Jack Lambert
Hall of Famer
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2009
- Messages
- 4,743
Here are your starting white Cornhuskers under coach Bo Pelini for 2014. The team always used to be around half-white and had a good amount of white reserves, but thanks to the staff’s recruiting of “more athletic” recruits down South (I.E. Louisiana, Florida, and Georgia), the number of white starters dropped to what might have been a historic low at Nebraska with 8 last year, including an all-black defense, likely another first for the Cornhuskers. With Nebraska’s well-noted walk-on program though, there are usually a few gym rats who study their playbooks enough to get playing time. This year, things look to rebound a bit, with potentially 11 white starters. The coaches have insisted that the QB spot is “open”, so I have the battle listed, but black QB Tommy Armstrong (who has looked real good in camp lately) will most likely be the opening day starter, although both Ryker Fyfe has impressed the coaches through camp. From the reports of how good Fyfe has looked, I would have to think we could see him at some point this year, even if it is just in the early blowouts. It looks like Bo Pelini has had no intentions of recruiting another white RB to campus since Rex Burkhead graduated. In some of the early cakewalk games, walk-on Graham Nabity could get a carry or two. The Cornhuskers do have some talented white pass catchers, however. Jordan Westerkamp is a stud at WR for the Cornhuskers, who caught the Hail Mary to win the Northwestern game last year. He’ll look to build off of an impressive freshman campaign. There are also a couple of walk-ons (much to the chagrin of the Cornhusker DWFs) who have held off more “talented and athletic” competition for playing time in the offense. These two are Sam Burtch and Brandon Reilly, who will look to play a role at WR this fall. Nebraska uses a lot of two TE sets, and one of the starters will be Sam Cotton, Ben Cotton’s younger brother. He’s a good blocker and pass catcher, and his role should increase this year. White depth at TE includes Greg Hart and David Sutton, who have had nice camps, and will be playing some snaps this year. Bulldozer Andy Janovich starts at FB after claiming the job as a true freshman walk-on last year.
The offensive line is filled with some great talents. Alex Lewis, who ran into legal trouble at Colorado, is now through that, and looks to be the next great Cornhusker lineman. I’ve heard a lot of great things about Alex Lewis, who is the only OL to consistently hold his own against future high draft pick DE Randy Gregory. He should be a brick wall on the blindside for whomever starts at QB. The sky is the ceiling for 6’8 junior Zach Sterup, who looks to have the RT spot locked down. He has a lot of potential, and has a shot at getting drafted with a couple good seasons. Left guard belongs to Jake Cotton, who’s looking for his breakout season after being hurt for part of last year. He’s a good talent as well, and with him and Lewis on the left, that side of the line should be in good hands. Former walk-on Mark Pelini (Bo’s nephew) will be the starting center, and Mike Moudy should start at RG.
On defense (as with nearly all teams) the picture is a bit bleaker in terms of white athletes, but there are still a few to hit on for Nebraska.
The DL will be all-black in terms of the starters, but there are a couple DEs who will look to make their mark. AJ Natter and walk-on Jack Gangwish will vie for reps after the starters. Both of these guys have been playing well this fall, and I’m hoping at least one of them will see some quality playing time. Barring injuries, freshmen DE’s Peyton Newell and Mick Stoltenberg will most likely be redshirting.
With Michael Rose being ruled out for the year with injury, Josh Banderas will look to lock down the starting MLB spot. He played well as a freshman last year, and he’s a great athlete who does well in space. Backing him up is senior Trevor Roach, who will definitely be seeing the field. Had he not been injured, he would have likely started at MLB. Besides these two, no other white players look to see the field at LB.
Due to the suspension of LeRoy Alexander for undisclosed reasons (one can only imagine…), Nathan Gerry (who has moved back to safety from LB) will be starting at FS this year. Having played well as a freshman last year, he should be a stud for the Huskers. He’s a hard hitter and very stout against the run. He’d better play well out of the gate though; there’s a freshman super-athlete who’s reportedly been doing good behind Gerry. We all know the case when it comes to white players in caste positions: if Gerry gets burned once or twice, it’s gonna be a quick trip to the bench for him in favor of said super-athlete, who will then be given a “learning(as in getting burned, repeatedly missing tackles, and screwing up assignments, but will be left in the game in order to unlock his limitless potential) period”. DB Luke Gifford will be redshirting this year.
