We finally made it. Nebraska’s 2020 season is set to kick off in just one day. It’s been a long, twisting road for the Huskers to get here. Because of that, we enter this season knowing as little about the football team as we have in my time covering the team. That doesn’t necessarily mean doom for the season but it has been difficult to set expectations properly.
Still, there is plenty going on in and around the program to dive into.
Let’s get to the Recon.
Husker Commits
Koby Bretz, Defensive Back, Omaha, Nebraska
Marques Buford, Defensive Back, Cedar Hill, Texas
James Carnie, Tight End, Firth, Nebraska
Gabe Ervin, Running Back, Buford, Georgia
Thomas Fidone, Tight End, Council Bluffs, Iowa
Mikai Gbayor, Linebacker, Irvington, New Jersey
Kamonté Grimes, Wide Receiver, Naples, Florida
Heinrich Haarberg, Quarterback, Kearney, Nebraska
Shawn Hardy, Wide Receiver, Kingsland, Georgia
Randolph Kpai, Inside Linebacker, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Henry Lutovsky, Offensive Lineman, Mount Pleasant, Iowa
Seth Malcom, Inside Linebacker, Tabor, Iowa
Latrell Neville, Wide Receiver, Houston, Texas
Patrick Payton, Outside Linebacker, Miami, Florida
Teddy Prochazka, Offensive Lineman, Elkhorn, Nebraska
AJ Rollins, Tight End, Omaha, Nebraska
Lardarius Webb, Defensive Back, Jackson, Mississippi
Malik Williams, Defensive Back, Buford, Georgia
Branson Yager, Offensive Lineman, Grantsville, Utah
2021 Needs
| QB | 0 | DL | 2 |
| RB | 0 | MLB | 0 |
| WR | 0 | OLB | 1 |
| TE | 0 | DB | 1 |
| OL | 0 | K/P | 0 |
The Recon:
>> Last year’s situation at wide receiver was so unproductive that it’s hard to put into context. Ultimately, it’s part of the reason why Nebraska has a new offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach. One thing Matt Lubick will be taksed with is get the talented but young players ready to play college football quickly. Coach Scott Frost was asked about his comfort level getting the young guys some action this season.
“I think they could all go in the game,” Frost said. “There’s various degrees of being ready. You’re ready to run some of the plays. You’re ready to operate efficiently in some of them, or all of them, or somewhere in between. Certainly, a lot of new guys that we’re trying to bring along.
“Alante Brown has done really good things. Marcus Fleming, Zavier Betts and others. So we’re going to just have to use a mix of all those new guys as much as they’re ready with some of the veterans that have been in the program longer.”
It’s a great sign for freshman Marcus Fleming to be mentioned by Frost a couple days before the season opener. I’m hearing good things about his progress over the last couple weeks.
>> There was an interesting nugget from offensive line coach Greg Austin on the radio Thursday. Nebraska would have preferred to move senior Matt Farniok from right tackle to right guard sooner, Austin said, but didn’t have the depth to do so until now. The move cleared the way for Bryce Benhart, who Austin described as someone who is never overwhelmed.
“He was a highly-recruited kid and he’s kind of been on track exactly where we want him to be,” Austin said. “Excited for him to make his first start on Saturday.”
>> There had been some talk that the Huskers could get involved with Wisconsin offensive lineman Marcus Mbow after he left the Arizona State class recently. Don’t look for that to happen. Austin said Nebraska will take three offensive linemen in the 2021 recruiting class and they already have three linemen in the class. Austin also said the early number for his room in the 2022 class is three. I wouldn’t lock that in stone yet though since it’s early.
>> It’ll be interesting to see how many people total are in the stands this weekend in Columbus. Obviously, the number will be under 1,000 but I expect as many Husker parents as possible to travel to the game. I’ve heard from a handful of parents who are making the trip to cheer their sons on.
>> This isn’t a huge limb to go out on based on what we’ve heard this fall but I expect Ty Robinson to start at one of the defensive end spots this weekend. Some of the young talent that will be playing roles on this team are impressive. Robinson and Benhart locking down spots and excelling will be huge for Nebraska.
>> If you haven’t checked out this week’s episode of the Straight Up Breakdown Podcast, you still have some time before kickoff.