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NEBRASKA
CORNHUSKERS
2012
College Football Early Preview
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OFFENSE
- 8 |
------RETURNING
STARTERS------ |
DEFENSE
- 8 |
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KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Tyler Legate-FB, Brandon Kinnie-WR,
Jermarcus Hardrick-OT, Mike Caputo-C,
Marcel Jones-OT |
DEFENSE:
Terrence
Moore-DT, Jared Crick-DT, Lance
Thorell-LB/DB, Lavonte David-WLB,
Alfonzo Dennard-CB, Austin Cassidy-FS |
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Running
Back / Kicking Game |
Rex
Burkhead is one
of the top two running
backs in the run-happy
Big Ten (Montee
Ball is the other).
Hard-nosed Ameer
Abdullah has also
emerged from a group
of talented freshman
ball carriers. Fresh
legs are not a problem
for this ground
game. Brett Maher
has turned into
both a First Team
All-Conference kicker
and punter. |
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Passing
Game / Defensive Playmakers |
Nebraska
has utilized a run-first
mentality for decades
and this fits well
in the Big Ten scheme
of things. But a
12 touchdown to
seven interception
ratio that ranks
103rd nationally
in passing makes
this team way too
one-dimensional.
The defense is experienced
but the losses of
Lavonte David and
Alfonzo Dennard
leave the Huskers
without a star player.
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DE
Cameron Meredith |
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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 2012 Preseason Preview
due out this coming spring. |
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NEBRASKA
2012 DEPTH CHART
Returning
Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Taylor
Martinez-Jr |
Brion
Carnes-So |
FB |
.. |
.. |
IB |
Rex
Burkhead-Sr |
Ameer
Abdullah-So / Aaron Green-So |
WR |
Kenny
Bell-So |
Tim
Marlowe-Sr / Jamal Turner-So |
WR |
Quincy
Enunwa-Jr |
Khiry
Cooper-Sr |
TE |
Ben
Cotton-Sr |
Kyler
Reed-Sr / Jake Long-Jr |
OT |
.. |
.. |
OG |
Seung
Hoon Choi-Sr |
Andrew
Rodriguez-Jr |
C |
.. |
.. |
OG |
Spencer
Long-Jr |
.. |
OT |
Tyler
Moore-So |
.. |
K |
Brett
Maher-Sr |
.. |
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NEBRASKA
2012 DEPTH CHART
Returning
Starters/Key
Players |
DEFENSE |
DE |
Jason
Ankrah-Jr |
Eric
Martin-Sr |
DT |
Chase
Rome-So |
.. |
DT |
Baker
Steinkuhler-Sr |
.. |
DE |
Cameron
Meredith-Sr |
Josh
Williams-Sr |
BUCK |
Sean
Fisher-Sr |
Alonzo
Whaley-Sr / Justin Blatchford-Sr |
MLB |
Will
Compton-Sr |
.. |
WLB |
.. |
.. |
CB |
Ciante
Evans-Jr |
Corey
Cooper-So |
CB |
Andrew
Green-Jr |
Stanley
Jean-Baptiste-Jr |
SS |
Daimion
Stafford-Sr |
Courtney
Osborne-Sr |
FS |
P.J.
Smith-Sr |
Harvey
Jackson-So |
P |
Brett
Maher-Jr (6-0, 185) |
Jon
Damkroger-Sr (6-1, 185) |
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QUICK
TAKES |
- For
the fifth year in a row head
coach Bo Pelini will get nine
wins out of his 2012 Husker
program. Getting anything
more will require a better
passer at quarterback. Taylor
Martinez is not that guy.
- The
reviews on Taylor Martinez
vary depending on who is doing
the critiquing. He is undeniably
talented, can run with the
football and shows genuine
promise. Then there are times
where he can't hold on to
the football, can't convert
a fourth down and can't hit
the broad side of a barn.
His Jekyll & Hyde football
field personality has to find
some consistency. Youth can
longer be an excuse.
- Redshirt
sophomore receiver Kenny Bell
has become one of the top
receiving targets, which bodes
well for the future. In fact,
there are several quality
receivers back for next year
including tight end Ben Cotton.
- Not
only is Rex Burkhead the team’s
MVP, he also won both the
team’s top weight lifter
award and top character award
at the December football banquet.
This will be the year where
Burkhead breaks through on
the national level.
- Defensively,
seniors Alfonzo Dennard and
Lavonte David again made everyone
wonder where this defense
would be without them. Now
they are without them. Who
will be the next defensive
playmaker in Lincoln?
- The
defensive line with studs
Steinkuhler and Meredith is
underachieving (11th in Big
Ten sacks, 8th in Big Ten
rushing defense). Losing All-American
Jared Crick to injury didn't
help but this group needs
to step up.
- Kicker/Punter
Brett Maher is booming the
ball. He is a First Team All-Conference
performer doing both. For
three straight games he had
a punt go over 60 yards.
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NEBRASKA
2012 SCHEDULE
09/01
- Southern Miss
09/08 - at UCLA
09/15 - Arkansas State
09/29 - Wisconsin
10/06 - at Ohio State
10/20 - at Northwestern
10/27 - Michigan
11/03 - at Michigan State
11/10 - Penn State
11/17 - Minnesota
11/23 - at Iowa |
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