Editor’s note: Part of a continuing series examining the Power 5 and top Group of 5 teams for the 2019 college football season.
Everyone wants to know what’s changed at Nebraska. What’s different about coach Scott Frost’s second team that has transformed it, after back-to-back four-win seasons for the first time in nearly 60 years, into a trendy pick to win the Big Ten West?
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Defensive coordinator Erik Chinander hears all the suggestions about physicality and execution and scheme. He offers something else.
“They want to play for each other,” he said. “The ‘care factor’ is high right now — about each other and about the program. Scott does an unbelievable job. And I think what makes him the best is the culture piece of this whole thing.”
When Frost and Chinander arrived in Lincoln in December 2017 along with the rest of the staff after two seasons at UCF, Nebraska players largely stayed out of the football offices.
“It was like a ghost town,” Chinander said. “They didn’t come around here, period. And now I can’t chase them out. They’re in here watching film. I don’t always know if they’re watching the right things or what they’re watching. But I know they’re watching, and I know they’re together. I know they work out and organize their own stuff. They like football and they care about one another. That wasn’t the case when we first got here.”
The key to Nebraska’s improvement — and it has, no doubt, improved considerably during Frost’s 18 months in charge — involves those bonds that have formed. No longer, Chinander said, are the Huskers out on the field at practice to play for themselves. The transformation began last season after Game 5, when Nebraska lost by two touchdowns at home to Purdue.
Improvement showed as the Huskers played close in subsequent losses at Wisconsin and Northwestern, followed by four wins in the final six games. Tight November losses at Ohio State and Iowa bolstered confidence in the apparent turnaround.
But the real strides came away from the playing field.
“It’s safe to say a lot of maturing happened,” linebacker Mohamed Barry said. “Coach Frost’s vision is starting to take hold in this program.”
The Huskers on June 17 and 18 spent time in Lincoln with The Program Athletics, a group of former special operations military personnel and high-performing athletes who specialize in team-building and leadership training. Frost called on them at UCF and brought The Program to Nebraska a year ago. The Huskers completed drills this time around with a level of efficiency far superior to what they displayed in the summer of 2018.
— Scott Frost (@coach_frost) June 20, 2019
In one exercise, for instance, the players had to complete a series of physical activities in sync. It required communication, teamwork and execution of various jobs assigned to a large group of individuals. Tight end Jack Stoll said the Huskers needed 90 minutes to master the drill last year. It took 30 minutes this time around, even with plenty of new faces involved.
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The Program focused on defining roles for the “leader,” who’s tasked to take care of teammates and accomplish his mission, and the “teammate,” whose job it is to set an example and hold others accountable.
“You have to rely on each other,” Stoll said. “We see the outcomes, and it has a lot to do with improvements in our team chemistry, with people buying in.”
And the buy-in is real, Barry said.
“It’s moved from working out to watching film to putting in extra work,” he said. “People don’t have to be told that anymore. They understand that we’re going to win games this season, that it’s something that has to be done. People are seeing the same things as Coach Frost in this program. They see it in themselves.
“We’re not there yet, but I’m just in love with this team because of the buy-in.”
Frost isn’t into making predictions. But he sees the same progress.
“I know we’re a lot better team than we were a year ago at this time,” he said.
Biggest on-field question
It’s still the defense. Despite improvements in the second half of last season, more returning experience than on offense and possessing arguably the top two position groups on the roster outside of quarterback, questions abound over the ability of the defense to perform when the Huskers need a stop.
Nebraska fans are scarred from the past two seasons. We won’t talk much about 2017, when the Huskers allowed at least 54 points in four of five losses after Week 6. Last season, Chinander’s unit struggled to stop the bleeding in Big Ten play. Nebraska ranked 75th nationally in yards allowed per play (5.81), 88th in scoring defense (31.3 points per game), 107th in yards allowed per rushing attempt (5.0) and 94th in yards allowed per game (433.5). The same scheme and coaching staff two years ago at UCF, in an undefeated season, ranked 94th in total defense (428.0 ypg) and 74th in yards allowed per play (5.74).
