Nebraska Football: What role will JoJo Domann play for Huskers in 2019?

JoJo Domann has been listed as both a safety and an outside linebacker during his time with Nebraska football and it’s worth asking what his role will be in 2019?

If you didn’t know, spring practice starts this week for the Nebraska football program and one of the key names to watch on the defensive side of the ball is defensive back JoJo Domann.

At least, he should be a safety. That’s what Domann was listed at for most of last season, except when he was given time and listed as a backup outside linebacker.

At 6-foot-1, 225 pounds, he is sort of a tweener anyways and with wide-open depth charts at safety and outside linebacker, it will be interesting to see where Domann lines up this spring.

Domann did see action in six games last season for the Huskers and his top play came against Ohio State when he lined up at outside linebacker and got a strip sack against Dwayne Haskins. He finished with one sack and one tackle for loss, as well as two forced fumbles which tied him for sixth in the Big Ten.

At safety, Nebraska football will be playing with two new starters in 2019 after the departure of Aaron Williams, Tre Neal and also Antonio Reed. That’s a lot of experience to lose from one position group. Those guys also combined for four interceptions, four forced fumbles and 14 passes defensed.

Domann is one guy that could step in and make up for that part of that production, although, if other guys don’t emerge at outside linebacker, he has shown enough burst off the edge he might be worth taking a look at there. Pressuring the quarterback is essential and if Domann can do it, Nebraska should put him in a position to use that talent.

One thing the Huskers may be lacking on defense is a dominating pass rush. There are certainly candidates such as Caleb Tannor or even incoming freshman Garrett Nelson, who will be taking part in spring workouts this week. Tyrin Ferguson is another name to watch on the edge, but still Domann could work his way into the mix.

At safety, someone like Noa Pola-Gates, the incoming freshman from Arizona could step in and start, allowing Domann to play more snaps at outside linebacker. Pola-Gates is a dynamic athlete and could provide great cover skills from the slot or in the deep middle.

As far as Domann, there are a lots of options but he seems to be one of the Huskers best defenders and if that proves to be true, the staff needs to find a way to get him on the field more.