Depth Chart Projection (Offense)

All this week Husker Corner staff writer Chris Peters has given us his “winners” of the position battles in spring practice. Here is Jimmie Allen’s look at what the 2012 depth chart will look like at the end of fall camp.Today we talk offense. On Sunday we talk defense. There are still a few players who have not arrived on campus who could be major contributes. Quarterback

1. Taylor Martinez

2 Brion Carnes

3. Ron Kellog Jr.

Redshirt: Tommy Armstrong

The break down: This is Martinez job to lose. If Brion Carnes wants to see the field, he needs to bring everything he has to fall camp. Tommy Armstrong is the real deal. He is the future of the program, and this offense. He has an NFL caliber arm right now. If given the right coaching, and learns the offense quickly, he will be the two deep on the 2013 depth chart.

Runningback

1. Rex Burkhead

2. Ameer Abdullah

3. Aaron Green

Redshirt: Imani Cross

The break down: Last season Nebraska’s offense ran through Rex Burkhead. I don’t feel like 2012 is going to go that way. I think in the second year of Tim Beck’s offense Nebraska starts to look like a more run-first spread offense team. Look for sophomores Ameer Abdullah and Aaron Green to get more involved in wheel routs, and short screens out of the back field. With that being said, Burkhead will still be the work horse of the offense. Tim Beck would like to get junior quarterback Taylor Martinez more comfortable, so look for a more developed short passing game. If Nebraska gets in a 3rd and short situation, it will still be the Rex Burkhead show. Heisman?

Cross is a a 6-foot-1, 220 lb. back that could be a huge contributor in years to come.

Fullback

1. Mike Marrow

2. C.J. Zimmer

The break down: One of the biggest stories out of spring camp was the production of Mike Marrow. Marrow is a former Alabama commit, and has a wider arsenal to work with. This gets back to a short, and stead intermediate passing game. In open space Marrow has the shiftiness to make people miss, but at 6-foot-2, 25o lbs. has the size to run over a linebacker. Zimmer is a big guy with great hands, and can be a great lead guy.

Wide Receiver X

1. Kenny Bell

2. Taariq Allen

The break down: Kenny Bell is one the verge of being one of the most explosive players in the country. He gets separation, and has big play potential anytime he touches the ball.

Allen could be the best kept secret on the team. He is 6-foot-3, 190 lbs. and could be the first receiver that Nebraska has that can go up and get the ball at it’s highest point since Maurice Purify.

Wide Receiver Y

1. Jamal Turner

2. Tim Marlowe

The break down: If Jamal Tuner can get focused, he could be the next Husker on the Heisman watch list. We saw shades of how explosive he can be when he touches the ball last season, before his mysterious benching for the second half of the season. He and Bell on the field at the same time could wind up in the Huskers having the two best deep threat guys in the country.

Marlowe has shown shades of brilliance on kick-off returns. He has game breaking speed. Not the shiftiest guy on the team, but has solid hands, and top notch speed.

Wide Receiver Z

1. Quincy Enunwa

2. Jordan Westerkamp

The break down: Enunwa is the closest thing to a “posetion receiver” on the roster. For the first time in a long, time, the Huskers receiving core is packed with speed. Enunwa is easily the best run blocker, and probably the strongest hands of any receiver.

Westerkamp will come in as freshman, and be able to contribute right away. He is 6-foot-2, and could add about 15 lbs. of good weight to his 195 lb. frame.

Tight End

1. Kyler Reed

2. Ben Cotton

The break down: Kyler Reed went from leading the team in receptions in 2011, to virtually being irrelevant 2012. With the emergence of Turner, and Bell the deep threats went to the outside leaving the senior to be with 7 less catches, and touchdowns. Cotton is a solid of a two as you are going to find in the Big 10 Conference.

Left Tackle

1. Andrew Rodriguez

2. Jeremiah Sirles

3. Brent Qvale

Redshirt: Paul Thurston

The break down: Junior Andrew Rodriguez has moved from guard to tackle, and has absolutely dominated all spring long. He will not be moving back to guard any time soon. Sirles might have the best footwork of any offensive linemen. Qvlae also moved from guard to tackle, and will see a good deal of playing time.

Thurston is a 6-foot-5, 275 lb. Colorado native. He has great foot work and is powerful. He could see major playing time in his second season in Lincoln.

Left Guard

1. Seung Hoon Choi

2. Ryne Reeves

3. Mike Moudy

The break down: Choi is a former walk on, but mad huge waves last season. The 6-foot-2, 295 lb. senior to be has a wide base, and amazing power.

Reeves moved to guard from center to help add some depth to the position. Moudy is a redshirt freshman at 6-foot-5, 305 lbs., and could contribute slightly this year.

Center

1. Cole Pensick

2. Justin Jackson

3. Mark Pelini

The break down: The Huskers lost three year starter, Mike Caputo at center, but Pensick has picked up right where Caputo left off. He is the clear cut front runner at this point, but Jackson could make a push in the fall of his senior season.

Pelini will be an interesting story to follow in the fall as coaches had some positive things to say about him towards the end of the spring.

Right Guard

1. Spencer Long

2. Jake Cotton

3. Brandon Thompson

The break down: Like Choi, Long is a former walk on who ended up starting the final few games of the 2011 season. He will start on the right side at the begining of the season, and really doesn’t have much of a push behind him. Cotton, and Thompson are solid twos and threes, but Long is the clear cut front runner.

Guard is a huge need in the 2013 recruiting class.

Right Tackle

1. Tyler Moore

2. Zach Sterup

3. Nick Ash

The break down: Left tackle may be the most solid 1 through 3 on the offense. Tyler Moore is a star, and first round draft pick in the making. He is a true sophomore with a 6-foot-6, 300 lb. frame. The sky is the limit for this guy.

Sterup made huge strides this spring, and can only get better. Ash is a redshirt junior with all the upside in the world at 6-foot-5, 275 lb. could see some major playing time this season.

By Jimmie Allen

Contact the writer at JAhuskercorner@gmail.com

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