Nov 23, 2018; Iowa City, IA, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Adrian Martinez (2) drops back to throw a pass against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first quarter at Kinnick Stadium. Photo Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
LOCATION: Lincoln, Neb.
COACH: Scott Frost — At Nebraska: 4-8, 1 year; overall: 23-15, 3 years
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Troy Walters
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Erik Chinander
LAST LEAGUE TITLE: 1999
LAST BOWL: 2016, Music City
RETURNING STARTERS: 15; 7 offense, 6 defense, kicker, punter
PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB Adrian Martinez, WR JD Spielman, OT Brendan Jaimes, DE Carlos Davis, DT Darrion Daniels, LB Mohamed Barry, CB Lamar Jackson, CB Dicaprio Bootle, S Deontai Williams
PRIMARY STRENGTHS: Martinez amassed 3,246 total yards in just 10 1/2 games last season as a true freshman. He runs a fast-tempo offense that has returning star Spielman and newcomer Wan’Dale Robinson at receiver. Eleven seniors — 10 are fifth-year guys — on defense should translate into a big improvement on that side of the ball.
POTENTIAL PROBLEMS: Nebraska has questions at running back because of Maurice Washington’s legal issues, the interior offensive line is in rebuild mode, and depth at linebacker is iffy. It’s still a young team in some ways, too, with 36 scholarship freshmen.
OVERVIEW
A friendly schedule and improving defense will be paired with star-in-the-making Martinez. After NU lost five games by five or fewer points last season, a few tweaks and more seasoning in Frost’s system should allow NU to contend for the Big Ten West title. The Huskers’ chances may come down to whether a running back emerges, and the offensive line can be among the league’s best, which would be an improvement over recent years.
TOP NEWCOMER
WR Wan’Dale Robinson: He scored a jaw-dropping 130 touchdowns over four seasons in high school, amassing 10,454 all-purpose yards. Did we mention he had 245 tackles and nine interceptions on defense? Nebraska plans to use him at receiver and running back, and he evokes comparisons to Purdue’s cat-quick Rondale Moore.
SCHEDULE
Aug. 31 SOUTH ALABAMA
Sept. 7 at Colorado
Sept. 14 NORTHERN ILLINOIS
Sept. 21 at Illinois
Sept. 28 OHIO STATE
Oct. 5 NORTHWESTERN
Oct. 12 at Minnesota
Oct. 26 INDIANA
Nov. 2 at Purdue
Nov. 16 WISCONSIN
Nov. 23 at Maryland
Nov. 29 IOWA
