Corner depth

[inWV]

The coach that got Emmitt here whose name you forgot was Ron Brown. Been with the program for a while. May trying looking him up. And Emmitt was clearly are best back in 23, if EJ was so bright, why’d it take half of 24 for to remember that?

Verdict still out on nelson. Hopefully he’s good. And yes I stand by what I said about luck. and I stand by what I say about him sucking as a coach and a recruiter. 100%

I see your butt hurt about it. Hope he proves me wrong. But guys like you are usually more nasty about former coaches when they do finally get canned than I am. hence you don’t remember Applewhite but i would bet at one time you were happy to have Applewhite. It’s not personal. EJ just in over is head. And like I said, he seems like a super nice guy. Maybe he’ll have a Husker podcast or radio show after it doesn’t work out

I’m not butthurt about anything. I just know that I am not coaching the program, I’m not seeing the players on a daily basis and I don’t know specifically how the coaches think the players will translate to the offensive effort they’re trying to produce during games. Applewhite wasn’t here long enough for me to care to have an opinion about him. There certainly isn’t any evidence that Held, the guy before him, did much with the running back talent he had. I will say that Gabe had the best (albeit short) run of play early in 2023. And Rahmir had the best game of his career at the end of last season. Barthel was their coach. EJ is very much ready to play and we will probably see what Nelson can do. So Barthel must be doing some things right.
The way the backs are going to be used changed the moment Holgerson took over play calling. Instead of featuring a power back type, which favored guys like Gabe and Dowdell, Holgerson is going to use guys that are more all purpose and guys who can get in space and operate. And it seems Holgerson is satisfied with the progress of the running backs, and so is Rhule. So they would obviously also be fine with Barthel. Maybe they are wrong. But I operate on the principle that they have way more evidence for the choices that they are making than you do. The probability that they are wrong is far less than the probability that you have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about.
It was posted on this board a while back (actually by me on the previous now defunct version) that Ron landed EJ in the short window he had as a recruiter. Ron’s forgotten more about coaching running backs than most people ever learn and of course he saw the talent there.

 

[Bigred2467]

I think Dana was wondering why Neyor was playing as much as he was. He made some vague references to that ilk although he didn't name names or positions. Neyor didn't block or couldn't block. That's a pretty big deal. If I recall, Dana didn't really care if Neyor was at the bowl game or not. He'd had enough.

But Holgorsen had him in there during a key drive at the end of the Iowa game. And we all saw what happened.

 

[IM4NUAlways]

I am not sure you can say Nebraska is not overflowing with talent. Those players are all athletic and most are long. Lack of experience does not mean lack of talent.

No but lack of experience is sometimes a bigger factor than talent. We don't need to go into the first game with guys who have little or know experience.

 

[IM4NUAlways]

There is no evidence to support EJ being the best RB at the beginning of 2023. He was fourth on the depth chart. He was a RS freshman who didn't play the prior year. Injuries to Ervin and Rahmir, plus Grant being a bit thick in the head gave him an opening that he absolutely took advantage of. You're just post-hoc engineering his emergence to support your idea that he was best all along and Rhule was an idiot for not playing him.
Javin Wright will be covering TEs. Rhule has mentioned this more than once. Mazzucca was getting some fat NIL dough and he was benched. Gomes listed measurables show he is 3 inches taller and 5 pounds heavier than Hartzog.

You dont think coaches can scheme to get a TE on a particular DB? Come on. Its pretty easy these days.

 

[IM4NUAlways]

You are crazy if you think single digits and NIL don't have influence on who starts.

Exactly. NIL especially. The single digit thing needs to go away.

 

[inWV]

Exactly. NIL especially. The single digit thing needs to go away.

Why do you think a process in which the players decide who among them are the toughest players and leaders on the team should "go away"?

 

[IM4NUAlways]

Why do you think a process in which the players decide who among them are the toughest players and leaders on the team should "go away"?

When some dont change or give them back after being chosen it teams nothing. Plus others wearing them from the start.

Its a gimmick. If they like it so be it but every player should buy in then like everything else.

