PARKER GABRIEL
Lincoln Journal Star
Steven M. Sipple and Parker Gabriel scramble a late Friday podcast to revisit the news of the day: That Nebraska considered backing out of a Sept. 18 game at Oklahoma -- AD Bill Moos said NU explored the option of playing an eighth home game because of COVID-19's steep financial toll -- but ultimately ended up where it started. The Huskers and Sooners will play this fall. That's great. The rest is less simple.Â
As the March 30 start of spring football draws nearer for Nebraska, the Journal Star is taking a brief look at each position on the roster and where the Huskers stand. Last week covered offense. Let’s begin this week with Tony Tuioti’s defensive line group.
Tuesday: Inside linebacker
Wednesday: Outside linebacker
Saturday: Defensive two-deep
Returning scholarship players: senior Ben Stille; juniors Damion Daniels, Deontre Thomas, Jordon Riley and Chris Walker; sophomores Casey Rogers and Tate Wildeman; redshirt freshmen Ty Robinson, Mosai Newsom and Jamin Graham; freshmen Nash Hutmacher and Marquis Black.
New this spring: freshman Ru’Quan Buckley.
Walk-ons to watch: sophomore Colton Feist.
Veteran presence: Nebraska has a bunch of it up front, but this conversation begins with Stille. The Ashland native is returning for a sixth season and already has 41 games under his belt. He played arguably the best football of his career down the stretch in 2020 and will look to build on it in 2021.
Spring storyline Nebraska’s defensive line in 2020 proved itself to be a relative surprise, showing a combination of depth and talent thanks to Stille’s improvement, another step from Daniels and the emergence of young players like Rogers and Robinson.
In 2021, the Huskers return virtually all of their production from last year save a few snaps from Keem Green, who transferred after the season.
The biggest storyline this spring, then, is how many players can put themselves in position to join a rotation that at this point probably features at least five (Stille, Daniels, Rogers, Robinson and Riley)?
Thomas has experience and was in the rotation until injuries limited him to two games. Wildeman has dealt with injuries throughout his career, but NU likes his future still.
This spring should be a good opportunity for the young trio of Newsom, Hutmacher and Black, who lost out on early developmental time last year.
Photos: Our favorite staff images from the 2020 Nebraska football season
Illinois' Alec McEachern (46) and Nebraska's Niko Cooper (32) reach for a fumble on a kickoff return in the second quarter Nov. 21 at Memorial Stadium.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo
Nebraska quarterback Luke McCaffrey (7) throws an interception under pressure from Illinois' Khalan Tolson (45) in the first quarter Nov. 21, 2020, at Memorial Stadium.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo
Nebraska safety Marquel Dismuke (9) and Cam Taylor-Britt (5) walk off the field after the Huskers' 41-23 loss to Illinois on Nov. 21, 2020, at Memorial Stadium.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo
Nebraska quarterback Luke McCaffrey gets his helmet twisted around by Illinois' Roderick Perry (96) in the second half Nov. 21, 2020, at Memorial Stadium.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo
Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez (2) is lifted up by teammate Bryce Benhart after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter against Iowa on Nov. 27, 2020, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo
Nebraska coach Scott Frost leads the Huskers onto the field to take on Iowa on Nov. 27, 2020, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo
Nebraska cornerback Dicaprio Bootle (7) celebrates his second-quarter interception with teammate Cam Taylor-Britt against Iowa on Nov. 27, 2020, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.Â
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo
Iowa's Terry Roberts (22) dives on a fumbled punt return by Nebraska's Cam Taylor-Britt (5) in the fourth quarter Nov. 27, 2020, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo
Iowa quarterback Spencer Petras gets off a third-quarter pass as Nebraska's Garrett Nelson (44) and Luke Reimer (28) pressure him Nov. 27, 2020, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo
Nebraska's Wan’Dale Robinson rushes against Iowa's Jack Campbell (31) in the second half Nov. 27, 2020, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo
Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez reaches for the high snap in the first quarter against Iowa on Nov. 27, 2020, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo
Nebraska coach Scott Frost leads the Huskers out to the field against Iowa on Nov. 27, 2020, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo
Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez throws under pressure from Iowa's Joe Evans (13) in the second quarter Nov. 27, 2020, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo
Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez and the Husker offensive line push toward the goal line on Martinez's 1-yard touchdown run against Iowa on Nov. 27, 2020, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo
Nebraska coach Scott Frost talks with his players during a first-half timeout against Iowa last November at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo
Penn State quarterback Will Levis (7) gets pressured by Nebraska's Ben Stille on a fourth-down play, throwing an incomplete pass to turn it over to the Huskers in the final moments of the game Nov. 14, 2020, at Memorial Stadium.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo
Luke McCaffrey (7) and Wan’Dale Robinson (1) celebrate after the Huskers' win over Penn State on Nov. 14, 2020, at Memorial Stadium. McCaffrey and Robinson each entered the transfer portal following the 2020 season.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo
Nebraska safety Deontai Williams (8) punches the ball from Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford last season. Williams has incorporated boxing into his preseason workouts to help increase his stamina in 2021.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Nebraska safety Deontai Williams (8) strips the ball from Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford before recovering the fumble and returning it for a touchdown in the second quarter Nov. 14, 2020, at Memorial Stadium.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo
Nebraska's Collin Miller (31) celebrates after Ben Stille (right) tackled Penn State quarterback Will Levis (left) to give the Huskers the ball on downs in the fourth quarter Nov. 14, 2020, at Memorial Stadium.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo
Nebraska's Ben Stille (95) and Ty Robinson walk off the field after the Huskers' 30-23 win over Penn State on Nov. 14, 2020, at Memorial Stadium.Â
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo
Nebraska kicker Connor Culp sends a ball through the uprights for a fourth-quarter field goal against Penn State on Nov. 14, 2020, at Memorial Stadium.
