#9 Nebraska Cornhuskers Season Preview
By Editorial Staff
Alfonzo Dennard will lead Nebraska’s secondary now that Prince Amukamara is gone.
Offensive Outlook: Nebraska returns dual threat quarterback Taylor Martinez. He led the team in passing and rushing for the Cornhuskaers throwing 10 passing touchdowns while rushing for 12 rushing touchdowns.
Nebraska’s offensive line is going to emerge as one of the most dominant offensive lines in the country. This offensive line features left tackle Jeremiah Sirles, left guard Andrew Rodriguez, center Mike Caputo, right guard Brent Qvale, and right tackle Marcel Jones. Besides center Mike Caputo every offensive lineman on Nebraska is 6 foot 6 and weighs 320 pounds or more. The scarier thing is that 3 of these 4 lineman are sophomores. The exception is senior right tackle Marcel Jones. The Cornhuskers have an offensive line that can protect Martinez or run block allowing him to scramble making big plays with his feet.
The Cornhuskers best receiving target is senior flanker option Brandon Kinnie. Kinnie weighs 6 foot 3 225 pounds and will need to step up for the Cornhuskers now that Niles Paul is gone.
Despite losing Roy Helu Jr. the Cornhuskers seem to groom a new running back every year. This year they have Rex Burkhead in the backfield. I believe Burkhead emerges as a sleeper who takes some pressure off of Taylor Martinez in 2011.
Defensive Outlook: It amazes me how Bo Pelini and Carl Pelini develop defensive talent for Nebraska year after year. There are college football defenses that are good and then there are scary good. This is a defense that is scary good.
Nebraska’s defensive line will be fine despite losing 4-3 right end Pierre Allen. Left End Cameron Meredith will go from being a run stuffing left end to a pass rushing right end. Josh Williams can run stuff effectively at left end. Nebraska has two premier run stuffing defensive tackles that can play the 3 technique in the 4-3 or the 5 technique in the 3-4 with Jared Crick and Baker Steinkuhler. This Nebraska defensive line is the best defensive line that the Cornhuskers have since losing Suh.
Nebraska has a legit linebacking core. Right Outside Linebacker Lavonte David can play that WILL weak side linebacker role for Nebraska. Will Compton is the other standout linebacker playing the middle linebacker role.
The main strength that boosts this pass defense along with the pass rush is the secondary. Despite losing Prince Amukamara Nebraska is establishing itself as a cornerback factory. Alfonzo Dennard is a 2012 first round prospect and some 2013 mock drafts have Cornerback Ciante Evans going in round 1 even though it is way too early to speculate what happens 2 years from now.
Projected Record 12-1 (Big 10 Champions): Nebraska will be favorite to win the newly realigned Big 10 with the talent on their roster. If Nebraska survives their October 1st meeting in Madison, Wisconsin they may even run the table and end up playing the SEC Champion in the Louisiana Super Dome for the BCS Title Game.