Once again, there’s nothing changing with the Huskers’ depth chart as the team heads into one of the biggest weeks for the program in recent memory.
No. 5 Ohio State (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) is coming to Lincoln this weekend for a 6:30 p.m. CT ABC matchup, and the team they see will be the team we’ve been seeing for several weeks now.
There are no changes again to the #Huskers' depth chart for Ohio State week. pic.twitter.com/K3zG1k1mfv
— Derek Peterson (@DrPeteyHV) September 23, 2019
Maurice Washington, despite leaving the Illinois game at halftime with a lower-body injury and not returning, still has the co-No. 1 job at running back. As was the case last week with Brenden Jaimes and Cam Taylor-Britt, Washington’s presence on the depth chart means nothing about his status for Saturday at this current point in time.
(Sophomore wideout Kade Warner is still the co-No. 2 wideout at slot with Miles Jones behind Wan’Dale Robinson despite not playing in a game yet this season. Warner is close, coaches say, but he has not traveled to either road game and has not dressed to play in either home game.)
It’s at least interesting that Washington hasn’t had the “OR” removed from his spot yet, though. Through what is essentially three games (missed the first half against South Alabama, second half against Illinois), Washington has more yards on fewer touches than Dedrick Mills, who has played fully in all four.
- Washington: 35 carries, 268 yards (7.7 ypc), eight receptions, 149 yards, three total touchdowns
- Mills: 46 carries, 245 yards (5.3 ypc), four receptions, 33 yards, five rushing touchdowns
Not that Mills hasn’t produced — after the opener the former JUCO runner has been much-improved — but fumbles have been an issue that Washington doesn’t have so far. There’s a clear pecking order at running back and it’ll be interesting to see if the depth chart reflects that moving forward. Or, like head coach Scott Frost said a few weeks ago, it could not matter at all and I’m just making too much of a couple of lines.
The other notable spot on the depth chart is kicker, once again. Isaac Armstrong is still the No. 1 kicker even though Lane McCallum handled PAT duties and took the only field goal try of Saturday’s game (a 27-yarder he missed off the left upright). Backup quarterback Noah Vedral is still the holder. Backup punter Will Przystup is still the kickoff specialist.
But, the absence of Barret Pickering is starting to feel uncomfortable.
The sophomore kicker has lost a third of his season at this point and doesn’t appear close to a return.
https://twitter.com/PickeringBarret/status/1175967866820145152
His first tweet since Sept. 7. For any curious, the verses read: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”
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.
