With spring ball in the rearview mirror, Nebraska rolls into the summer having answered some questions over the course of its 15 spring practices and with some still remaining.
Where does each position stand heading into the summer? The Journal Star is looking at one a day.
The series continues this week and we kick things off with the quarterbacks.
Today: Quarterbacks
Tuesday: Running backs
Wednesday: Wide receivers
Thursday: Tight ends
Friday: Offensive line
Saturday: Offensive depth chart projection
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What we learned
Starter Adrian Martinez looks good, feels good and impressed his coaches and teammates alike this spring. Martinez trimmed down to 213 pounds — he said he’ll be a couple of pounds lighter than in 2020 and more like 10-15 lighter than in 2019 — and said he felt an extra step’s worth of burst when running the football. We also learned Martinez likes the group of receivers he’s throwing to, and offensive coordinator Matt Lubick said Martinez’s accuracy has reached a new level.
Behind Martinez, we learned a critical piece of the puzzle as well: Coach Scott Frost feels good enough about the depth behind Martinez that he doesn’t think the Huskers have to take a transfer this summer.
What we didn’t
Exactly what order those players behind Martinez will line up in. Logan Smothers, Heinrich Haarberg and walk-on Matt Masker each have strengths and limitations at this point, and the competition for the No. 2 job will continue into fall camp.
Standout player
It’s got to be Martinez. He’s the clear-cut starter and by all accounts he had a good spring.
The proof is going to be in the pudding, of course, but Frost and Lubick see a big jump in production coming for the Fresno, California, native. The key, as it’s been in the past with Martinez, is going to be whether he’s able to better protect the ball.
Stock-riser
Haarberg. The freshman from Kearney Catholic is making the jump from C-1 football to the Big Ten, but is learning the system and has impressed the staff with his pure arm talent.
“He made a few throws during spring that everybody kind of turned and looked at each other,†Frost said last week.
Summer to-do list
Get at least one of the three guys behind Martinez — but preferably more — to a place where Nebraska can win a game without its starter if need be.
For Haarberg, that means continuing to learn the system. For Smothers, that means getting comfortable with mechanical changes. For Masker, that means steadiness and continuing to master the system.
— Parker Gabriel
A look at the 2021 Nebraska football schedule
Week 0: at Illinois
When: Aug. 28, NoonÂ
Where: Champaign, Ill.
Illinois in 2020: 2-6
Last time the Huskers and Illini played: Illinois 41, Nebraska 23 (2020)
All-time series: Nebraska leads, 11-4
Week 1: vs. Fordham
When: Sept. 4, 11 a.m.Â
Where: Memorial Stadium
Fordham in 2020: 2-1 (shortened by COVID-19)
Last time the Huskers and Rams met: No previous matchups
Week 2: vs. Buffalo
When: Sept. 11, 2:30 p.m.Â
Where: Memorial Stadium
Buffalo in 2020: 6-1 (5-0 in MAC)
Last time the Huskers and Bulls met: No previous matchups
Week 3: at Oklahoma
When: Sept. 18, 11 a.m.Â
Where: Norman, Oklahoma
Oklahoma in 2020: 9-2 (6-2 Big 12)
Last time Huskers and Sooners played: Oklahoma 23, Nebraska 20 (Dec. 5, 2010, Big 12 Championship)
All-time series: Oklahoma, 45-38-3
Week 4: at Michigan State
When: Sept. 25
Where: East Lansing, Michigan
Michigan State in 2020: 2-5
The last time the Huskers and Spartans played: Nebraska 9, Michigan State 6 (Nov. 17, 2018)
All-time series: Nebraska leads, 9-2
Week 5: Northwestern
When: Oct. 2, 6:30 p.m.Â
Where: Memorial Stadium
Northwestern in 2020: 7-2, Big Ten runner-up
The last time the Huskers and Wildcats met: Northwestern 21, Nebraska 13 (Nov. 7, 2020)
All-time series: Nebraska leads, 8-6
Week 6: Michigan
When: Oct. 9Â
Where: Memorial Stadium
Michigan in 2020: 2-4
The last time the Huskers and Wolverines played: Michigan 56, Nebraska 10 (Sept. 22, 2018)
All-time series: Michigan leads, 5-4
Week 7: at Minnesota
When: Oct. 16Â
Where: Minneapolis
Minnesota in 2020: 3-4Ìý
The last time the Huskers and Gophers played: Minnesota 24, Nebraska 17 (Dec. 12, 2020)
All-time series: Minnesota, 34-25-2
Week 9; Purdue
When: Oct. 30Â
Where: Memorial Stadium
Purdue in 2020: 2-4
The last time the Huskers and Boilermakers met: Nebraska 37, Purdue 27 (Dec. 5, 2020)
All-time series: Nebraska leads, 5-4
Week 10: Ohio State
When: Nov. 6Â
Where: Memorial Stadium
Ohio State in 2020: 7-1 (national runner-up)
The last time the Huskers and Buckeyes met: Ohio State 52, Nebraska 17 (Oct. 24, 2020)
All-time series: Ohio State leads, 8-1
Week 12: at Wisconsin
When: Nov. 20Â
Where: Madison, WisconsinÂ
Wisconsin in 2020: 4-3
The last time the Huskers and Badgers met: Wisconsin 37, Nebraska 21 (Nov. 16, 2019)
All-time series: Wisconsin leads, 10-4
Week 13: Iowa
When: Nov. 26, 12:30 p.m.Â
Where: Memorial Stadium
Iowa in 2020: 6-2
The last time the Huskers and Hawkeyes met: Iowa 26, Nebraska 20 (Nov. 27, 2020)
All-time series: Nebraska leads, 29-19-3
Contact the writer at pgabriel@journalstar.com or 402-473-7439. On Twitter @HuskerExtraPG.
In this Series
Spring post-op: Catch up on our position-by-position look at where the Huskers stand after spring
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Updated
Spring post-op: Martinez is QB1, but NU quarterback room has some work to do this summer
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Updated
Spring post-op: Taking a comprehensive look at the Husker safeties, led by Dismuke, Williams
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Updated
Spring post-op: The leader for the other starting CB spot, the stock-riser and summer to-do list
- 6 updates