Have faith, though. These guys in 2019 are going to be better.
Erik Chinander’s defense should be better this season. But there still are some concerns, most notably at linebacker. (Scott Bruhn / Nebraska Athletics)
Some of the same issues exist because of the nature of Nebraska’s offense, which scores fast and runs the risk of going three-and-out even faster. The pace of Frost’s offense places great pressure on a defense.
But with a full season and two springs in this system, plus the experience returning up front and in the secondary, Nebraska appears set to make a big jump defensively.
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“They have a better grasp of what we’re looking for, how they can help themselves,” Chinander said. “What can I do to help myself on the game within the game? I think they were out there before, watching film and they thought they were running the defense when they really weren’t.”
Chinander said he’s more comfortable this year asking his players to operate to the full capacity of the scheme. Often, he said, he didn’t feel the Huskers were ready last season to make some of the necessary checks and adjustments.
“I don’t think it’s age,” he said in the spring. “I think it’s attitude.”
Depth chart analysis
Quarterbacks: Talk about rags to riches. A year ago, Nebraska faced the prospect of entering Frost’s first season without a quarterback on the roster who’d taken a college snap. Then the oldest guy on scholarship eligible to play, Tristan Gebbia, transferred a week before the season opener.
That is long forgotten as Adrian Martinez returns after a freshman All-America season; he set single-season Nebraska records for total offensive yards per game (295.1) and school freshman marks for completions (224), completion percentage (64.6), passing yards (2,617) and passing touchdowns (17).
For good measure, Martinez rushed for 629 yards and eight scores, and he displayed a level of maturity uncanny for his age and experience. He enters his sophomore season viewed as a Heisman candidate.
“I think Adrian’s the best quarterback in the country,” Chinander said. “I know I’m a little biased. And I know the guy at Clemson (Trevor Lawrence) is pretty good, too, but I think our guy is the best.”
This offseason, teammates said Martinez upped his leadership habits. “If someone was just an observer, you’d probably think he was a junior or senior,” said Stoll, a junior.
Behind Martinez, sophomore Noah Vedral is back home in Nebraska after beginning his career at UCF. He backed up McKenzie Milton in 2017, then received immediate eligibility approval from the NCAA on a waiver request in October last season.
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He’ll battle walk-on Andrew Bunch, who started against Troy last season when Martinez fought a knee injury, and true freshman Luke McCaffrey for the backup spot. McCaffrey, a four-star prospect, flashed his athleticism in the spring.
Notably, the group remains tight-knit behind Martinez.
“I wish you could be at our practice to see how we interact,” Martinez said. “We just have such a love for each other and want each other to succeed. I’m thankful for that environment.”
Adrian Martinez set all sorts of school records as a true freshman last season, and he is expected to be one of the best quarterbacks in the nation this season. (Bruce Thorson / USA TODAY Sports)
Running backs: The longer the California court system extends the case of sophomore Maurice Washington, the more uncertainty it creates for the Huskers. Washington, Nebraska’s top returning back who rushes for 455 yards and caught 24 passes a year ago, faces a felony charge of possession of child pornography. Frost said in May that he hoped for resolution by the start of preseason camp, but a plea hearing set for June 12 in Santa Clara County was pushed to late July.
Other than Washington, no back on the roster gained more than 76 yards last season. But help arrived in May when Dedrick Mills graduated from junior college and joined the team. Mills, the No. 1-rated junior college back in the 2019 recruiting class, rumbled for a team-leading 771 yards and 12 touchdowns at Georgia Tech in 2016. At 5 feet 11 and 215 pounds, he brings size and power to a backfield that otherwise lacks such attributes.
The Huskers do not lack for speed with freshman Rahmir Johnson. Walk-on Brody Belt shined in the spring, and former walk-on Wyatt Mazour adds a steady hand as a senior.
