247: Most Indispensable Huskers

[Mavric]

So, first off, the quarterback actually isn't high on the list this year, which we put together after each making a Top 20 and combining our votes together. And, in some cases, it felt like you had to rely on limited educated guesswork with who you put where, because some guys (like the one who will be No. 2 on our list) haven't even played that much college football. We even have one player in our top 10 who hasn't even played a snap at Nebraska yet.

There's one thing to remembers about this list: Most indispensable Huskers isn't the same as best Huskers.

This is a list that takes into account not just a player's talent, but also the depth behind him. To put it simply: Which guys on the team would make the most people say "Oh crap" (or some variation) if they go down because it's not known if anyone behind him can fill his shoes? In many ways, it's a different way to analyze the depth chart.

Before we start counting down our top 20 one by one over the next week, here are five guys that just missed the top 20:

Freedom Akinmoladun

Adrian Martinez
Mike Williams

Collin Miller

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[Mavric]

No. 20: Antonio Reed

He's a senior now, but we haven't really seen totally what Reed can do it feels like. He got his first start in the Music City Bowl, and seemed set to be a full-time first-stringer in 2017. But Reed had to fight through some nagging injuries to play in 10 games and start four. While last year was a struggle for the entire defense, what we like about Reed is he's someone who likes to come up and hit you. Even as a younger player, he was known for mixing it up in practices a bit. Some of his teammates have jokingly called him "the crazy uncle" of the team all in good fun. At 6-2, 210 pounds, he's someone a new D-coordinator like Erik Chinander could even use in the box as a linebacker type to help guard against the run.

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[Mavric]

No. 19: Tristan Gebbia

Very often on lists such as these, you'd find the quarterback right up near the top, if not No. 1. It's because usually, at this point, there is a significant perceived gap between who is No. 1 and who is No. 2 on the depth chart. In this case, we don't know which is which — whether that top quarterback is the true freshman Adrian Martinez or redshirt freshman Tristan Gebbia. It was Gebbia who happened to be higher in our rankings by one person's deciding vote, but Martinez could just as easily be the name here. (We should note that QBs coach Mario Verduzco has been taking just as fair a look at walk-on Andrew Bunch through the process).

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[Mavric]

No. 18: Tyjon Lindsey

Last year seems old news to Lindsey. Heck, January seems old news to the sophomore wide receiver, who had a scary visit to the hospital after a winter conditioning session. Not only did Lindsey come back from it, he seems to have come back with his battery fully charged. He is introspective about last year, admittedly a disappointing true freshman year to the highly touted recruit. "Last year I was very scared. New. I was a freshman, new type of offense. My biggest downfall is that I was always nervous going into the game," Lindsey said at the end of spring ball. "I never wanted to mess up because, you know, it's my freshman year. I always had that in the back of my head, 'Don't mess up, don't mess up.'" When you play like that, he noted, you're not playing at 100 percent. He wasn't playing free. He would look at the scoreboard, watching the clock.

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[Thanks_Tom RR]

Top 20 Indispensable Huskers? Really, I could get to 8-9, maybe 10. Way too much inexperience and uncertainty in the roster to say 20 guys are indispensable. Don't agree? Look at the start of their list in #17-20.

 

[NUance]

I'll bet Stoltenberg is in the top three.  He might even be number one.  

 

[brophog]

I'll bet Stoltenberg is in the top three.  He might even be number one.  

Jaimes.

 

[Making Chimichangas]

Jaimes.

I can definitely see your thought process in this pick.

 

[Mavric]

No. 17: Jack Stoll

While it is true that Jack Stoll to this point in his Husker career has just one start and eight catches for 89 yards on his resume, it practically looks like it's showing off compared to everyone else in Nebraska's tight ends room. The third-year sophomore is the grizzled veteran among those who appear to be in the top tier at that position, with an extra year of experience on redshirt freshmen Austin Allen and Kurt Rafdal. Those last two names? Allen and Rafdal? There's some things to like from them. You got a glimpse of it in the spring game. Rafdal was the 6-7 guy who went up and caught a touchdown in traffic while tight-roping the sideline. Allen was the 6-8 guy who showed how well he could move after the catch.

