Jerald Foster feels something pretty big is coming.
On Saturday, the senior guard wrapped up his final game in Memorial Stadium with a 9-6 win over Michigan State. Foster was on the field when freshman kicker Barret Pickering knocked through three field goals in the fourth quarter (including the game-winner). He was on the field when running back Devine Ozigbo ended the game on an 8-yard run for a first down.
For this entire season, Foster has been part of the big moments. Nebraska’s offense entered Saturday’s game with 450 yards of total offense or more in seven straight games, something that had never been done at Nebraska. He’s started every game and served as a season-long captain.
When he talks, guys listen. And he had something pretty bold to say after the win.
“This is an offense that’s going to be top-10 easily next year,” Foster said. “I think we’re going to be top-10 here in this next week probably, I don’t know exactly where we’re at right now but I don’t see us moving down any pegs.
“Us going against such a great defense that we did, I think it shows this is a real hard-hitting [offense]. Being able to finesse if we need to, being able to run it straight down people’s throats if we need to.”
Pretty bold statement, no?
“Bold as it gets but we have too many young guys for it not to work, right?” he said. “This is something that maybe if we were all seniors out there, then it would be something I’d probably need to hold my tongue on, but it’s the young guys that are making these big plays.”
True freshman quarterback Adrian Martinez inspires that kind of confidence. He’s 90 yards away from a 3,000-yard season of total offense. As a freshman. That threshold has been reached seven times in program history.
Sophomore wideout JD Spielman inspires that kind of confidence. Freshman running back Maurice Washington inspires that kind of confidence. Sophomore tight end Jack Stoll inspires that kind of offense. Tackles Brenden Jaimes and Matt Farniok inspire that kind of confidence.
Entering Saturday, the Huskers ranked 15th in the country in yards per play (6.6) and tied for seventh in 20-yard gains (67 total). They hit at just a 3.7 yards-per-play average and topped 20 yards once against the Spartans, so those numbers will probably come down a little but not much.
“I love seeing the younger guys whenever they get the chance to showcase themselves and do well,” Foster said. “I love when they take that upon themselves to really be the guy and be in the moment for us.”
There’s more of that to come.
Derek is a newbie on the Hail Varsity staff covering Husker athletics. In college, he was best known as ‘that guy from Twitter.’ He has covered a Sugar Bowl, a tennis national championship and almost everything in between (except an NCAA men’s basketball tournament game… *tears*). In his spare time, he can be found arguing with literally anyone about sports.
