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EARLY
BIRD 2007 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
RELEASED DECEMBER 2006 |
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NEBRASKA
CORNHUSKERS |
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OFFENSE
- 8 |
------RETURNING
STARTERS------ |
DEFENSE
- 5 |
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KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Zac Taylor-QB, Dane Todd-FB, Matt Herian-TE,
Greg Austin-OG |
DEFENSE:
Jay
Moore-DE, Ola Dagunduro-NT, Barry Cryer-DT,
Adam Carriker-DE, Stewart Bradley-SLB, Andrew
Shanle-FS |
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Running
Back/Offensive Line |
The
famous I-back position is stacked
with depth, led by All-Big 12
performer Brandon Jackson. Paving
the way is an OL that returns
every single starter. |
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Defensive
Line |
If
this is the biggest concern
coaches face, it's going to
be a good year. All four starters
are gone on the DL but names
such as Turner, Suh and Steinkuhler
should help ease the reloading
phase. |
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IB
Brandon Jackson |
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LB
Bo Ruud |
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* DEPTH CHARTS were only designed as a simplistic
gauge for listing players that departed and players
that received the most playing experience (consistent
starters). NationalChamps.net recognizes the importance
of missing personnel data not listed such as redshirts,
transfers, injuries, incoming recruits, back ups
and alternates. Their coverage will begin with our
full 2007 Preseason Preview due out this coming
spring. |
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NEBRASKA
2007 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Joe
Ganz-Jr |
Beau
Davis-Jr / Sam Keller-Sr |
FB |
Matt
Senske-Sr |
.. |
IB |
Brandon
Jackson-Sr |
Marlon
Lucky-Jr |
WR |
Terrence
Nunn-Sr |
Todd
Peterson-Jr |
WR |
Maurice
Purify-Sr |
Nate
Swift-Jr / Frantz Hardy-Sr |
TE |
J.B.
Phillips-Sr |
Hunter
Teafatiller-Jr / Josh Mueller-Sr |
OT |
Chris
Patrick-Sr |
Lydon
Murtha-Jr |
OG |
Andy
Christensen-Jr |
.. |
C |
Brett
Byford-Sr |
.. |
OG |
Mike
Huff-Jr |
.. |
OT |
Matt
Slauson-Jr |
.. |
K |
Jordan
Congdon-Jr |
.. |
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DEFENSE |
DE |
Barry
Turner-Jr |
.. |
NT |
Ndamukong
Suh-So |
.. |
DT |
Ty
Steinkuhler-Jr |
.. |
DE |
.. |
.. |
SLB |
.. |
.. |
MLB |
Corey
McKeon-Sr |
Lance
Brandenburgh-Sr |
WLB |
Bo
Ruud-Sr |
Steve
Octavien-Sr |
CB |
Andre
Jones-Sr |
.. |
CB |
Cortney
Grixby-Sr |
.. |
SS |
Tierre
Green-Sr |
Ben
Eisenhart-Sr |
FS |
.. |
.. |
P |
Dan
Titchener-Jr |
.. |
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QUICK
ANALYSIS |
To
some degree Nebraska Football is back -
at least when it comes to winning the Big
12 North Division, which these days is not
one of the greatest all-time achievements.
Bigger and better things await this team,
soon under the third year of Bill Callahan's
tutelage. The famous Nebraska option went
out the window when Callahan arrived. Enter
the west coast offense where 30-40 passes
a game is often the norm. Through the metamorphosis
has been QB Zac Taylor from the beginning.
He's gone now, and the QBs recruited to
fit into this new system are ready to put
Callahan's future to the test. Hold on!
Don't forget about Arizona State transfer
Sam Keller who will be available this coming
fall. Keller started seven games for the
Sun Devils in 2005 and was projected by
many to be a future NFL signal caller. He
will have one year to play at Nebraska and
they will need him as other replacements
have yet to prove their worthy of directing
this team to a conference title. The I-back
situation should be a blessing with All-Big
12 honoree Brandon Jackson leading the charge.
Plenty of depth exists in this backfield.
The receivers are as good as any Lincoln
has seen this past decade and the OL returns
every single starter from a group that helped
pave the way for the nation's 25th-rated
rushing offense and 9th total offense. On
the defensive side, the entire starting
DL is departing, but plenty of bodies have
earned significant playing time, which prevents
a total rebuilding situation. Bo Ruud and
Corey McKeon are former All-Big 12 selections
at LB. The secondary has to improve. The
talent is too plentiful (with three seniors
returning) to underachieve much like they
did in ‘06 (89th pass defense). Nebraska
has been making strides since the embarrassment
of a 5-6 record two years ago. Big 12 opponents
beware - this may be the year the Huskers
take their revenge and get back to doing
more than just winning a Division title.
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NEBRASKA
2007 SCHEDULE
9-1
Nevada
9-8 @ Wake Forest
9-15 Southern California
9-22 Ball State
9-29 Iowa State
10-6 @ Missouri
10-13 Oklahoma State
10-20 Texas A&M
10-27 @ Texas
11-3 @ Kansas
11-10 Kansas State
11-23 @ Colorado
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