Overall, after an inexcusable 8 white players starting last year, it should be a nice increase back up to 10-11 white starters this year. Since 2005, Nebraska has started 11, 13, 11, 12, 11, 13, 14, 13, and 8 white players. Even if Armstrong starts at QB, the bevy of white targets who should be playing this fall will still make the team watchable.
Offense
QB- Ryker Fyfe – in a fight for the position
FB- Andy Janovich
WR- Jordan Westerkamp
TE- Sam Cotton
LT- Alex Lewis
LG- Jake Cotton
C- Mark Pelini
RG- Mike Moudy
RT- Zach Sterup
Defense
MLB- Josh Banderas
FS- Nathan Gerry
The offensive line is filled with some great talents. Alex Lewis, who ran into legal trouble at Colorado, is now through that, and looks to be the next great Cornhusker lineman. I’ve heard a lot of great things about Alex Lewis, who is the only OL to consistently hold his own against future high draft pick DE Randy Gregory. He should be a brick wall on the blindside for whomever starts at QB. The sky is the ceiling for 6’8 junior Zach Sterup, who looks to have the RT spot locked down. He has a lot of potential, and has a shot at getting drafted with a couple good seasons. Left guard belongs to Jake Cotton, who’s looking for his breakout season after being hurt for part of last year. He’s a good talent as well, and with him and Lewis on the left, that side of the line should be in good hands. Former walk-on Mark Pelini (Bo’s nephew) will be the starting center, and Mike Moudy should start at RG.
On defense (as with nearly all teams) the picture is a bit bleaker in terms of white athletes, but there are still a few to hit on for Nebraska.
The DL will be all-black in terms of the starters, but there are a couple DEs who will look to make their mark. AJ Natter and walk-on Jack Gangwish will vie for reps after the starters. Both of these guys have been playing well this fall, and I’m hoping at least one of them will see some quality playing time. Barring injuries, freshmen DE’s Peyton Newell and Mick Stoltenberg will most likely be redshirting.
With Michael Rose being ruled out for the year with injury, Josh Banderas will look to lock down the starting MLB spot. He played well as a freshman last year, and he’s a great athlete who does well in space. Backing him up is senior Trevor Roach, who will definitely be seeing the field. Had he not been injured, he would have likely started at MLB. Besides these two, no other white players look to see the field at LB.
Due to the suspension of LeRoy Alexander for undisclosed reasons (one can only imagine…), Nathan Gerry (who has moved back to safety from LB) will be starting at FS this year. Having played well as a freshman last year, he should be a stud for the Huskers. He’s a hard hitter and very stout against the run. He’d better play well out of the gate though; there’s a freshman super-athlete who’s reportedly been doing good behind Gerry. We all know the case when it comes to white players in caste positions: if Gerry gets burned once or twice, it’s gonna be a quick trip to the bench for him in favor of said super-athlete, who will then be given a “learning(as in getting burned, repeatedly missing tackles, and screwing up assignments, but will be left in the game in order to unlock his limitless potential) period”. DB Luke Gifford will be redshirting this year.
Overall, after an inexcusable 8 white players starting last year, it should be a nice increase back up to 10-11 white starters this year. Since 2005, Nebraska has started 11, 13, 11, 12, 11, 13, 14, 13, and 8 white players. Even if Armstrong starts at QB, the bevy of white targets who should be playing this fall will still make the team watchable.
Offense
QB- Ryker Fyfe – in a fight for the position
FB- Andy Janovich
WR- Jordan Westerkamp
TE- Sam Cotton
LT- Alex Lewis
LG- Jake Cotton
C- Mark Pelini
RG- Mike Moudy
RT- Zach Sterup
Defense
MLB- Josh Banderas
FS- Nathan Gerry
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