Nebraska’s five weeks of spring football provided several noteworthy updates on the offensive side of the ball.
Since the Journal Star last took a shot at putting together a depth chart before spring ball started, a couple of potential key contributors have suffered injuries, a freshman quarterback flashed serious arm talent, a veteran offensive lineman made a surprising charge at a starting spot and the receiver group made one step toward living up to high expectations put forth by coach Scott Frost and offensive coordinator Matt Lubick.
That means there are several changes to this projected two-deep heading into the summer.
Let’s get to it.
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Quarterback
1. Adrian Martinez, junior. 2. Logan Smothers, freshman, OR Heinrich Haarberg, freshman.
Changes from pre-spring: Haarberg put himself in the mix for the No. 2 job. The freshman from Kearney Catholic has made a strong first impression since arriving on campus in January. After the Red-White Spring Game, Frost said it was far too early to make a decision on who would serve as Martinez’s primary backup. Don’t fully count out walk-on Matt Masker, either, though Frost’s belief that NU can forgo pursuing a transfer quarterback is rooted in confidence that Smothers and Haarberg will continue to develop quickly.
Running back
1. Gabe Ervin, freshman, OR Marvin Scott, freshman. 2. Jaquez Yant, freshman, OR Sevion Morrison, freshman.
Changes from pre-spring: Markese Stepp and Rahmir Johnson fall out of the two-deep, Gabe Ervin makes a big jump, Marvin Scott moves up and Jaquez Yant and Sevion Morrison put themselves in the picture.
The bottom line here is that everything is still wide open. In fact, it’s perhaps even more open than on April 1. This projection probably has the most variance of any on either side of the ball.
Ervin, Scott and Yant seem to have had the most consistent springs. The staff is high on Ervin even though he just got to campus in January.
Obviously, Stepp, whose spring ended after just a couple of days due to a foot surgery that will keep him out into the summer, is the wild card. If he can get healthy and into game shape, he’ll be a factor. Frost said the staff thinks that can happen before camp begins in late July. Foot injuries, though, are tough, so this projection is taking a cautious approach for now.
The deck could well get shuffled again — don’t forget about Morrison, especially if he can finally put a long stretch of good health together.
Wide receiver
1. Oliver Martin, junior. 2. Levi Falck, senior.
2. Omar Manning, junior. 2. Zavier Betts, freshman, OR Wyatt Liewer, sophomore.
3. Samori Toure, senior. 2. Will Nixon, freshman, OR Alante Brown, freshman.
Changes from pre-spring: With Toure manning the slot — a noteworthy spring development in its own right — Martin and Manning rise to the top line on the outside after both impressed this spring. This was the starting trio in the Red-White Spring Game. Falck and Betts move to the No. 2 line and Liewer gets added. Nixon gets the nod ahead of Brown for now because he was healthy and productive this spring and Brown suffered an arm/hand injury that held him out. Both are solid candidates to be in the rotation this fall, but Toure is going to be on the field a lot.
The goal of this exercise is to try to make real decisions — there’s only so much playing time to go around — but it’s certainly conceivable that Nebraska will go seven deep at receiver over the course of a season or even within games.
Tight end
1. Austin Allen, junior, OR Travis Vokolek, junior. 2. Chris Hickman, redshirt freshman
Changes from pre-spring: The major development was a knee injury to heralded freshman Thomas Fidone that will keep him out until midseason at least. That slides Hickman into the No. 3 role in this projection. The Omaha Burke graduate would have likely had a role anyway, but can he capitalize and expand it now? Either way, the veteran duo of Allen and Vokolek is sturdy.
Offensive line
Left tackle: 1. Turner Corcoran, freshman; 2. Nouredin Nouili, sophomore.
Left guard: 1. Ethan Piper, redshirt freshman; 2. Broc Bando, junior.
Center: 1. Cameron Jurgens, sophomore; 2. Trent Hixson, junior.
Right guard: 1. Matt Sichterman, junior, OR Brant Banks, redshirt freshman.
Right tackle: 1. Bryce Benhart, redshirt freshman; 2. Ezra Miller, sophomore.
Changes from pre-spring: Sichterman and Banks are locked in a tight battle for the right guard job, so they now have the OR designation. Banks checked in as the projected starter in the previous two-deep. That could still end up being the case, but Sichterman has really impressed offensive line coach Greg Austin.
Those two fighting for a job and Nouili “becoming a real dude,†according to Austin, are the two most prominent depth chart developments out of spring ball. Nouili played a lot of left tackle this spring, but could theoretically be the primary backup at both tackle spots. He can also play guard, where he started seven games as a freshman at Colorado State in 2019.
Four of the five starters are set, and after that, the key reserves appear at this juncture to be Sichterman/Banks, Nouili and Hixson as a trusty, experienced backup center.
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