“I’m excited to get the running back (group) to where it’s a position of strength,” running backs coach Ryan Held said.
With Mills, Johnson and freshman Ronald Thompkins new to the system, Held said the Huskers will “start over” at the position in August.
JJ Spielman will be the Huskers’ go-to receiver. But while there is talent surrounding him at receiver, it is unproven, and the Huskers need a few guys to make big strides this fall. (Jesse Johnson / USA TODAY Sports)
Wide receivers/tight ends: The Huskers boast depth at the positions, but inexperience clouds the picture as only junior JD Spielman returns with the type of numbers to strike fear into Big Ten defensive coordinators.
Spielman caught 66 balls for 818 yards last season as part of a dangerous duo alongside Stanley Morgan, the first 1,000-yard receiver in program history. Sophomore walk-on Kade Warner returns with starting experience, as does junior Jack Stoll at tight end.
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Look for true freshman Wan’Dale Robinson, a national top-100 prospect, to make a quick impact in various roles — out of the slot, split wide and even in the backfield. Seniors Mike Williams and Jaron Woodyard arrived in Frost’s first recruiting class, as did sophomore Miles Jones, who worked at running back last season but found a home at receiver in the spring.
Nebraska coaches tout redshirt freshman Andre Hunt as a breakout candidate and potential starter.
“He’s making plays,” offensive coordinator and receivers coach Troy Walters said of Hunt. “He’s just mature. He understands the offense, so he can play fast.”
They expect to hear of strides from true freshman Jamie Nance, who enrolled early, ahead of camp in August. And grad transfer Kanawai Noa joined the program in May after catching 96 passes for 1,257 yards at Cal.
Sophomores Austin Allen and Kurt Rafdal figure to benefit from Martinez’s raised awareness of options in the offense as Frost and Walters try to include the tight ends more in the passing game.
Offensive line: Greg Austin’s group looks like as if it is a year away from a breakthrough, what with tackles Brenden Jaimes and Matt Farniok entrenched as juniors. Junior Boe Wilson looks set to take over at right guard, and sophomore walk-on Trent Hixson took his knocks in the spring, while also delivering plenty, in moving into the top job at left guard.
Center is the wild card. Redshirt freshman Cameron Jurgens, coming off a foot injury, was a quick study on the line after moving from tight end last season. But is he ready? The Huskers also are looking hard at his classmates, Will Farniok and walk-on AJ Forbes, in the middle of the line.
They’re all set to return in 2020, along with a solid-looking group of signees led by four-star tackle Bryce Benhart (6-9, 287).
Entering preseason camp, tackles Broc Bando and Christian Gaylord and guards John Raridon and Matt Sichterman fill the backup jobs.
Ben Stille and Carlos Davis are part of a veteran core along the defensive front. The line has the potential to be one of the best in the Big Ten. (Scott Bruhn / Nebraska Athletics)
Defensive line: If not for Martinez, this group would rate as the strength of the whole team. “You’ve got six guys in there who are interchangeable,” Chinander said. “They’re all dependable. They all compete. They push each other. I like that group a lot.”
The six guys — seniors Darrion Daniels, Carlos Davis and Khalil Davis, junior Ben Stille and sophomores Deontre Thomas and Damion Daniels (the Davises are twins, the Danielses brothers) — are a lot to handle. New defensive line coach Tony Tuioti, who came from Cal in February to replace the departed-to-the-NFL Mike Dawson, took one look at his new group and raised his expectation level.
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“They’ve shown up,” Tuioti said in the spring. “The challenge for us is to be able to show up every single practice. It’s about how relentless we are. We talk about that every practice. Are we running to the football with malicious intent to try to get the ball back?”
The elder Daniels, in particular, infused a new brand of energy into the group. He arrived in January as a grad transfer from Oklahoma State and jumped into a leadership position, bonding not just with his brother but the entire group. Stille showed star potential with five sacks as a sophomore. And the Davis twins look primed for a strong finish to their careers.