 

[dinglefritz]

I don’t care about your claims of proximity to the program. Family with close connections? As far as losing best players, I think Bork played enough to get the film to get a bag from Alabama. Holgerson and Rhule could have matched, but Lindenmeyer was taking reps late in the season and Holgerson likes his game. Fidone was already thinking NFL at that same time. As far as Lloyd goes, it’s a shame he wasn’t good enough to take more reps away from Neyor, cause that dude had hands of stone.
If I’m coaching, I probably keep Bork. But I’m not, and I don’t get hung up on it.

Lloyd’s hands weren’t above average.

 

[dinglefritz]

In 2023, I thought both Rahmir and Gabe looked good running in Satt’s offense and then they went down. Dowdell played well enough last year to get UK to show up with some dough. EJ and increasingly looking like Nelson and Mozee are the kind of backs Holgerson can do a lot of things with. They say the Nelson kid is a hard runner and it looks like we will find out.

EJ definitely benefited from having Dana take over.

 

[dinglefritz]

Nelson would be the first RB at Nebraska since Corey Ross in 2005 to redshirt and then develop into a good RB. Not saying it can't happen for EJ and Nelson, but the odds are not in their favor.

It could be that he’s the first quality RB we’ve had in a long time who wasn’t forced to play as a true freshman due to a lack of quality depth. He needed a year of S&C to play RB in the BIG.

 

[dinglefritz]

You are crazy if you think single digits and NIL don't have influence on who starts.

You’re crazy if you don’t realize guys getting single digits are already going to be starters. How many guys who earned Blackshirts for Charlie ever lost that starting spot for any reason other than injury?

 

[dinglefritz]

Exactly. NIL especially. The single digit thing needs to go away.

I’m not a fan of single digits either but as the season progresses that won’t have much influence on a guy’s playing time if he isn’t producing. We saw multiple young talented guys get snaps as the year went on last year. There’s going to be plenty of guys earning their snaps this year as well.

 

[OxfordComma]

I would be fine with single digit thing as long as:
* The standards for voting are clearly spelled out. It’s pointless if it’s just a popularity contest.
* There’s no carryover from the last year. If you get a single digit in one season, it’s not yours for the rest of your eligibility. I would go far as to say that if you had one last year, you’re not eligible this year.
* The players like and support the concept
* Coach’s playing time decisions aren’t impacted.

Not sure all of this is the case, so I am a bit sus.

 

[litespeedhuskerfan]

*

 

[TruHusker]

I am not sure you can say Nebraska is not overflowing with talent. Those players are all athletic and most are long. Lack of experience does not mean lack of talent.

At this level, all of these players are “athletic” and “talented” or they wouldn’t be where they are at. There different levels of talent obviously as someone has to be the starter and someone(s) are behind them. Experience plays a factor but at the same time, throwing names out and labeling them as talented is a bit premature. Time will tell and every year someone goes down and someone has to step up.

 

[Trike Rider]

I’m not butthurt about anything. I just know that I am not coaching the program, I’m not seeing the players on a daily basis and I don’t know specifically how the coaches think the players will translate to the offensive effort they’re trying to produce during games. Applewhite wasn’t here long enough for me to care to have an opinion about him. There certainly isn’t any evidence that Held, the guy before him, did much with the running back talent he had. I will say that Gabe had the best (albeit short) run of play early in 2023. And Rahmir had the best game of his career at the end of last season. Barthel was their coach. EJ is very much ready to play and we will probably see what Nelson can do. So Barthel must be doing some things right.
The way the backs are going to be used changed the moment Holgerson took over play calling. Instead of featuring a power back type, which favored guys like Gabe and Dowdell, Holgerson is going to use guys that are more all purpose and guys who can get in space and operate. And it seems Holgerson is satisfied with the progress of the running backs, and so is Rhule. So they would obviously also be fine with Barthel. Maybe they are wrong. But I operate on the principle that they have way more evidence for the choices that they are making than you do. The probability that they are wrong is far less than the probability that you have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about.
It was posted on this board a while back (actually by me on the previous now defunct version) that Ron landed EJ in the short window he had as a recruiter. Ron’s forgotten more about coaching running backs than most people ever learn and of course he saw the talent there.

