Nebraska football is back in camp, and the conversation around Matt Rhule’s fourth team is starting to sharpen around a handful of position groups that could shape the season.
One of the biggest themes coming out of fall camp is the backfield. There’s a wide-open race at running back, and Evan Bland said true freshman Jamal Rule is expected to play right away.
Mekhi Nelson and Isaiah Mozee also bring something different to the mix, and Nebraska may not be chasing a single every-down back the way it did with Emmett Johnson. The more likely path, according to Bland, is a committee approach.
Up front, though, is where the optimism really starts to build. Nebraska put serious resources into the offensive line, adding experienced transfers and bringing in Geep Wade to coach the group. Bland believes that investment could finally give the Huskers something they have lacked: real depth beyond the first five.
That line could matter even more because of what Anthony Colandrea can do for Dana Holgorsen’s offense. The playbook may not look drastically different, but Colandrea changes the equation when things break down.
He can use his legs, extend plays and turn a dead snap into a first down, a chunk gain or even a touchdown. Bland said that’s the kind of element Nebraska has not had enough of in recent years.
He also said Colandrea has impressed the staff with how fast he processes the game. Bland even compared his confidence and swagger to former Husker quarterback Joe Ganz.
On defense, the front seven remains a major talking point after Nebraska’s run-defense issues last season. Bland explained why a return to a four-man front may suit several players on the roster better, especially with more depth available to work with.
The secondary might end up being the quiet strength of the team. With returning players, experienced transfers and young talent in the mix, Bland thinks Nebraska could go eight or nine deep on the back end.
There’s also a different feel around the program this offseason. Rhule and his staff kept things quieter, and Bland believes they read the mood correctly after last year’s frustrating finish.
Instead of talking, they went to work. Nebraska enters the season with an older roster, a more seasoned coaching staff and a real chance to move forward.
That doesn’t mean Rhule needs to win eight or nine games to keep his job, Bland said. But Nebraska does need one thing badly: a win over a ranked opponent.
The Huskers have lost 30 straight games against ranked teams, and Bland believes it is time for that streak to end and for Nebraska to land a signature victory. There will be chances.
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