Bo Pelini is back in Power 5 football again. More specifically, and perhaps importantly, he's joining the national champs. On Monday, LSU head coach Ed Orgeron announced that he was bringing Pelini back to the Bayou to serve as the Tigers' defensive coordinator.
— Bo Pelini (@BoPelini) January 27, 2020
Pelini held that role from 2005 to 2007 before becoming Nebraska's head coach. His three LSU defenses all ranked in the top 10 in overall defensive SP+ and in the top 20 against the rush and the pass.
If I've learned anything covering football it's that projecting the success of coaching hires is a futile pursuit, but in theory this should probably work. Pelini will be surrounded by a staff of strong recruiters which should keep him stocked with SEC linemen and long, versatile defensive backs (which LSU always seems to have). We've seen what Pelini can do with those two things.
What happens next at Youngstown State could be of interest to Nebraska fans, too. Last January, Pelini brought his brother, Carl, back to Youngstown to coordinate the defense. Football Scoop reported that Carl returned "either expressly or with the understanding that he is now head coach in waiting."
YSU President Jim Tressel, not surprisingly, made no mention of that when interviewed yesterday. Vince Marrow, another Youngstown native with time spent in Lincoln, could also be a name to consider.
UPWARDLY MOBILE?
Two former Blackshirts spent last week in Mobile, Alabama, for the 2020 Senior Bowl. By most accounts, it was a productive if inconclusive week for defensive tackle Darrion Daniels and cornerback Lamar Jackson. Both were a part of the North squad that won, 34-17, but this isn't really about game results. It's more about impressing in the week leading up to the actual event.
Daniels drew praise during the week for many of the little things he did well for the Huskers in 2019 . . .
I picked up on some intriguing iDL guys I wasn’t super familiar with this week. #Arkansas McTelvin Agim flashed consistently.#Nebraska Darrion Daniels and #UNC Jason Strowbridge also stood out as well.
— Connor Livesay (@ConnorNFLDraft) January 24, 2020
. . . he also did this in the game.
LayiN da wood. I 👀 u @DarrionGolden79. https://t.co/nAJ9WzRTaI
— Kenny Wilhite (@coachwilhite) January 26, 2020
Jackson's week was a little more divisive. Chris Trapasso of CBSSports.com listed Jackson among the sleepers who performed well during the week:
Jackson entered the week as a polarizing prospect who many believed would struggle in one-on-ones because he's not the most fleet-footed corner and tends to be overly aggressive biting on double moves. But at 6-foot-2 and change with 32-plus inch arms, Jackson was calmly suffocating at the line of scrimmage and, while he was beaten down the field a few times, used his length to breakup many passes.
But Charlie Campbell of WalterFootball.com had Jackson on his stock-down list, writing that the corner "has size and some straight-line speed, but he gives up separation over the top and struggles to stay with receivers out of their breaks."
WalterFootball.com also did a mock draft of the top 32 picks from just the Senior Bowl rosters. Neither Daniels nor Jackson made it.
The Grab Bag
- Derek Peterson continues his series scoring Nebraska’s position groups entering 2020. This time, the offensive line.
- Huskers reflect on Kobe Bryant’s legacy. Nebraska takes on Michigan tonight at PBA.
- Greg Smith caught up with tight end Tre Watson to talk about his recent visit to Nebraska.
- Want spring game tickets? They go on sale next week.
Today’s Song of Today
Brandon is the Managing Editor for Hail Varsity and has covered Nebraska athletics for the magazine and web since 2012, Hail Varsity’s first season on the scene. His sports writing has also been featured by Fox Sports, The Guardian and CBS Sports.