This is the university of Lincoln fvcking Nebraska. We need two 4-5 star RB recruits in every class.

I have higher standards than Oregon's 5th string RB and one 4 star, but that's just me. EJ is a major liability.

 

[inWV]

This is the university of Lincoln fvcking Nebraska. We need two 4-5 star RB recruits in every class.

I have higher standards than Oregon's 5th string RB and one 4 star, but that's just me. EJ is a major liability.

The last three RBs at NU who played at an All Conference or All American level.
Roy Helu - 5.5 3*
Rex Burkhead - 5.8 4*
Ameer Abdullah - 5.7 3*
Others of note
Terrell Newby - 5.8 4*
Devine Ozigbo - 5.6 3*
A few others that didn't work well out for one reason or another.
Mikale Wilbon - 5.8 4*
Jaylin Bradley - 5.5 3*
Greg Bell - 5.8 4*

NU has had few 5* recruits. They have had success with 3* and 4* players and washouts of 3* and 4* players. Holgerson doesn't believe EJ is a major liability. We've had low and mid 3* do well and 4* end up on milk cartons. I'm sure if NU begins to consistently win again, higher regarded players will kick the tires on the program. But past history shows those blue chips don't always pan out.

 

[Trike Rider]

The last three RBs at NU who played at an All Conference or All American level.
Roy Helu - 5.5 3*
Rex Burkhead - 5.8 4*
Ameer Abdullah - 5.7 3*
Others of note
Terrell Newby - 5.8 4*
Devine Ozigbo - 5.6 3*
A few others that didn't work well out for one reason or another.
Mikale Wilbon - 5.8 4*
Jaylin Bradley - 5.5 3*
Greg Bell - 5.8 4*

NU has had few 5* recruits. They have had success with 3* and 4* players and washouts of 3* and 4* players. Holgerson doesn't believe EJ is a major liability. We've had low and mid 3* do well and 4* end up on milk cartons. I'm sure if NU begins to consistently win again, higher regarded players will kick the tires on the program. But past history shows those blue chips don't always pan out.

My definition of good RBs at NU stops after Ameer in 2014. Ozigbo was decent, but definitely on a lower level than every rb before him going back to the 1990s. This is exactly why we need 2 to 3 high level RBs in every single class.

One major aspect of Nebraska's downfall this past decade can be directly linked to the lack of recruiting and development from the RB position. This is our programs worst run of RB talent going back to the early 1960s.....

 

[RBigredMax1]

This is the university of Lincoln fvcking Nebraska. We need two 4-5 star RB recruits in every class.

I have higher standards than Oregon's 5th string RB and one 4 star, but that's just me. EJ is a major liability.

Serious question … do the sleeves of your Starter jacket get in the way when you are typing posts?

 

[RBigredMax1]

My definition of good RBs at NU stops after Ameer in 2014. Ozigbo was decent, but definitely on a lower level than every rb before him going back to the 1990s. This is exactly why we need 2 to 3 high level RBs in every single class.

One major aspect of Nebraska's downfall this past decade can be directly linked to the lack of recruiting and development from the RB position. This is our programs worst run of RB talent going back to the early 1960s.....

Do you attribute any of the issues to Oline play or lack of passing threat to some of the issues at RB?

 

[InMotion]

My definition of good RBs at NU stops after Ameer in 2014. Ozigbo was decent, but definitely on a lower level than every rb before him going back to the 1990s. This is exactly why we need 2 to 3 high level RBs in every single class.

One major aspect of Nebraska's downfall this past decade can be directly linked to the lack of recruiting and development from the RB position. This is our programs worst run of RB talent going back to the early 1960s.....

Our O-Line play has been average at best for the past 20 plus years. Fix that issue and then the skill players will matter again. The O-Line has to make a huge step for Nebraska to maintain long term success.

When was our last All American O-lineman?
Toniu Fonoti OG 2001
Dominic Raiola C 2000
We had 1 O-line All American almost every single year in the 90s.

Hmm, what's been missing?

 

[Trike Rider]

Our O-Line play has been average at best for the past 20 plus years. Fix that issue and then the skill players will matter again. The O-Line has to make a huge step for Nebraska to maintain long term success.

