Who Will Fill Their Shoes
By Jimmie Allen
Nebraska will lose a combined 9 seniors who made major contributions to the 2011 Nebraska team. .Here is the list of players, top candidates, and possible impact freshmen that could take their position.
Senior
Brandon Kinnie leaves Nebraska with 81 catches, for 892 yards, and 6 touchdowns. Kinnie was supposed to be the senior “go to guy” for sophomore quarterback Taylor Martinez in 2011. Kinnie struggled in 2011, and lost his starting spot to redshirt freshman Kenny Bell.
Top Cantidates To Fill In
Jamal Turner came to Nebraska to be a quarterback, but with his superior athleticism, the coaching staff moved him to wide receiver, and led the Huskers in receiving yards half way through the season. For some reason Turner’s play time was cut down, but will more than likely be in the mix to be one of the top receivers on the team next year.
Khiry Cooper will need to make some strides this year. He is a two sport athlete, and will be playing baseball in the spring. If he wants to compete for a major roll in football, he will really need to make up time in fall camp.
Freshman Impact
Jordan Westerkamp is regarded by most recruiting sites as a four star prospect. He has very strong hands and led his Lombard High School to an Illinois State Championship. He is 6-foot-2, 190 lbs. Westerkamp could challenge for playing time in the fall.
Senior
Jermarcus Hardrick was a force on the offensive line both years he was in Lincoln. He came from Fort Scott Community College in Kansas, and was a major part of the offensive line. He started 13 games, and at 6-foot-7, 300 lbs. he will leave a big whole on the offensive line.
Top Candidates
Tyler Moore will be a true sophomore next season, but saw playing time in 10 of 12 games this season. He is 6-foot-6, and 300 lbs. He will make up for the size left by Hardrick, but he will need experience. Moore was regarded as one of the best offensive line recruits in the nation in the 2011 class.
Brent Qvale will be a junior in 2012, and has seen limited playing time in his time in Lincoln. With the Huskers loosing three starters on the offensive line next season, Qvale will get his opportunity to see more playing time next year. With a lot of hard work in the off season, Qvale could contend for a starting position in 2012.
Freshman Impact
Paul Thurston is the only offensive linemen committed in the current class. He is 6-foot-5, 275 lbs. If he can add a couple more pounds to his frame, Thurston could be a force early.
Senior
Marcel Jones had a senior season plagued by injury, and limited playing time. Moore started over Jones at the end of the season. He was a great leader on the offensive line and will be missed in the locker room, just as much as on the field.
Top Candidates
Jeremiah Sirles was listed behind Hardrick on the dpeth chart, and more than likely will be the top candidate to fill in at an open spot on the offensive line this year. He is 6-foot-6 and very athletic. He moves very well for a big guy at 310 lbs.
Ryne Reeves redshirted in 2011, but has taken time to add a little more weight to his frame this year. He came to Lincoln at 6-foot-3, 275 lbs, and needed some work, but has made big strides on the practice squad. He is a very athletic and could be a very good offensive tackle.
Freshman Impact
Ryan Klachko also redshirted this year, but will be one of the biggest contenders for playing time next season. He is 6-foot-4, 287 lbs and has a constant motor. Nebraska will lose 3 seniors on the offensive line, but will still have a lot of depth next year.
Mike Caputo leaves Nebraska with 27 starts under his belt at center. He is the only center that junior-to-be Taylor Martinez has had his whole career. The next guy to step up needs to establish a relationship with Martinez early in the spring.
Top Candidates
Cole Pensick was set to take over the starting center position if Caputo was unable to play in the Capital One Bowl after being cited for a DUI. Pensick will be at the top of the list for starting snapper.
Ryne Reeves could also compete for some playing time at center. It will be a battle between he and Pensick in spring and fall camps.
Senior
Jared Crick started the season as a Sports Illustrated cover boy, a preseason All-American, and the face of the Nebraska program. He finished the season in a t-shirt and shorts after tearing his pectoral muscle. In his absence a slew of players saw playing time at defensive tackle.
Top Candidates
Chase Rome filled in a lot at the end of the season after Crick was injured. He is 6-foot-3, 28o lbs., and was considered by most the crown jewel of his recruiting class. He finished the 2011 season with 12 tackles, and one sack.
