Here’s who is out or limited when the Huskers start spring ball in two weeks.
Spring ball is two weeks away and, as usual, there are some who won’t have the green light yet as they continue recovery from various offseason procedures.
While not going into specifics about each guy, Matt Rhule named off these Huskers who are expected to miss spring ball entirely due to injuries or ongoing rehab assignments:
– Offensive linemen Turner Corcoran and Gunnar Gottula
– Defensive lineman Jaylen George, new from the portal
– Wide receiver Demitrius Bell
– Defensive back Jamir Conn, new from the portal
– Defensive lineman Conor Connealy
– Linebacker Roger Gradney
– Tight end Mac Markway
– Outside linebacker Dawson Merritt
– Linebacker Pierce Mooberry
– Tight end Carter Nelson
– Wide receiver Keelan Smith
– Defensive back Evan Taylor
– O-linemen Teddy Prochazka and Henry Lutovsky will also be out or limited.
– Kicker Tristan Alvano is limited, as is defensive lineman Sua Lefotu.
– D-lineman David Borchers is out to start spring but will be back at some point.
Some of those names were already known.
Rhule said in the last meeting with the media that Bell’s rehab was taking a little more time but he expected him back this offseason.
Markway, who came to Nebraska by way of LSU, is on the return from a torn ACL last August.
Nelson had hip surgery which should require healing until the summer.
Mooberry arrived to Lincoln recovering from an injury while at Millard North.
And the veteran O-lineman injuries mentioned here were brought up by Rhule the last time he spoke to the media. He then said it’s kind of «run of the mill» as far as offseason fix-ups go. It also is a big spring for some young O-linemen to make the most of their reps.
«To win in college football, you’re going to have to grow your own offensive lineman. We’ve recruited a lot of really good players that have gone through the rhythm of redshirting and kind of being a backup,» Rhule said then. «Now it’s their time to make their move,» the coach said of all the Husker linemen who are second- or third-year guys. «They have all the opportunities they want this spring. I’m excited to see them.»
George being out is perhaps notable since he was one of those portal additions who can ideally help the Husker D-line as it moves on from life after Ty Robinson and Nash Hutmacher.
And Merritt, though a true freshman, is a player who on early signing day Rhule mentioned as being someone he told to get ready with plans to try to play right away.
While the spring reps would’ve been valuable for some of those guys, it does allow time for most to hopefully build up near 100 percent by the time summer and fall camp arrive.
While Nebraska will not have a traditional spring game, Rhule said the practices and scrimmages during the 15-practice session will be business as usual.