[Husker] 2006 Prospectus?

[Steve Stone]

[A quick look at returning Husker players who should make up the core 
of next season's team.]

DEFENSE

DE's Adam Carriker and Jay Moore will probably start (and finish) the 
season at the positions they held last season. Behind them are young 
players with some experience: Barry Turner, Adam Blankenship, Zach 
Potter, and Ty Steinkuhler, among others. DE positions should be both 
dominant and deep.

Le Kevin Smith and Titus Adams leave a definite vacuum at DT, but 
backups Ola Dagundaro and Barry Cryer played effectively at backup, 
so there may not be a major a drop-off at the starting positions. The 
as-yet unseen but promising Ndamukong Suh seems to be the sole 
heir-apparent backup. (Quick, people, help me here by giving me some 
names I've missed!)

At LB, the only serius problem is how to find a way to play everyone 
who deserves to be on the field. LB must be the deepest and most 
talented position on the squad.

At cornerback, Bowman and Grigsby wear numbers 1 and 2 and look to 
stay that way although not necessarily in that order. Who backs them 
up will remain a minor mystery due to a quandry produced by the 
double openings at the two safety spots:

Early in the season I expect to see Tierre Green (who played safety 
in HS) and Andrew Shanle at the safety spots. Green's foot speed 
ought not be left on the bench and neither should his three years of 
Husker experience. Shanle prowess has a hitter should be evident to 
even the most benighted not can his four years of Husker experience 
be discounted. Changes may occur as the season wears on, and we'll 
probably see Jeff Souder, Titus Brothers, Ben Eisenhart, and perhaps 
Leon Jackson in the mix.

The starting players should be able to play well against almost any 
offense in Div IA. But without good backups, especially at DL, the 
Husker D may wobble a bit.

OFFENSE

Starting 2005 center, quarterback, and fullback are returning seniors 
coming off a good season. (No one discount the importance of the 
fullback in the WCO running game.) By next autumm they should be 
fully synchronized, paving the way for returning young I-backs Marlon 
Lucky, Cody Glenn, and Brandon Jackson to improve on last season's 
running game - -

- - which must have top-notch OG's to be truly effective. Greg Austin 
will return at one post (let's pray his battered knees hold up) while 
Mike Huff, now a redshirt frosh, may move into the other guard 
position from his backup role to 2005 starter Brandon Koch. The OG 
cupboard is probably not as bare as it might seem because Andy 
Christiansen should be in full recovery by next season along with 
Brett Byford, Craig Roark, and Rodney Picou. For the Huskers offense 
to make a return to dominance, these youngsters will have to perform 
like veterans.

Almost any coach will say that his offense is built around the tackle 
positions, showing that the latter part of last season was nothing 
less than a minor miracle. Seniors Seppo (you don't really expect me 
type his other name, do you?) and Cornelius Fuamatu-Thomas played 
pretty well in the early season but later succumbed to injuries, 
leaving true frosh Matt Slauson, RS frosh Lyon Murtha, soph Chris 
Patrick, and junior Newton Lingenfelter to carry the burden. That, 
friends, was a recipe for disaster, but it didn't turn out that way. 
We should upgrade the Huskers' winning their last three games against 
K-State, Colorado, and Michigan using only four lower-classmen at 
tackle to the status of a major miracle. If Fuamatu-Thomas is granted 
the ME, tackle should be solid, possibly good.

At TE Matt Herian returns and - - when he regains form - - will 
dominate. He'll be backed up by JB Philips, Clayton Sievers, and Josh 
Mueller among others.

WR  seem to be strong - - so strong that some promising recruits may 
redshirt. Last season's youthful WR crew proved to be an unexpected 
bonanza for the Huskers, and will be back again next season Swift, 
Petersen, Nunn, Mulkey, Hardy, and Brooks. The return of Fluellen 
ought to provide an exceptional long-ball threat.

KICKING

Every Husker fan can take comfort in the fact that Brian Rigoni will 
return on kicking/special teams. The shortest guy on the roster at 
5'5", Rigoni is the human version of a Bull Terrier. And believe me, 
no homo sapiens can aspire to higher praise! Dr. Tom often said the 
kicking/special team should be considered yet another first-string 
unit, and so it proved again in 2005. The good news is that the 
Huskers retain FG kickers Jordan Congdon, kicker David Dyches, Long 
Snapper Lane Kelly, and holder Joe Ganz. The only really bad news is 
that the team(s) loses kick-blocke Adam Ickes and punter Sam Koch who 
just may have been the best punter in Husker history.

PROSPECTS

Although the 2006 schedule appears to be more demanding than last 
year's, the nine returning starters on defense, eight returners on 
defense, and Congdon on kicking/special teams make it difficult to be 
pessimistic.

Steve Stone