Nebraska Football: Huskers are addressing defense right away in recruiting

Anyone that watched Nebraska football this past season knows the Huskers need to improve their defense and that’s exactly what they are trying to do.

When it comes to the Nebraska football team, it’s easy to see that the defense needs to improve and in some areas, it needs to improve quickly.

Just one look at the stats of the Nebraska defense and you will see why Scott Frost and his coaching staff are working so hard to bring in some immediate help on that side of the ball. When the season was over, Nebraska football ranked 12th in the Big Ten in scoring defense, total defense, rush defense and 10th in pass defense.

No matter how good your offense is and the Huskers produced 400 yards or more in eight of the last nine games, you aren’t going to win many games in the Big Ten with a defense like that.

Nebraska did tie for fifth in the conference in sacks and takeaways, which are two important categories too, however, if the run defense doesn’t improve, it could all be a moot point.

The Blackshirts allowed 198 yards per game on the ground and five yards per attempt. An Iowa team that ranked near the bottom of the Big Ten in rushing yards, ran for over 260 against the Huskers. With Wisconsin, Iowa, Northwestern and Minnesota, Nebraska has to be able to hold up in the trenches, which is where potential JUCO recruits Nick Figueroa and Vic Viramontes of Riverside Community College in California could come into play.

Defensive coordinator Erik Chinander paid the players a visit Tuesday and took the picture posted above with the two players. Viramontes is an inside linebacker, who stands 6-foot-2 and 230 pounds. He also used to be a quarterback but things playing defense is better for his pro career.

The Omaha World-Herald, which reported the visit, also said the Huskers are in hot pursuit of Figueroa, who had 11.5 sacks last season. He played defensive tackle and end but could be the perfect 3-4 end at Nebraska, especially with his size at 6-foot-5, 270 pounds.  He’s a big guy that can hold up against the run, while also making an impact as a pass rusher.

What makes both prospects even more interesting for Nebraska is that both could have the chance to contribute right away and at the moment, that is exactly what the Huskers need.