What's more worrisome to me is the quality of the guys. We took a lot of guys, which got us up on the ranking, but most of them aren't exactly stars. Look at that average rating column - there's only one other team in the top 25 that's that low.
Thompson potentially, Boomschini, Bleekrode, Mathis, Williams could be a potential good player. One of Brown/Hill may not be second rounder material but quite good. I think Purdy is a better backup than Smothers at this point last year. I would argue the receiver room if they add Washington from Texas is getting 3 serviceable players with Castenada & Palmer. Less Belt/Liewer situations. Better as a unit than last year.How many of these guys do you honestly see as an actual upgrade over what we had last year? Other than the special teams guys, the only one I'd say is a definite upgrade is Mathis. Rose-colored optimism glasses off, the rest are mostly side-grades. And I sure don't see as much help for the O line as we need coming in.
What's more worrisome to me is the quality of the guys. We took a lot of guys, which got us up on the ranking, but most of them aren't exactly stars. Look at that average rating column - there's only one other team in the top 25 that's that low.
Time will tell but the portal for Nebraska has been more positive than negative this year. The only guy who left that was key is AM but I think we upgraded. We also upgraded on Rogers and Payne. Also have a few previous years guys who could start like Martin and Johnson.
Casey Thompson: Starting QB
Ochaun Mathis: Starting DE/OLB
Trey Palmer: Starting WR
Devin Drew: Starting DL
Timmy Bleekrode: Starting Kicker
Brian Buschini: Starting Punter
Chubba Purdy: Backup QB and will start when CT leaves
Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda: Backup WR that will see a lot of PT if healthy
Kevin Williams: Backup OL that could break into a starting spot
Hunter Anthony: Backup OL that could break into a starting spot
Tommi Hill: Backup DB that could break into a starting spot
Omar Brown: Backup DB that could break into a starting spot
I am optimistic and think we did pretty dang good in the portal this year. The real problem is in your last sentence... Trying to get that many new guys to gel in just a few months is pretty hard, especially when they are joining a team that has struggled to perform in the last few years. Building early confidence will be key imo.Could be as many as 7 to 9 starters directly from the transfer portal, plus a host of other guys who will factor into the 2 or 3 deep rotation. And another at least solid rotation guy if you consider Anthony Grant who is a JUCO transfer. I'd say that's a successful class of transfers. Of course now they all have to put together a cohesive and quality product to put on the field.
I am optimistic and think we did pretty dang good in the portal this year. The real problem is in your last sentence... Trying to get that many new guys to gel in just a few months is pretty hard, especially when they are joining a team that has struggled to perform in the last few years. Building early confidence will be key imo.
Except OHanlon was athletic.Remember walk-on Matt O'Hanlon? Dude was very productive his Jr and Sr years at Nebraska playing safety. If you have a good DC you don't have to be overly athletic to play safety.
https://247sports.com/Recruitment/Taylor-Lewis-152302/RecruitInterests/Looks like we may not be as confident with Wynn. Offered a JUCO DT.
Think we definitely did. Wonder if he’s a back up plan or maybe we like him better.https://247sports.com/Recruitment/Taylor-Lewis-152302/RecruitInterests/
I wonder if we canceled Goods’ visit or if he did
JoJo was IMO significantly better last season than the season before, so I agree, his play will be hard to replace, but his versatility is going to be perhaps even more challenging to replace.
Nobody else currently in that role is going to play nickel and seamlessly slide up to 3-4 OLB versus a power or jumbo formation.
And, is that even part of the defense currently? That role may slide into a true 4-3 Will now, I don't think we'll know till we see it. Even still, outside of Kolarevic, I don't see any of these guys holding up in the box whether at Will or on the edge.
I would still like to see somebody with corner skills like a Buford at Nickel on true passing situations, but they seem determined to make it an every down role and I didn't particularly even love seeing JoJo caught in man vs a post or seam from time to time.
Matty balled out. One of the best open field tacklers I can remember. Didn't he have lke 9 INT's against OU?Remember walk-on Matt O'Hanlon? Dude was very productive his Jr and Sr years at Nebraska playing safety. If you have a good DC you don't have to be overly athletic to play safety.