offense
Quarterback
After throwing for 1,399 yards and starting the last three games of 2007, senior Joe Ganz enters spring ball as the No. 1 quarterback.
It’d be a major surprise if he loses that spot, but some of those with hopes of challenging him are Zac Lee, Patrick Witt, Beau Davis and Kody Spano.
Husker coach Bo Pelini said “we believe the competition at the quarterback position is going to be very good.”
Returning starter: Ganz.
Key loss: Sam Keller.
Running back
Finding someone to tote the rock will not be a problem. Senior Marlon Lucky is the Big 12’s leading returning rusher, ending last season with 1,019 yards on the ground and 705 yards receiving.
Lucky will certainly be pushed by a plethora of young talent: Quentin Castille, Roy Helu, Cody Glenn, Marcus Mendoza and possibly even Kenny Wilson, who is optimistic about returning after sitting out 2007 with a broken leg.
While Lucky was the highlight last fall, flashes of brilliance were shown by Helu and Castille, both sophomores. Glenn is worth keeping your eyes on. The senior is said to be “full-go” heading into spring.
Returning starter: Lucky.
Key losses: none.
Tight end
The Huskers will be looking to replace the graduated Sean Hill, Josh Mueller and J.B. Phillips, who started 34 games at NU.
Senior Hunter Teafatiller, who had four touchdowns last year, brings the most experience to the position. Nebraska will need players such as sophomores Mike McNeill and Dreu Young to come on strong.
Redshirt freshman Ryan Hill and Tyson Hetzer, a junior college recruit, will also get a good look this spring.
Returning starters: none.
Key losses: Hill, Mueller, Phillips.
Offensive line
Pelini has called it the strength of the team. “We think that we’re not only going to have a good starting line, but we’re going to have a little bit of depth there,” Pelini said.
The Huskers return players with a total of 67 career starts on the O-line — Lydon Murtha, Matt Slauson, Jacob Hickman and Mike Huff are all guys who have significant starting experience.
Sophomore Jaivorio Burkes could be a special talent at tackle. Mike Smith, Keith Williams and D.J. Jones will also definitely be in the mix. Hickman seems to be a logical choice to replace Brett Byford at center. Losing pro prospect Carl Nicks at left tackle could hurt.
Returning starters: Hickman, Huff, Murtha, Slauson.
Key losses: Nicks, Byford.
Receiver
Nebraska needs youth to step up here. The Huskers lose four seniors who totaled 293 receptions and 34 touchdowns, most notably Maurice Purify and Terrence Nunn.
Seniors Nate Swift and Todd Peterson will have to be the leaders. Swift has 103 career catches and 12 scores. Who else? Niles Paul, Menelik Holt, Will Henry, Chris Brooks, Wes Cammack and Currenski Gilleylen will all be competing for playing time.
“It’s just all if it comes mentally,” Ganz said of the young receivers. “They have all the ability in the world. It’s really going to be up to me, Nate and Todd to really bring them along. It’s a big opportunity for them. It’s a big spring.”
Returning starter: Swift.
Key losses: Purify, Nunn.
Defense
Defensive line
The Huskers return four starters on a defensive line that is coming off a difficult season. Zach Potter and Barry Turner return at the end spots, while Ty Steinkuhler and Ndamukong Suh are back inside.
The Huskers lacked depth on the line, got dented often against the run and recorded just 13 sacks last year. But, still, there’s plenty of fan optimism, with new coaches and a new system in place. Turner is believed to be a guy with high potential, and Potter and Suh showed flashes of what Husker coach Bo Pelini will want to see on a more consistent basis this fall.
After transferring from junior colleges, seniors Kevin Dixon and Shukree Barfield both learned on the job last year as backups at defensive tackle. Other guys who will battle for playing time are Pierre Allen, Ben Martin and Clayton Sievers. David Harvey and redshirt freshmen Will Yancy and Jared Crick also look to get in the mix.
Returning starters: Potter, Turner, Suh, Steinkuhler.
Key losses: none.
Linebacker
It’s no easy task to say who will emerge at linebacker come fall. Spots are wide-open after the departures of Bo Ruud, Steve Octavien, Corey McKeon and Lance Brandenburgh.
One returning player who figures to be a favorite to win a starting job is Phillip Dillard, who had 37 tackles at the MIKE position last fall. Other returning Huskers looking for playing time are Latravis Washington, Blake Lawrence, Austin Stafford, Nick Covey and Tyler Wortman.
