OWH: Husker Camp Countdown

[Mavric]

#16 - Freedom Akinmoladun

 

6-4 | 270 | Junior | Defensive end

 

Few players expressed more excitement about their potential in the new 3-4 defense than Akinmoladun, whose four sacks were second on the team last year. He led NU with 10 hurries to go with 32 tackles in 13 games. The junior said after the spring game that he is looking to jump to 280 pounds and be a force in defensive coordinator Bob Diaco’s scheme, though he added that the specifics are “a secret.” With the frame and quickness required of an end — and three years of experience in the program — he could make cries of “Freedom!” more frequent in Memorial Stadium this fall.

 

OWH

[Mavric]

#15 - Mick Stoltenberg

 

6-5 | 305 | Junior | NT

 

Stoltenberg showed up for spring practice with nearly 20 additional pounds of muscle in preparation for his new role as the starting nose tackle on Nebraska’s three-man front. And his positive impressions that first day were just the beginning as he settled in and stood out at his new position. He’s often been tasked with filling running lanes and absorbing double teams.

 

OWH

[Mavric]

Mick is pretty low on their list for a starter at a pretty critical position, IMO.

[GBRFAN]

Wasn't Mick the guy NU went after and the other option that some were interested in went to Iowa or Stanford? I think Mick will leave here as a pleasant surprise having had a solid college career.

[Mavric]

#14 - Lamar Jackson

 

6-3 | 210 | Sophomore | CB

 

How confident is Nebraska that the sophomore from California can be a standout cornerback? Enough so that coaches tried accomplished senior Joshua Kalu at safety this spring in an effort to get Jackson on the field. The top-rated recruit from Nebraska’s 2016 class played in all 13 games last season as a backup corner to Chris Jones and Kalu before making his first start in the Music City Bowl.

 

OWH

[Mavric]

Coaches seem to be all-in on Jackson. Hopefully their faith is rewarded.

[Mavric]

#13 - Dedrick Young

 

6-1 | 235 | Junior | LB

 

Young already proved himself to be one of Nebraska’s best tacklers at outside linebacker the past two seasons, when he started 20 games and made 121 stops along with four quarterback hurries. Now the true junior is moving to inside linebacker in defensive coordinator Bob Diaco’s 3-4 front, where the native of Peoria, Arizona, should be even more involved in every down.

 

OWH

[Mavric]

#12 - Tre Bryant

 

5-11 | 205 | Sophomore | RB

 

Nebraska still hasn’t settled on a starting running back, but Bryant might be the closest to the do-everything feature back coaches are looking for. He ran for 172 yards and one touchdown on 43 attempts last year (4 yards per carry) and showed his ability to catch passes out of the backfield (eight receptions for 56 yards and a touchdown).

 

OWH

[Mavric]

#11 - Tanner Farmer

 

6-4 | 305 | Junior | RG

 

Right guard belonged to Farmer last year, when he started 11 games at the position despite being pushed by underclassmen like Boe Wilson. The then-sophomore missed Illinois and Ohio State because of injury.

 

OWH

[Mavric]

#10 - Chris Weber

 

6-3 | 240 | Senior | LB

 

It’s an important season for Weber. It’s his first stint as a full-time starter and the defense wants a smooth transition for Bob Diaco. With a focus on funneling things inside, Weber and Dedrick Young should stay busy at middle linebacker.

 

OWH

[Mavric]

#9 - Jerald Foster

 

6-3 | 310 | Junior | OL

 

It’s not a reach to trace some of last season’s offensive line issues back to last August, when Foster injured a knee midway through fall camp and Nebraska had to scramble. Foster recovered in time to start the last four games, and that experience will be big heading into his junior season.

 

OWH

[alwayshusking]

Coaches seem to be all-in on Jackson. Hopefully their faith is rewarded.

 

Maybe the most talented guy on the team, still not sure he's at the right position. Have faith in Diaco though. His move of Kalu to safety gives me confidence.

[Mavric]

 

Coaches seem to be all-in on Jackson. Hopefully their faith is rewarded.

 

Maybe the most talented guy on the team, still not sure he's at the right position. Have faith in Diaco though. His move of Kalu to safety gives me confidence.

 

Will really be interesting now with him at Field corner. It seems that you try to "hide" your weaker guy on the boundary with you best guy to the Field. So this seems like something that will either bring out the best in him and he'll flourish or get exposed pretty quickly.

[Mavric]

#8 - Carlos Davis

 

6-2 | 295 | Sophomore | DE

 

Voted the Huskers’ most improved player after the 2016 season, Davis gets the chance to take a bigger — and more important — step with a starting job at defensive end in the new three-man front. He’s a wrecking ball with a strong base and good explosion, and he has the tools to be effective both rushing the passer and playing the run.

 

OWH

[Mavric]

#7 - De’Mornay Pierson-El

 

5-9 | 190 | Senior | WR

 

Coach Mike Riley was openly excited about Pierson-El when he took over after the 2014 season, but injuries before and during the 2015 campaign have kept Riley from getting the best of what he envisioned. There were flashes of his freshman year at times last fall, and Nebraska can only hope that it was a positive sign for what’s to come.

 

OWH