2016 Husker Camp Countdown

24 - Lamar Jackson

6-3 | 195 | Freshman | CB

The high ranking on the NU countdown is no mistake, with Jackson ready to start working with some of the higher units in August if he can make the adjustment from high school to college. The highest-ranked recruit in the Huskers’ 2016 class arrives with the size and physique, and Jackson said last month that he wants to put himself “in a situation where I make it hard for the coaches not to play me.”

Nebraska has Joshua Kalu and Chris Jones as returning starters at corner, but the backups are largely unproven and unsettled. Jackson was an Under Armour All-American and ranked as the No. 76 recruit nationally coming out of Elk Grove, California, and had offers from all but one Pac-12 school.
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23 - David Knevel

6-9 | 315 | Junior | OT

Knevel had his path cleared at right tackle when Nick Gates moved to the left side to replace Alex Lewis. The Canadian just has to do his part to make it all work. He brings good size and athleticism, and has played enough the past two seasons — 13 games as a backup or on special teams — to have a good feel for it.

NU wants to improve and establish its running game in 2016, so Knevel and guard Tanner Farmer need to create as much confidence in the right side as there should be in the left, where the Huskers have Gates and guard Jerald Foster. Knevel comes from Brantford, Ontario, and grew up playing hockey before his focus turned to football in high school.
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HuskerOnline 25-21

25 - Aaron Williams (#21 in OWH)

24 - Dylan Utter (#11)

23 - Khalil Davis (#26)

22 - Tanner Farmer (#25)

21 - Jerald Foster (#20)

 
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22 - Alonzo Moore

6-2 | 195 | Senior | WR

There is plenty of optimism surrounding the receiving corps, and Moore is one of the many reasons. The native of Winnfield, Louisiana, had his best season in 2015 with 24 receptions, six touchdowns and 16.5 yards per catch. Moore made some big strides with the inconsistency that plagued him as a freshman and sophomore, but he also had to work around a shoulder injury during his junior year.

The ball will have to be shared next season, with Jordan Westerkamp, Brandon Reilly, Stanley Morgan, De’Mornay Pierson-El and Derrion Grim in NU’s fleet, but Moore is an unselfish cog among the veterans. The years also have included a physical maturation, as Moore has added about 25 pounds to his frame.
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HuskerOnline 20-16

20 - Chris Jones (#13)

19 - De'Mornay Pierson-El (#15)

18 - Drew Brown (#29)

17 - David Knevel (#23)

16 - Stanley Morgan (#14)

 
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21 - Aaron Williams

5-11 | 185 | Sophomore | Safety

It starts with the safety job opposite Nate Gerry being open, but there will be more to watch with Williams in the Husker secondary even if that starting spot doesn’t work out. Williams was an immediate contributor as a true freshman, thanks to his ability in nickel and dime packages as well as on special teams. Among his three starts in 2015 were the season-opening game against BYU (six tackles) and the Foster Farms Bowl win over UCLA (three tackles, one tackle for loss). Finished the year with 24 tackles (17 unassisted). Williams was a productive four-year player for Carver High in Atlanta, so he came to Nebraska ready to help as a January 2015 enrollee.
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HuskerOnline 15-11

15 - Michael Rose-Ivey (#12)

14 - Terrell Newby (#19)

13 - Brandon Reilly (#16)

12 - Dedrick Young (#17)

11 - Sam Foltz (#18)

 
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20 - Jerald Foster

6-3 | 310 | Sophomore | Offensive guard

Offensive line teammates are excited to see Foster get after it in 2016. He didn’t play much in 2015, as coaches wanted him to perfect his pass blocking and better learn the playbook. Having apparently done that, Foster enjoyed a good spring and is penciled in to start at left guard, next to close friend Nick Gates. Foster’s strength is just that — his strength in the running game.
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19 - Terrell Newby

5-10 | 200 | Senior | Running back

Nebraska’s leading rusher in 2015 — 765 yards and 5.2 per carry for the season — Newby started strong but logged 18 carries in the last four games after hurting his ankle. Now, he’ll have to fight for carries and try to cement his role as a starter.

Newby has worked on becoming more of a north-south runner and having a more physical mindset. He had a strong spring camp and has enjoyed a good offseason. He is NU’s best receiver out of the backfield.
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18 - Sam Foltz

6-2 | 205 | Senior | Punter

With a 44.2-yard punting average that led the Big Ten, Foltz’s foot is a major weapon in the field-position battle. With an NFL style and good athleticism, Foltz had a quick enough catch-to-kick routine.

Special teams coordinator Bruce Read wants him to work on getting a little bit more hangtime so he doesn’t outkick his coverage. Foltz is also a holder for field goals and extra points.
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Sadly ironic looking at the previous entry .....

17 - Dedrick Young

6-1 | 220 | Sophomore | Linebacker

A true freshman who starts 11 games is going to make some mistakes — and Young made his share — but he also made 61 tackles and flashed real talent before injuries slowed him down as the year progressed.

Young is better against the run than the pass, but he’ll improve there and should win a starting job this year — at least on first and second down. Down the road, Young projects to be part of a very good corps at linebacker.
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16 - Brandon Reilly

6-2 | 200 | Senior | Wide receiver

Shaking off injuries that dogged him for a couple of seasons, Reilly had a breakout 2015 with 40 catches for 754 yards and four touchdowns. He also had the catch of the year against Iowa and the game-winning touchdown against Michigan State. Reilly was Nebraska’s best deep threat last season — fearless in sacrificing his body for tough catches — and surprisingly good on jet sweeps and bubble screens. As another receiver higher on this list gets more chances, Reilly may get fewer. Being close friends with quarterback Tommy Armstrong can’t hurt, though.
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15 - De’Mornay Pierson-El

5-9 | 185 | Junior | Wide receiver

Injuries robbed Pierson-El of a full sophomore season, and it robbed the Huskers of a key weapon in the return game. He wasn’t as missed as a wide receiver, but his playmaking skills on screen passes would have been helpful.

At this point, there’s no reason to believe Pierson-El will not return for his junior year. He appears to be physically healthy enough to go. He’ll be NU’s best option as punt returner, and he’ll be effective at times in the slot.
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