Linebackers: If a defense is only as good as its weakest link, well, linebackers coach Barrett Ruud has his work cut out to prevent his group from serving as a drag on the Blackshirts.
Senior Mohamed Barry is the leader — the leader, in fact, of the entire defense as the Huskers’ top tackler in 2018. He earned third-team All-Big Ten honors and was named the Huskers’ defensive MVP last season.
But concerns persist. “That linebacker group as a whole is our weakest as far as depth,” Chinander said.
So while the Huskers aren’t considering much more than four games and a redshirt for their freshman defensive linemen, all of the newcomers at linebacker may be in line to play more. All, that is, except the most highly acclaimed — four-star prospect Nick Henrich from Omaha Burke, an early enrollee who had shoulder surgery in the spring and stands to miss time in the fall.
That leaves Jackson Hannah, Garrett Snodgrass and Garrett Nelson to vie for action. Nelson, who enrolled in January, is a safe bet to play on special teams. Hannah could fit at inside or outside linebacker, Chinander said.
Inside next to Barry, juniors Collin Miller and Will Honas will contend for time. Honas, coming off an early-season knee injury, was a top signee in December 2017 out of junior college. He’ll be ready for full contact in August.
At the outside spots, the talent is intriguing, with seniors Alex Davis and Tyrin Ferguson in position to start. Junior JoJo Domann, a playmaker converted from safety, also will play extensively. And sophomore Caleb Tannor seems ready to contribute.
Dicaprio Bootle was a third-team All-Big Ten selection last season, and he is one of four upperclassmen expected to start in the secondary. (Courtesy of Nebraska Athletics)
Secondary: This is another position strength despite statistics that indicate otherwise from 2018. There are two groups — the vets and the newbies.
Senior Lamar Jackson and juniors Dicaprio Bootle, Deontai Williams and Marquel Dismuke form a solid top unit — Jackson and Bootle at corner and Dismuke and Williams at safety. Much like the defensive line, Chinander said they’ve come a long way since last season.
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Before we get to the freshmen, redshirt freshman Braxton Clark at corner and sophomore Cam Taylor, maybe the Huskers’ most versatile defender, figure heavily in the plans of secondary coach Travis Fisher. Taylor will play corner and nickel — wherever he’s needed, actually. And senior Eric Lee practiced well in the spring after moving from corner to safety.
The story of the summer, though, involves the arrival of freshmen Myles Farmer, Quinton Newsome, Noa Pola-Gates and Javin Wright.
“Some of these young guys look awesome right now,” Chinander said, relaying reports he’s received from the strength and conditioning coaches. “They look really good right now.”
That’s all happening, of course, without pads or contact, but Chinander said he thinks the Huskers will get something from the newcomers early in their careers.
As for any concerns about lingering confidence issues after the defensive backs endured struggles last year, Fisher said it’s over. “I don’t bring up 4-8 to those guys,” he said. “I bring up what we can do now.”
Special teams: It’s much the same as last season. Sophomore Barret Pickering returns after hitting 13 of his final 14 field goal attempts and 14 of 18 overall. Senior Isaac Armstrong took over at punter for the final seven games last season and averaged 43.6 yards per punt, the ninth-highest average in school history. And only six of his 32 punts were returned.
Nebraska added Michigan State transfer William Przystup, who’s immediately eligible as a walk-on. He’ll likely prepare to take over for Armstrong in 2020.
Some combination of Spielman, Robinson, Belt and Washington appear in line to handle returns.
The punt coverage team must improve after allowing 11.3 yards per return and two TDs last season.
How the Huskers have recruited from 2016-19
Using 247Sports’ Composite rankings, here is how Nebraska’s recruiting classes have fared nationally and within the Big Ten over the past four years:
Problems in recruiting rate low on the list of issues that have sent Nebraska to two consecutive fifth-place finishes in the Big Ten West. The Huskers’ average class ranking of 22.75 since 2016 places them fourth in the league, behind Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State.
