Derek Petersen has been taking you through the roster position by position with his “Taking Stock” series, focusing on the notable players and big picture in each group. But what about total bodies? Where does Nebraska stand in terms of scholarships and walk-ons in each phase of the game following spring ball and recent attrition?
Here’s an overview of where Nebraska’s roster stands at this point on the offensive side of the ball.
Quarterback (5)
Scholarship (3): Adrian Martinez (fourth-year junior), Logan Smothers (second-year freshman), Heinrich Haarberg (first-year freshman)
Walk-on (2): Matt Masker (fourth-year sophomore), Jarrett Synek (first-year freshman)
Departures (2): Luke McCaffrey (scholarship), Brayden Miller (walk-on)
Running Back (14)
Scholarship (5): Markese Stepp (fourth-year sophomore), Rahmir Johnson (third-year freshman), Marvin Scott III (second-year freshman), Sevion Morrison (second-year freshman), Gabe Ervin Jr. (first-year freshman)
Walk-on (9): Cooper Jewett (third-year freshman), Zach Weinmaster (third-year freshman), Jaquez Yant (second-year freshman), Beau Psencik (second-year freshman), Isaiah Harris (second-year freshman), Trevin Luben (second-year freshman), Aiden Young (first-year freshman), Matthew Schuster (first-year freshman), Grant Lohr (first-year freshman)
Departures (4): Dedrick Mills (scholarship), Ronald Thompkins (scholarship), Connor Ruth (walk-on), Corbin Ruth (walk-on)
Offensive Line (24)
Scholarship (14): Matt Sichterman (fifth-year junior), Broc Bando (fifth-year senior), Trent Hixson (fifth-year junior), Cameron Jurgens (fourth-year sophomore), Bryce Benhart (third-year freshman), Ethan Piper (third-year freshman), Brant Banks (third-year redshirt freshman), Jimmy Fritzsche (third-year freshman), Michael Lynn (third-year freshman), Turner Corcoran (second-year freshman), Alex Conn (second-year freshman), Teddy Prochazka (first-year freshman), Henry Lutovsky (first-year freshman), Branson Yager (first-year freshman)
Walk-on (10): Ian Boerkircher (fourth-year sophomore), Nouredin Nouili (third-year sophomore), Riley Moses (third-year freshman), Noah Stafursky (third-year freshman), Ezra Miller (third-year freshman), Keegan Menning (second-year freshman), Sam Hoskinson (first-year freshman), Joey Mancino (first-year freshman), Weston Reiman (first-year freshman), Beau Schaller (first-year freshman)
Departures (7): Boe Wilson (scholarship), Matt Farniok (scholarship), Brenden Jaimes (scholarship), Christian Gaylord (scholarship), Matthew Anderson (scholarship), Bladen Bayless (walk-on), Eli Simonson (walk-on)
*Note: If and when Nebraska hands out scholarships to walk-ons, Nouredin Nouili and Ezra Miller will likely be on the short list considering they’re battling for spots on the two-deep.
Tight End (9)
Scholarship (6): Austin Allen (fifth-year junior), Travis Vokolek (fifth-year junior), Chris Hickman (third-year freshman), Thomas Fidone II (first-year freshman), James Carnie (first-year freshman), AJ Rollins (first-year freshman)
Walk-on (3): John Goodwin (third-year freshman), Nate Boerkircher (second-year freshman), Evan Meyersick (first-year freshman)
Departures (3): Kurt Rafdal (scholarship), Brian Perez (walk-on), Jared Bubak (walk-on)
*Note: Chris Hickman is still listed as a wide receiver on the roster, but Sean Beckton said during the spring that he’s back working in the tight ends room.
Wide Receiver (18)
Scholarship (8): Samori Toure (sixth-year senior), Omar Manning (fifth-year junior), Zavier Betts (second-year freshman), Alante Brown (second-year freshman), Will Nixon (second-year freshman), Shawn Hardy II (first-year freshman), Latrell Neville (first-year freshman), Kamonte Grimes (first-year freshman)
Walk-on (10): Levi Falck (sixth-year senior), Oliver Martin (fifth-year junior), Wyatt Liewer (fourth-year sophomore), Brody Belt (fourth-year sophomore), Austin Jablonski (third-year freshman), Ty Hahn (second-year freshman), Elliott Brown (second-year freshman), Barron Miles Jr. (second-year freshman), Alex Bullock (first-year freshman), Taveon Thompson (first-year freshman)
Departures (9): Wan’Dale Robinson (scholarship), Jamie Nance (scholarship), Demariyon Houston (scholarship), Kade Warner (scholarship), Bennett Folkers (walk-on), Christian Banker (walk-on), Broc Douglass (walk-on), Ty Chaffin (walk-on), Matthias Algarin (walk-on)
*Note: Oliver Martin and Wyatt Liewer will likely be on the scholarship short-list as well. I’m not sure what the scholarship rules are regarding Levi Falck as a returning senior walk-on.
Overview (70)
Scholarship: 36
Walk-on: 34
Jacob Padilla has been writing for Hail Varsity since 2015. He covers football, volleyball men’s basketball and prep sports. He also co-hosts the Nebraska Preps Postgame and Nebraska Shootaround podcasts for the Hurrdat Media and Hail Varsity podcast networks. His love of basketball can best be described as an obsession and if you need to find him, he’s probably in a gym somewhere watching, coaching or playing hoops.