Thaddeus Randle was also bothered by injury at the end of the season. The 6-foot-1, 280 lb junior to be is probably the most athletic defensive tackle on the team, and fits Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini’s system really well.
Freshman Impact
Aaron Curry from Keller, TX., Fossil Ridge High School visited Lincoln this weekend. He has not committed to Nebraska yet, but is considered to be a Nebraska lean after his visit. He is 6-foot-3, 275 lbs. and has a division one defensive tackle motor coming out of high school. He will be a huge addition if he commits.
Senior
Terrance Moore played behind Crick for most of his career, but was a very important piece of a Nebraska defensive line for 3 straight years. He finished his senior season with 15 tackles, 1 sack and an interception.
Top Candidates
Todd Peat Jr. redshirted in 2011, but was considered the top prospect in the 2011 recruiting class. He is 6-foot-3, 285 lbs. Sitting a year and learning under the Pelini brothers, along with the addition of new defensive line coach Rick Kaczenski, Peat should contribute in a big way in 2012.
Jay Guy also redshirted in 2011, he is 6-foot-1 and 305 lbs., and has a very wide base, and can take up a lot of space on a defensive line. For his size he is very athletic and really could have used the year to sit. Guy could play a roll in 2012 on a very deep defensive line.
Senior
Lavonte David led Nebraska in tackles the last two season. He leaves Lincoln as one of the most loved Blackshirts of all time. David finished his senior season with 133 tackle, 5.5 sacks, 2 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries, and 3 forced fumbles.
Top Candidates
David Santos redshirted in 2011, but was the Texas 5A player of the year. An honor he has in common with junior I-back Rex Burkhead. Santos is 6-foot-0, 200 lbs., and was built like a division one player coming out of high school. Santos made waves on the scout team this year, and can make an immediate impact in 2012.
Alonzo Whaley saw some playing time at the end of the 2011 season, and can come and compete early for playing time with the loss of David. Whaley saw playing time over junior Sean Fischer, who could also compete for playing time next year after a disappointing season.
Freshman Impact
Michael Rose was the firs commit of the 2012 recruiting class. He finished his senior season with 104 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 interception, and 2 fumble recoveries.
Zaire Anderson is a junior college transfer, with two years of illegibility left. He has a large skill set, and is 6-foot-1, 220 lbs. He finished his career at Riverside Community College with 187 tackles, 16 sacks, and 1 fumble recovery.
Senior
Alfonzo Dennard will more than likely be the third Blackshirt taken in the first round of the NFL Draft in three years. He leaves Nebraska with 4 interceptions, and 66 tackles.
Top Candidates
Stanley Jean-Baptiste made a huge interception against Ohio State that led to the biggest come back in school history. Since then he really wasn’t seen or heard from till Alshon Jeffery jumped over him and caught that hail marry pass in the Capital One Bowl. At 6-foot-3, 205 lbs. Baptiste should get a good look in 2012 for serious playing time.
Joshua Mitchell saw limited playing time in 2011, but could see more playing time if corners Andrew Green, and Ciante Evans if they struggle like they did at times in 2011. Evans and Green will most likely be the starting corner on the other side of the field.
Freshman Impact
Charles Jackson was set to be a part of the 2011 recruiting class. Grades kept him off the Husker squad this season. Jackson was a U.S. Army All-American. At 5-foot-11, 180 lbs., the year off might have actually helped Jackson to get a little bigger before arriving in Lincoln.
Senior
Austin Cassidy was a former walk-on at NU who earned a scholarship, and a blackshirt by his senior season. Cassidy finished his senior season with 70 tackles, 2 interceptions, and a fumble recovery for a touchdown.
Top Candidates
Courtney Osborne saw playing time in 5 games in 2011, he recorded 6 tackles, and eventually lost his playing time to junior college transfer safety Daimion Stafford. Stafford will be one of the starting safeties in 2012, Osborne could be the top candidate for the other spot.
P.J. Smith also saw limited playing time in 2011. He finished with 33 tackles, and one interception. He will be a senior and will be one of the leading candidates for starting time in 2012.
By Jimmie Allen
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