But eight of 21 players signed in 2016 and nine of 20 in 2017 left the program early. Four of the five highest-rated signees from the ’17 class are gone. Some of that relates directly to the coaching transition from Mike Riley to Frost. It also shows a disconnect between the players targeted by the former staff and those who now best fit Nebraska. Some three years after it was coined, the term “Calibraska” elicits a decidedly different response than in 2016 and ’17.
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Frost has taken strong steps to bridge the disconnect. He’s still recruiting nationally, but the emphasis on closing the Nebraska borders is noticeable. The Huskers signed all five Nebraskans they offered in the Class of 2019, and the walk-on program has been bolstered with a flood of in-state talent. It’s the same formula that former coach Tom Osborne used to build championship teams — the backbones of which were composed of Nebraska high school talent.
“The Nebraska way is to go get Nebraska kids that love football, love the state, love the university,” Frost said of the walk-on resurgence, “and develop them and give them every opportunity that the scholarship kids are getting. Because inevitably, some of those walk-on kids are going to end up being better players than some of the guys that we recruited.”
Impact of coaching changes
Over 16 seasons that ended with Frost’s debut last September, Nebraska had five coaches. Each brought his own staff, and each of the four transitions damaged one recruiting class and came with a major change in scheme. You want to guess how that impacted the program?
Frost’s arrival brought to Nebraska its best chance to enjoy long-term continuity since the Osborne era. Even the calm periods over the past two decades — Frank Solich’s run from 1999-2001 and Nebraska’s final two seasons in the Big 12 under Bo Pelini — offered some warning signs of the volatility ahead.
After just one season, Frost appears on track to lay a foundation for stability long missing at Memorial Stadium.
He lost defensive line coach Mike Dawson in February to the New York Giants. Tuioti arrived from Cal to strong reviews in the spring. In his first months, Tuioti renewed recruiting connections in California and Hawaii, and appeared to fit well with his new defenders.
Schedule analysis
Ohio State, Wisconsin and Iowa, likely the three best teams on the schedule, all visit Lincoln this season. That’s good news if you’re a season-ticket holder. The home schedule is loaded and also includes reigning Big Ten West champion Northwestern, Indiana, South Alabama and Northern Illinois — which won at Nebraska in 2017.
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Four games stand out as the most important, starting with a Week 2 trip to Colorado. Nebraska was 0-5 away from home last season, losing by 46 points at Michigan, 17 at Wisconsin, then by three, five and three points at Northwestern, Ohio State and Iowa, respectively. The Huskers almost certainly will be favored to win at Colorado and need to clear that road hurdle in the first opportunity.
If Nebraska is 4-0 when the Buckeyes visit, it’s immediately the biggest game at Memorial Stadium in the Huskers’ Big Ten era.
The Badgers and Hawkeyes come to town in November. And while you can argue that Nebraska has done little to deserve consideration as the West favorite, the road to Indianapolis definitely appears to go through Lincoln this season.
Final assessment
The confidence is returning at Nebraska. Maybe it’s too early. Maybe it’s misguided. But the first step toward growing into an elite program is believing that you can get there.
Late in the spring, Deontai Williams said he thought the Huskers looked “like a team that could compete for a conference title and a spot in the playoff.”
Frost set the tone for such confident talk. Last summer, before he coached a game at Nebraska, Frost warned the rest of the Big Ten that the clock was ticking on the Huskers’ time as a vulnerable opponent. He since has been more specific about his plan.
“This wasn’t going to be a one-year turnaround,” he said. “It probably won’t be where we really want it to be for a while yet. But we’re in a lot better shape than we have been. When I say that, we want a complete team. Our goal is to have a roster where we don’t feel like we have holes at any positions. We want somebody at every position who’s average or better for the Big Ten.
“We’re getting closer to that.”