The landscape will change in the fall when freshman recruits such as Will Compton, Sean Fisher, Alonzo Whaley and Micah Kreikemeier report to camp. It’s possible position changes could also eventually factor in here. Major Culbert will start the spring at safety but might be tried at linebacker.
Returning starters: none.
Key losses: Ruud, Octavien, McKeon, Brandenburgh.
Secondary
The Huskers lose six seniors here but return two starters in safety Larry Asante and cornerback Armando Murillo. Anthony Blue, Prince Amukamara and Rickey Thenarse all seem strong candidates for the other starting positions.
Blue will have to come back from an ACL tear that is keeping him out of spring ball.
Other players who will look to impress are Anthony West, Eric Hagg and Matt O’Hanlon. Hagg and West both saw action as freshmen last season.
Returning starters: Murillo, Asante.
Key losses: Zack Bowman, Cortney Grixby, Tierre Green, Andre Jones, Ben Eisenhart, Bryan Wilson.
Special Teams
Kicker
It doesn’t appear the kicking game will be a problem for the Huskers in 2008. Nebraska returns sophomore Alex Henery, who is yet to miss a PAT (45-for-45 ) or a field goal (8-for-8) in his college career. Then there’s strong-footed Adi Kunalic to handle kickoffs. He became a fan favorite last season, leading the nation in touchback percentage.
At punter, senior Dan Titchener is back. He has pinned teams inside the 20-yard line on 42 of his kicks the past two years.
Senior Jake Wesch is around as a backup and would seem the likely candidate to continue with holding duties.
Returning starters: Henery, Kunalic, Titchener.
Key losses: none.
Returners
Plenty of players will get a chance to show what they can do returning kicks. Three guys you might see back deep in various situations are Marlon Lucky, Niles Paul and Nate Swift.
Lucky has the most experience of anyone around on kickoff returns, having returned 22 in his career.
The Huskers will be looking to find someone who can replace Cortney Grixby, who set a Big 12 record for kickoff return yardage last season.
Returning starters: none.
Key losses: Grixby, Andre Jones.
Offense
Quarterback
After throwing for 1,399 yards and starting the last three games of 2007, senior Joe Ganz enters spring ball as the No. 1 quarterback.
It’d be a major surprise if he loses that spot, but some of those with hopes of challenging him are Zac Lee, Patrick Witt, Beau Davis and Kody Spano.
Husker coach Bo Pelini said “we believe the competition at the quarterback position is going to be very good.”
Returning starter: Ganz.
Key loss: Sam Keller.
Running back
Finding someone to tote the rock will not be a problem. Senior Marlon Lucky is the Big 12’s leading returning rusher, ending last season with 1,019 yards on the ground and 705 yards receiving.
Lucky will certainly be pushed by a plethora of young talent: Quentin Castille, Roy Helu, Cody Glenn, Marcus Mendoza and possibly even Kenny Wilson, who is optimistic about returning after sitting out 2007 with a broken leg.
While Lucky was the highlight last fall, flashes of brilliance were shown by Helu and Castille, both sophomores. Glenn is worth keeping your eyes on. The senior is said to be “full-go” heading into spring.
Returning starter: Lucky.
Key losses: none.
Tight end
The Huskers will be looking to replace the graduated Sean Hill, Josh Mueller and J.B. Phillips, who started 34 games at NU.
Senior Hunter Teafatiller, who had four touchdowns last year, brings the most experience to the position. Nebraska will need players such as sophomores Mike McNeill and Dreu Young to come on strong.
Redshirt freshman Ryan Hill and Tyson Hetzer, a junior college recruit, will also get a good look this spring.
Returning starters: none.
Key losses: Hill, Mueller, Phillips.
Offensive line
Pelini has called it the strength of the team. “We think that we’re not only going to have a good starting line, but we’re going to have a little bit of depth there,” Pelini said.
The Huskers return players with a total of 67 career starts on the O-line — Lydon Murtha, Matt Slauson, Jacob Hickman and Mike Huff are all guys who have significant starting experience.
Sophomore Jaivorio Burkes could be a special talent at tackle. Mike Smith, Keith Williams and D.J. Jones will also definitely be in the mix. Hickman seems to be a logical choice to replace Brett Byford at center. Losing pro prospect Carl Nicks at left tackle could hurt.
