Waving balloons goodbye and revisiting Huskers’ position groups as roster begins to come into focus
They threw a fit many years ago when the school switched hot dog providers. According to Alberts, the tradition is coming to an end to preserve helium for medical uses and because of longstanding environmental concerns. As I saw it, the balloons served little purpose other than to remind fans that the Huskers had not scored a touchdown midway through the second quarter against Buffalo. Last year in six home games, the balloon release, on average occurred 13 minutes, 25 seconds of clock time after kickoff. Who really needs another reminder, tied to your finger with a piece of string, that the program has slipped? Maybe I’m just grumpy about the balloons because of my personal run-in with a bunch of them last September. Regardless, I’m on board with Alberts sticking a pin into this tradition. • In the first week of spring practice more than two months ago, I ranked Nebraska’s offensive and defensive position groups based on their stability. Much has changed, even since the April 9 Red-White game, because of transfers in and out. Reassessing the groups, I’d go with the inside linebackers atop the rankings, followed by the wide receivers, safeties, edge rushers, cornerbacks, running backs, quarterbacks, tight ends, nickels, defensive tackles and offensive linemen. Mickey Joseph added Texas transfer Marcus Washington to his group this week. Washington will push for a spot in August among the top six.
Texas transfer Marcus Washington will dive into a deep competition at wide receiver against Trey Palmer, Oliver Martin, Omar Manning, Alante Brown and others. The tight ends slipped the farthest because of uncertainty after a series of spring injuries. Nebraska’s interior defensive line, even with the additions of veterans Devin Drew, a fifth-year senior from Texas Tech, and Stephon Wynn Jr. • As the transfers and freshmen arrive on campus, Nebraska’s roster is coming into focus. Considering the numbers, Nebraska is not likely to add more than two additional players. I recently compared this Nebraska experiment with Michigan State’s 2021 success in using a 15-player transfer class to increase its win total by nine games. The Spartans got key contributions from 10 of the 15 transfers in their first years on campus. If Nebraska is to the do the same, here are 10 transfers, not including the trio from junior college, out of whom the Huskers ought to expect the most in 2022 (in order): Casey Thompson (QB, Texas), Ochaun Mathis (DE, TCU), Brian Buschini (P, Montana), Wynn (DL, Alabama), Palmer (WR, LSU), cornerback Tommi Hill (Arizona State), Drew (DL, Texas Tech), Timmy Bleekrode (K, Furman), offensive lineman Kevin Williams (Northern Colorado), Garcia-Castaneda (WR, New Mexico State). • The Huskers’ list of commitments for 2023 has been stuck at five players since the February decision of QB Will Watson. The quality of prospects set to see Lincoln over the next month speaks to the organizational work of Vince Guinta, the Huskers’ senior director of player personnel and recruiting. Despite the lack of new members in this class, momentum has not slowed. “I think it’s a testament to what coach Frost did when he went through the hiring process,” Guinta said in the spring.
Among the visitors lined up for the first weekend of June are Fairburn, Ga. The top two Nebraska prep prospects are also set to visit on that June 3 weekend. After Nebraska’s struggles with local prospects in the Class of 2022, Coleman and Noonan rate as highest of high priorities this year. • Excuse me for not jumping around amid the recent conversations about the potential elimination of divisions in the league. If Nebraska manages to pull itself together by 2026, when the College Football Playoff is most likely to expand, the issue would mean much more. But that kind of talk is so far off the radar for the Huskers that it’s more appropriate to consider potential opponents in a division-less Big Ten. Would Nebraska want to play them all each season if the Hawkeyes, Badgers and Gophers remain among the top half of Big Ten teams? I say yes, unequivocally. • Kickoff times for a slew of games are coming Thursday in announcements from the TV networks. Is it going to be a kickoff at dawn back home? Times are likely to be announced for Nebraska home games against North Dakota (Sept.
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