Nebraska Cornhuskers (West Division)
Location: Lincoln, NE
Stadium: Memorial Stadium (86,047)
Coach: Mike Riley (4th year): 15-11 at Nebraska/108-91 overall,
10-10 v B1G
2016 Nebraska Cornhuskers (9-4)(6-3) 2017 Nebraska
Cornhuskers
43 Fresno State 10 S2 Arkansas State
52 Wyoming 17 S9 at Oregon
35 Oregon 32 S16 Northern Illinois
24 at Northwestern 13 S23 Rutgers
31 Illinois 16 S29 at Illinois (Friday Night)
27 at Indiana 22 O7 Wisconsin
27 Purdue 14 O14 Ohio State
17 at Wisconsin 23 (OT) O21 idle
3 at
Ohio State 62 O28 at Purdue
24 Minnesota 17 N4 Northwestern
28 Maryland 7 N11 at Minnesota
10 at Iowa 40 N18 at Penn State
24 Tennessee 38 N24 Iowa (Friday)
(Music City Bowl)
Nebraska has won nine or more games
for five out of the six seasons they’ve been in the B1G Conference. Now, Coach Mike Riley is hoping to challenge
for a B1G West Division title and a trip to Indianapolis.
The biggest
story going into the season is the battle at quarterback to take the place of
the venerable Tommy Armstrong Jr., a four-year starter. It is between redshirt freshman Patrick
O’Brien, true freshman Tristan Gebbia, and junior Tanner Lee, who made 19
starts at Tulane before transferring to Nebraska. The Cornhuskers must also replace their
leading rusher and receiver from a year ago.
However, junior Devine Ozigbo played well as a backup with 412 yards
rushing and five touchdowns. Sophomore
Tre Bryant will also see plenty of action after getting 172 yards and a score
in 2016. The departed Jordan Westerkamp
won’t be easy to replace at WR, but Nebraska still has plenty of talent with
junior Stanley Morgan Jr the leading returning receiver and senior De’Mornay
Pierson-El. Morgan Jr. grabbed 33
receptions for 453 yards and two scores, while Pierson-El, a deep threat,
managed 20 catches for 254 yards and a touchdown. The other WR position appeared to be up for
grabs with two talented freshmen battling it out, until Keyshawn Johnson Jr.
decided to temporarily step away from the team following a citation for
marijuana possession on campus in June.
So, it appears JD Spielman will get the nod at that third WR spot. The offensive line replaced four starters
last season, but figures to have experience with a group that is lead by senior
RT David Kneval. Junior Nick Gates,
Tanner Farmer, and Jerald Foster all had valuable game experience a year ago at
LT, RG, and LG respectively. Sophomore
Michael Decker is the favorite to replace the outstanding Dylan Utter at
center.
RB Devine Ozigbo
Nebraska
defensive coordinator Bob Diaco figures to shift the Huskers defense to a 3-4
over look and it’s a group that showed some improvement, in some areas in
2016. They ranked 33rd in the
FBS in scoring defense at 23.9 points per game.
But, they also were blasted at times, giving up 62 points at Ohio State,
40 to Iowa, and 38 to Tennessee. They’ve
got some experience up front, led by junior DE Freedom Akinmoladun. Last year, he managed 32 tackles, five
tackles for loss and four sacks. He is
joined up front by the other DE sophomore Khalil Davis. Two of his five tackles were for a loss as he
played well in a backup role. The middle
of the line should be taken care of by junior DT Mick Stolenberg who managed 25
tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack.
The four linebackers who figure to start are relatively inexperienced,
however, Nebraska can count on senior Marcus Newby to provide much-needed
leadership to this group. Newby will
come in after getting 18 tackles, three TFLs and two sacks. Sophomores Mohamed Barry and Alex Davis will
join Newby after getting six and two tackles respectively in limited playing
time last year. The fourth LB position
appears to be up for grabs between freshman Greg Simmons and junior Luke
Gifford. The secondary has its share of
playmakers, led by junior CB Joshua Kalu, fifth on the team with 66 tackles and
senior CB Chris Jones with 37. Both
showed themselves capable defenders, each getting three TFLs and a sack. Jones had three interceptions and Kalu had
one, while both broke up over 10 passes.
Junior Antonio Reed and senior Kieron Williams will be in the safety
spots. Williams led the team in
interceptions with five and was fourth on the team in tackles with 69, while
Reed had 22 tackles last year.
FS Kieron Williams
Nebraska has
some good news in the special teams area as both their specialists return. Senior Drew Brown, one of the best kickers in
the conference, enjoyed a stellar year in 2016, making 12 of 14 field goal
attempts, including a 51 yarder in their win over Purdue. Sophomore Caleb Lightbourn looks to improve
upon his 39.7 yards per punt average, although he did have a long of 58 as well
as 21 punts placed inside the opponents’ 20-yard line.
Since
joining the B1G in 2011, Nebraska is an unimpressive 31-18 in conference play,
including 4-9 against ranked teams.
Their new QB will face an early test on the road against Oregon and a
tough stretch in October against Wisconsin and Ohio State. The Huskers get them at home, but have to go
on the road in November to Minnesota and Penn State. The quarterback and the young linebackers
have to develop if the Huskers have a shot at the B1G West.
PREDICTION: 8-4 (5-4) 3rd
in B1G West
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