Journal Star file photo
Nebraska's Will Honas (3) tackles Penn State's Pat Freiermuth (87) in the fourth quarter on Nov. 14, 2020, at Memorial Stadium.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo
Nebraska head coach Scott Frost instructs the team during a timeout on Nov. 14, 2020, against Penn State at Memorial Stadium.Â
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Nebraska quarterback Luke McCaffrey (7) gets the snap from center Cameron Jurgens (51) as running back Ronald Thompkins (25) and Ethan Piper look to block against Penn State on Nov. 14, 2020, at Memorial Stadium.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo
Nebraska's Cam Taylor-Britt (5) runs back a punt as he avoids the tackle of Penn State's Daequan Hardy in the first half Nov. 14, 2020, at Memorial Stadium.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo
Nebraska safety Deontai Williams (8) strips the ball from Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford in the second quarter Nov. 14, 2020, at Memorial Stadium. Williams recovered the fumble and scored.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo
Nebraska's Noa Pola-Gates (facing) hugs senior Marquel Dismuke (9) after the Huskers' 24-17 loss to Minnesota on Dec. 12, 2020, at Memorial Stadium.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo
Nebraska senior Dicaprio Bootle (7) hugs fellow senior Marquel Dismuke (left) as JoJo Domann looks on after the Huskers' 24-17 loss to Minnesota on Dec. 12, 2020, at Memorial Stadium.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo
A third-quarter pass from Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez (2) is batted by Minnesota's Rashad Cheney on Dec. 12, 2020, at Memorial Stadium.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo
Protected by the offensive line, Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez (2) has the time to throw in the second quarter against Minnesota on Dec. 12, 2020, at Memorial Stadium.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Husker fan cutouts fill the North Stadium stands before the team takes on Penn State on Nov. 14, 2020, at Memorial Stadium.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo
Nebraska head coach Scott Frost leads the Huskers out onto a nearly empty stadium before taking on Penn State on Nov. 14, 2020, at Memorial Stadium.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo
Nebraska's Cam Taylor-Britt (left) defends a pass intended for Penn State's Jahan Dotson in the fourth quarter on Nov. 14, 2020, at Memorial Stadium.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo
Nebraska's Collin Miller (31) celebrates after Ben Stille (95) tackled Penn State quarterback Will Levis (7) on Nov. 14, 2020, at Memorial Stadium.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo
Nebraska fan cutouts are a backdrop for the consecutive sellout sign on Saturday at Memorial Stadium during a Nov. 14, 2020, game against Penn State.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo
Nebraska safety Myles Farmer (left) is flagged for a facemask call against Illinois' Donny Navarro (86) in the third quarter Nov. 21, 2020, at Memorial Stadium.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo
A worker waits to release balloons after the first Nebraska touchdown against Illinois on Nov. 21, 2020, at Memorial Stadium.Â
GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star file photo
Nebraska coach Scott Frost talks with junior quarterback Adrian Martinez (2) on the sideline in the third quarter against Illinois on Nov. 21, 2020, at Memorial Stadium.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo
A security guard watches the field among snow-covered cardboard cutouts before a Nebraska-Minnesota football game on Dec. 12, 2020, at Memorial Stadium.
Journal Star file photo
Nebraska family members look for their seats before the Huskers host Minnesota on Dec. 12, 2020, at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star file photo
Nebraska tight end Austin Allen (second right) celebrates his second-quarter TD with teammates against Minnesota on Dec. 12, 2020, at Memorial Stadium.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo
Nebraska's Austin Allen celebrates his touchdown catch with Brenden Jaimes and Ethan Piper against Minnesota on Dec. 12, 2020, at Memorial Stadium.
Journal Star file photo
Nebraska coach Scott Frost sends quarterback Adrian Martinez back into the game against Minnesota in the second quarter Dec. 12 at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star file photo
Nebraska head coach Scott Frost greets Huskers captain Matt Farniok (71) during Senior Day festivities before the Minnesota game Dec. 12, 2020, at Memorial Stadium.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo
The Nebraska football team is planning to open its April 17 practice to 4,000 fans.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star file photo
Contact the writer at pgabriel@journalstar.com or 402-473-7439. On Twitter @HuskerExtraPG.
• Texts from columnists
• The most breaking Husker news
• Cutting-edge commentary
• Husker history photo galleries
Be the first to know
Get local news delivered to your inbox!