OWH: Huskers Camp Countdown

[Mavric]

I'd like to see Rose get it figured out but he seems to keep getting passed on the depth chart.

 

[Mavric]

No. 25 Marcus Newby

6-1 | 235 | Sophomore | Linebacker

If the gifted linebacker from Maryland wants a starting job, he has a clear path to one. Newby was supposed to be a third-down pass-rushing threat last year, but he wasn’t particularly, and he didn’t get on the field much as an actual linebacker.

This year, he’s slated to play outside linebacker, which in Nebraska’s new defense requires Newby to push ball carriers to the sideline and cover the flat and short seam on passing plays. It’s unclear if he’s up to it; he’ll be pushed by several freshmen.

Link

 

[Mavric]

No. 24 Trai Mosley

5-10 | 170 | Freshman | Cornerback

Every major program in Texas was asleep at the wheel when Trai Mosley was entering his senior year. Now, the pure — albeit undersized — cover corner has a chance to make a major impact for the Huskers, who learned of Mosley when he attended one of their football camps.

Mosley was the best corner in spring camp — he made the most plays, anyhow — and while he may not get the starting nod to open the season, we project he’ll play a lot. We also project he’s just getting started. The next coming of Barron Miles? Just maybe.

Link

 

[Red Five]

No. 25 Marcus Newby

6-1 | 235 | Sophomore | Linebacker

If the gifted linebacker from Maryland wants a starting job, he has a clear path to one. Newby was supposed to be a third-down pass-rushing threat last year, but he wasn’t particularly, and he didn’t get on the field much as an actual linebacker.

This year, he’s slated to play outside linebacker, which in Nebraska’s new defense requires Newby to push ball carriers to the sideline and cover the flat and short seam on passing plays. It’s unclear if he’s up to it; he’ll be pushed by several freshmen.

Link

We need Newby to step up in a big way this year. In Bray I trust...

 

[Mavric]

No. 23 Jamal Turner

6-1 | 190 | Sr. | Wide receiver

Step one: Stay healthy. Step two: Ball out. If Turner does those things, Nebraska’s offense could be a lot better than folks expect.

Turner has speed, quickness and moves. His hands have always been a bit suspect, but more than anything, he just needs to stay healthy. That didn’t happen in 2013. Then in 2014, after a very good fall camp, he tore his Achilles in the second game. Tough break at the time, but maybe Turner got lucky. He has a wide receivers coach who can now push him more, and the player who most resembled his game, Kenny Bell, is in the NFL. Turner has the talent to be an NFL player, too. Can he put together a big senior season?

Link

 

[Mavric]

I hope Turner can put it all together this year. He's had a terrible time staying healthy and a tough time catching the ball when he is. But he could be a weapon....

 

[Mavric]

No. 22 Sam Foltz

6-1 | 200 | Junior | Punter

But he’s just a punter! Isn’t this too high a spot for a guy who’s just a punter? Nope. Analytics now tells us how important field position can be, and since Nebraska coach Mike Riley thinks enough of special teams to hire a specific coordinator for it, Foltz, who put 26 of his 63 punts inside the 20-yard line last year and averaged 42.2 per boot, suddenly becomes a most interesting man.

Foltz is popular among his teammates and a sneaky important leader within the program. Foltz may not be on the field a lot, but he has cachet and respect.

Link

 

[BigRedBuster]

OK...I'm confused on something. What exactly are they counting down to?

It's 8 days till fall camp and 39 days till the BYU game. What is in 22 days?

August 19th???

 

[Mavric]

They're not counting down to a specific date. Just a quick write-up on the players in the order of their impact on the team this year (as they see it now).

 

[BigRedBuster]

OK...That's cool.

I just find it odd they have a "camp count down" but it's not counting down to anything

Oh, well....carry on.

 

[Mavric]

No. 21 Ryne Reeves

6-3 | 300 | Senior | Center

We couldn’t firmly pick a starter between Reeves and Paul Thurston, so they’re both listed in the 20s. Reeves is a star-crossed guy who came to Nebraska with much fanfare. But he hasn’t stayed healthy, so he enters his senior season with a position battle on his hands.

If Reeves wins the job, he has a chance to be Nebraska’s best center since at least Mike Caputo, and perhaps Jacob Hickman. Nebraska could use some of that, for sure.

Link

 

[Mavric]

No. 20 Charles Jackson

5-11 | 180 | Junior | Defensive back

Just when it appeared that Jackson had finally settled into a role, a knee ligament injury required season-ending surgery. That was early in preseason camp last fall, during what was supposed to be his final audition for the No. 1 nickel job. He’d tried it as a freshman, then got moved to safety as a sophomore.

Now? It’s a bit unclear what his position will be. Missing spring ball didn’t help. Jackson has the athleticism to play anywhere — it seems cornerback is his most likely destination — but he’ll have to find a comfort zone once again.

Link

 

[Mavric]

No. 19 Adam Taylor

6-2 | 210 | So. | IB

There was a certain lore and wonder surrounding Taylor’s redshirt freshman year, when he earned scout team MVP by taking carries all season against the Blackshirts. Practices weren’t open to the media in 2013, but players and coaches recounted tales of him bruising through tackle attempts or side-stepping defenders in open space.

Taylor’s debut was expected to be a nice boost for the Nebraska offense, but he got hurt in preseason camp last year. He’s needed now, but is he fully healthy? Was the hype legit? Taylor will get a chance to prove himself.

Link

 

[Red Five]

No. 19 Adam Taylor

6-2 | 210 | So. | IB

There was a certain lore and wonder surrounding Taylor’s redshirt freshman year, when he earned scout team MVP by taking carries all season against the Blackshirts. Practices weren’t open to the media in 2013, but players and coaches recounted tales of him bruising through tackle attempts or side-stepping defenders in open space.

Taylor’s debut was expected to be a nice boost for the Nebraska offense, but he got hurt in preseason camp last year. He’s needed now, but is he fully healthy? Was the hype legit? Taylor will get a chance to prove himself.

Link

Taylor is kinda like the backup QB. Everyone loves him, but no one has seen him play in a real game.

 

[Mavric]

Taylor is kinda like the backup QB. Everyone loves him, but no one has seen him play in a real game.

Yeah. Unfortunately injuries have really slowed him. Missed a year in HS and a year here.

I think Newby starts out as the #1 guy - and I really like Newby - but I think Taylor is a little bit more what this staff wants in a RB. Will be interesting to see how much he's in the mix.