When Nebraska football has its departing seniors walking on Saturday, there’s one offensive lineman who might actually be coming back.
The Nebraska football program will be honoring some of their players on Senior day against the Iowa Hawkeyes this Friday. One decision has yet to be made concerning a foundational piece of recent Huskers history. Bryce Benhart will be making a record-tying, amount of starts for the Cornhuskers at right tackle. To be determined is will it be his last at Memorial Stadium?
When asked about walking on senior day he claimed that’s still an open question.
"I’m still trying to figure some stuff out first. We’re worried about Iowa first, and then I’ll figure the rest out."
Bryce Benhart’s Nebraska Football Career
Coming in as a highly rated and recruited prospect out of high school, Bryce Benhart has had a unique career for this team. In his true freshman year, he was called into action in three games, preserving his redshirt year. Following the Covid outbreak, he maintained a Covid year of eligibility.
With an upcoming 41st career start, he has been able to call Nebraska football home for the past five years, and will leave a lasting legacy of perseverance. At a grueling and taxing position, this record career is a true testament to him as a student athlete. Just in this season alone, we have been able to witness his growth and development.
His development this year with Nebraska Football
Coming into fall, he was listed at 6-9, 315 pounds, a naturally gifted athlete with physical traits that you would look for in the position. Having played during a time that Nebraska Football has not been stable, or up to national standards, it’s fair to say that under Matt Rhule and Donovan Raiola, we are starting to see him become the player everyone thought he would be out of high school.
His strengths to begin the year were his ability to use his size, particularly in pass protection. Usually able to fend off the defensive player, his elite upside is very clear. He showed that he is very disciplined in his protection, not giving up costly drive killing penalties, and able to pass off players as needed.
An area of needed improvement was more so in the run game. At times missing blocks, or being caught in no man’s land, his lack of being able to consistently get a push from his position was not only hurting the running game, but also his legitimate professional prospects.
The past couple of weeks, particularly against a stronger Wisconsin defensive line, we saw not only improved footwork, stance, and hand technique, but also a better ability to initiate contact.
Rhule says Bryce Benhart is playing his best football late in this year. #huskers
— Sam McKewon (@swmckewonOWH) November 22, 2023
Using his frame, and likely being in better understanding of the blocking assignments within the new offensive scheme, he has been able to better use his leverage in the run game.
Pro prospect or another year?
Given his skillset, and proven ability to learn and show significant improvement within one year under Matt Rhule. It is possible that a pro team would be willing to draft him in a later round, or sign him as a rookie free agent.
He knows at this point that staying would give another year of development, and more positive tape, to ensure himself as a draft pick in 2025, and possibly to be off the board in an earlier round.
The fact that he is still undecided is a testament to the trust that he has in the new foundation of the program, and how valuable he sees a potential last run in 2024 with this team.
Regardless of what he ends up deciding, Husker fans should be grateful for the time and commitment that he has given to the University of Nebraska. The only question remaining is, will he bet on himself immediately at the NFL level, or will he continue to add to an already impressive streak for a program that he is honored to play for?