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[Mavric]

No. 16: Lamar Jackson

No one who has ever stood next to Nebraska's Lamar Jackson and doubted the physical gifts bestowed upon him. Even when he arrived to Lincoln as a true freshman two years ago, if you saw him next to a fourth-year corner and didn't know better, you'd probably guess Jackson was the upperclassman. But there was one problem: Jackson had hardly played cornerback in high school. So even though there was great hype attached to his name, the 6-foot-3, 210-pound Jackson got humbled his freshman year. He played much more his sophomore year but that wasn't a picnic, either. The defense stunk, the corners were playing far off receivers, and there were missed some tackles which made Jackson an easy target of fan criticism.

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[Mavric]

No. 15: Ben Stille

We're showing our faith in the third-year sophomore who at this point in his career has just one start to his name. The position he's at has some depth to it too. Carlos Davis figures to take one of the starting D-end spots, and senior Freedom Akinmoladun could lay claim to the job on the other side. Then again, so could Stille, who is definitely going to play important snaps and was Nebraska's most productive player as far as sacks (3 1/2) and tackles-for-losses (10) last season. He did that while even not receiving as many snaps as some others.

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[Mavric]

No. 14: DiCaprio Bootle

Clearly Bootle has a captive audience with us, given that we have him the top-rated cornerback on this list. Even though he's a sophomore and has started only one game in his career (which was oddly at safety against Ohio State of all teams), there are some valid reasons to place him here.

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[Mavric]

No. 13: Matt Farniok

One of the most celebrated Husker signees in recent recruiting classes — no doubt aided by the fact Nebraska beat Iowa head-to-head for him — Farniok has come to a big moment already in his third season in the program. Nebraska really needs Farniok to take that right tackle job by the horns, and maybe solidify the idea that NU has both of its tackle spots spoken for the next few years. Last year was challenging, as Farniok worked at both right tackle and right guard. He played in seven games, got four starts, and many more lessons. After a solid opening start on the road at Oregon, there was a really rough day against Northern Illinois that reminded this is not a game easily managed when you are a freshman O-lineman.

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[Mavric]

No. 12: Caleb Lightbourn

The junior appears ready to be a multi-faceted weapon for the Huskers. He's not planning on only punting this year. He's also ready to use his strong leg as the kickoff specialist who, according to Jovan Dewitt, looks like someone who can regularly produce touchbacks. "The way he's able to kick it off as well as he does? HUGE! Huge for us," Dewitt said this spring. But it's the progress Lightbourn has made as a punter and the lack of certainty at what's behind him that has him where he is on this list. He increased his average by 2.4 yards per punt last fall after a challenging freshman season in which he was cast in action earlier than expected due to the tragic death of Sam Foltz.

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[Big Red 40]

1. Lamar Jackson. Hes probably the most physically gifted player in a fairly inexperienced secondary. If he can mentally, and physically live up to his potential our defense will be much better. We need him to have a breakout year.

2. Will Honas - His hard nosed, relentless playing style will be a great example for all or LBs

3. Stanley Morgan - His senior presence and experience will help lead a talented group of receivers. This will be his third offensive scheme to fit into, and his ability to adapt, work hard, and still produce will be invaluable.

4 Mick Stoltenberg - Another solid senior presence will help lead some talented young guys on the D line

5. Tanner Farmer - A beast in the weight room, and solid presence on the line. Offensive lines tend to gel as a unit and i hope he can lead that

6. Greg Bell - A proven performer who can push the other RBs to a higher level. 

7. Whoever wins the QB battle. (my money is on Martinez) After years of guys who didn't quite fit, or had serious flaws to their game we need  to find the right  "fit", and develop into them a leader.