Returning starters: Hickman, Huff, Murtha, Slauson.
Key losses: Nicks, Byford.
Receiver
Nebraska needs youth to step up here. The Huskers lose four seniors who totaled 293 receptions and 34 touchdowns, most notably Maurice Purify and Terrence Nunn.
Seniors Nate Swift and Todd Peterson will have to be the leaders. Swift has 103 career catches and 12 scores. Who else? Niles Paul, Menelik Holt, Will Henry, Chris Brooks, Wes Cammack and Currenski Gilleylen will all be competing for playing time.
“It’s just all if it comes mentally,” Ganz said of the young receivers. “They have all the ability in the world. It’s really going to be up to me, Nate and Todd to really bring them along. It’s a big opportunity for them. It’s a big spring.”
Returning starter: Swift.
Key losses: Purify, Nunn.
Defense
Defensive line
The Huskers return four starters on a defensive line that is coming off a difficult season. Zach Potter and Barry Turner return at the end spots, while Ty Steinkuhler and Ndamukong Suh are back inside.
The Huskers lacked depth on the line, got dented often against the run and recorded just 13 sacks last year. But, still, there’s plenty of fan optimism, with new coaches and a new system in place. Turner is believed to be a guy with high potential, and Potter and Suh showed flashes of what Husker coach Bo Pelini will want to see on a more consistent basis this fall.
After transferring from junior colleges, seniors Kevin Dixon and Shukree Barfield both learned on the job last year as backups at defensive tackle. Other guys who will battle for playing time are Pierre Allen, Ben Martin and Clayton Sievers. David Harvey and redshirt freshmen Will Yancy and Jared Crick also look to get in the mix.
Returning starters: Potter, Turner, Suh, Steinkuhler.
Key losses: none.
Linebacker
It’s no easy task to say who will emerge at linebacker come fall. Spots are wide-open after the departures of Bo Ruud, Steve Octavien, Corey McKeon and Lance Brandenburgh.
One returning player who figures to be a favorite to win a starting job is Phillip Dillard, who had 37 tackles at the MIKE position last fall. Other returning Huskers looking for playing time are Latravis Washington, Blake Lawrence, Austin Stafford, Nick Covey and Tyler Wortman.
The landscape will change in the fall when freshman recruits such as Will Compton, Sean Fisher, Alonzo Whaley and Micah Kreikemeier report to camp. It’s possible position changes could also eventually factor in here. Major Culbert will start the spring at safety but might be tried at linebacker.
Returning starters: none.
Key losses: Ruud, Octavien, McKeon, Brandenburgh.
Secondary
The Huskers lose six seniors here but return two starters in safety Larry Asante and cornerback Armando Murillo. Anthony Blue, Prince Amukamara and Rickey Thenarse all seem strong candidates for the other starting positions.
Blue will have to come back from an ACL tear that is keeping him out of spring ball.
Other players who will look to impress are Anthony West, Eric Hagg and Matt O’Hanlon. Hagg and West both saw action as freshmen last season.
Returning starters: Murillo, Asante.
Key losses: Zack Bowman, Cortney Grixby, Tierre Green, Andre Jones, Ben Eisenhart, Bryan Wilson.
Special Teams
Kicker
It doesn’t appear the kicking game will be a problem for the Huskers in 2008. Nebraska returns sophomore Alex Henery, who is yet to miss a PAT (45-for-45 ) or a field goal (8-for-8) in his college career. Then there’s strong-footed Adi Kunalic to handle kickoffs. He became a fan favorite last season, leading the nation in touchback percentage.
At punter, senior Dan Titchener is back. He has pinned teams inside the 20-yard line on 42 of his kicks the past two years.
Senior Jake Wesch is around as a backup and would seem the likely candidate to continue with holding duties.
Returning starters: Henery, Kunalic, Titchener.
Key losses: none.
Returners
Plenty of players will get a chance to show what they can do returning kicks. Three guys you might see back deep in various situations are Marlon Lucky, Niles Paul and Nate Swift.
Lucky has the most experience of anyone around on kickoff returns, having returned 22 in his career.
The Huskers will be looking to find someone who can replace Cortney Grixby, who set a Big 12 record for kickoff return yardage last season.
Returning starters: none.
Key losses: Grixby, Andre Jones.
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