Husker Football: Top 5 Breakout Seasons That Add Wins In ’14

3. DT Maliek Collins

247Sports.com

Collins had an impressive true freshman year as he participated in 12 games, eventually earning a start against Georgia in the Gator Bowl.

That was no easy feat considering he was going against competition that could’ve legitimately held him back in Aaron Curry, Kevin Maurice and Kevin Williams.

As Collins saw more time late in the season, Nebraska gave up less yardage on the ground. The Heroes Game saw a mere 155 yards given up, but the Hawkeyes converted with short scores on the ground (three on a total of seven yards).

A breakout year increases Nebraska’s chances to win because: Collins appears to be Vincent Valentine’s partner in crime which makes him the Jared Crick to Valentine’s Ndamukong Suh.

If Collins can have a year like Valentine’s 2013 campaign with Randy Gregory on the outside and above average work from the back seven, this automatically ups Nebraska’s win total. That defense that could easily take the Huskers to Indianapolis.