5 Nebraska football position battles to watch this spring

Nebraska football just recently put on the pads for spring practice. There is a long way to go until the first game, nearly six months, but the spring will play a role in the final depth chart.

It’s just one step in the process. We have heard some spring rumblings. Head coach Matt Rhule and his assistant coaches, as well as some players, have also offered up some insight via their press conferences.

The spring game is now 27 days away. A lot can be learned about this team during that time, and here are five position battles to watch leading up to the Nebraska football spring game.

Quarterback

It feels like Anthony Colandrea is going to be the starter. You don’t pay someone $1.5 million to sit on the bench. However, if JT Lateef or Daniel Kaelin were clearly better, I don’t think Rhule would be afraid to give them the chance. Hopefully, he has learned this needs to be a true meritocracy.

It can’t matter how much you get paid, where you’re from, what class you’re in (senior or freshman), the best 11 players that give Nebraska the best chance to win need to be on the field at all times.

That doesn’t always feel like it was the case the past three seasons. Lateef had an impressive offseason, according to Rhule. We’ll see what that means. A big jump from him is probably the only thing that could threaten Colandrea’s path to the starting job.

Running back

This will be fascinating. Mekhi Nelson, Isaiah Mozee, Kwintin Ives, and Jamal Rule have all drawn praise this spring. Dana Holgorsen even said Nelson’s touchdown run against Utah in the bowl game is a play Emmett Johnson might not have scored one.

Ives had a 100-yard game last season and was good in the bowl game. Mozee and Nelson showed they can produce in the bowl game, too.

The running back depth feels just fine. Some guys need to take a step forward, though.

Offensive line

It feels like the starting five is going to be Elijah Pritchett, Paul Mubenga, Justin Evans, Brendan Black, and Tree Babalade, but I wouldn’t count out Tyler Knaak. I could easily see him winning the left guard job. Evans, Black, and Pritchett are the sure-fire starters.

Babalade and Mubenga have been part-time starters. Geep Wade should be able to get them to play up to their potential. If they do, each should start. But there are other offensive linemen, who were highly touted, such as Grant Brix.

D-Line

There is competition all over the D-line. Owen Stoudmire and Jashear Whittingon have made positive impressions. Tyson Terry and Malcolm Simpson are taking part in spring ball, too.

Riley Van Poppel needs to make a jump this season. The 4-2-5 should fit him much better. The same can be said for Cameron Lenhardt, Kade Pietrzak, and Williams Nwaneri. Those should be the top three players, in terms of snaps at EDGE, along with Anthony Jones.

I see all of those guys playing a lot. The same goes for Stoudmire, Whittington, Van Poppel, Simpson, and maybe Terry. Dylan Berymon (DT) and Willis McGhee IV (EDGE) could be in the mix, too.

The first four guys on the field will have to be worked out. It’s not hard to feel good about the depth, although it would be great to have an All-Big Ten talent emerge.

Secondary

It feels like Andrew Marshall, Dwyane McDougle, and Donovan Jones are the penciled-in starters. After that, it feels pretty wide open in the secondary.

Jamir Conn has generated a ton of buzz. He’s listed as a safety. He could easily play the nickel role this season. Danny Odem could be the nickel, too, while Conn is the other starting safety. Bryson Webber is another cornerback to know.

At safety, Rex Guthrie (35 solo tackles) was fourth on the team in that category. He’ll be in the mix at safety along with Justyn Rhett, Caleb Benning, and, according to Matt Rhule, Jasin Shiggs.

There are lots of moving pieces, and like the D-line, it will be interesting to see where all the snaps go, because there will be plenty of players on the field.

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