When was our last All American O-lineman?
Toniu Fonoti OG 2001
Dominic Raiola C 2000
We had 1 O-line All American almost every single year in the 90s.

Hmm, what's been missing?

How did Pork Chop, Brandon Jackson, Roy Helu, Burkhead, and Abdullah have such a dominant 10 year run with bad OL play?????

The OL is not responsible for a decade of bad recruiting and development at the RB position buddy.

 

[Trike Rider]

Do you attribute any of the issues to Oline play or lack of passing threat to some of the issues at RB?

Ameer, Burkhead, Helu, Brandon Jackson, and Pork Chop make every recruit since 2014 look like scrubs.

It comes down to recruitment and development. Something that hasn't happened since Ron Brown and Tim Beck left over a decade ago.

 

[inWV]

How did Pork Chop, Brandon Jackson, Roy Helu, Burkhead, and Abdullah have such a dominant 10 year run with bad OL play?????

The OL is not responsible for a decade of bad recruiting and development at the RB position buddy.

Newby almost had 900 yards Riley's 2nd year. The last time the team won 9 games. And that was a duct tape and baling wire OL, and makes the contrast to what Frost and Austin didn't achieve on the OL even more stark.

 

[OxfordComma]

The last three RBs at NU who played at an All Conference or All American level.
Roy Helu - 5.5 3*
Rex Burkhead - 5.8 4*
Ameer Abdullah - 5.7 3*
Others of note
Terrell Newby - 5.8 4*
Devine Ozigbo - 5.6 3*
A few others that didn't work well out for one reason or another.
Mikale Wilbon - 5.8 4*
Jaylin Bradley - 5.5 3*
Greg Bell - 5.8 4*

NU has had few 5* recruits. They have had success with 3* and 4* players and washouts of 3* and 4* players. Holgerson doesn't believe EJ is a major liability. We've had low and mid 3* do well and 4* end up on milk cartons. I'm sure if NU begins to consistently win again, higher regarded players will kick the tires on the program. But past history shows those blue chips don't always pan out.

A players original star rating is just a one time projection of his football potential when he was a 17 year old high schooler. It’s a reasonably good guesstimate at the time, but as time progresses it becomes less relevant when discussing particular players. Game tape or the lack thereof is more meaningful.

In the long offseason, you will see stories like: What if the NFL draft from 2-3 years ago was re-done, what would it look like? Of course, it’s drastically different except for the handful of first round hits. And the NFL has a lot better data over a longer period on fewer players to evaluate than On3 rating HS players.

 

[inWV]

Ameer, Burkhead, Helu, Brandon Jackson, and Pork Chop make every recruit since 2014 look like scrubs.

It comes down to recruitment and development. Something that hasn't happened since Ron Brown and Tim Beck left over a decade ago.

Dowdell was a top 50 recruit and the number 8 RB out of HS per Rivals. He is a perfectly fine power back.

 

[Tjlskers526]

Ameer, Burkhead, Helu, Brandon Jackson, and Pork Chop make every recruit since 2014 look like scrubs.

It comes down to recruitment and development. Something that hasn't happened since Ron Brown and Tim Beck left over a decade ago.

Ron Brown has been back on the staff since 2018 where he was director of player development....

 

[Trike Rider]

Ron Brown has been back on the staff since 2018 where he was director of player development....

He hasn't recruited or coached actively since Bo was fired. Also Brown was known for developing the Rbs. Tim Beck identified and recruited talent.

 

[Trike Rider]

Dowdell was a top 50 recruit and the number 8 RB out of HS per Rivals. He is a perfectly fine power back.

He was Oregon's 5th string rb when we recruited him buddy. Again extremely average.

 

[RBigredMax1]

He was Oregon's 5th string rb when we recruited him buddy. Again extremely average.

Relation to others on the roster is irrelevant - he was exactly what you said you wanted in terms of stars and potential.

 

[Big bo fan]

He was Oregon's 5th string rb when we recruited him buddy. Again extremely average.

He was a true freshman on a playoff team ( current format). He was a top 10 RB out of HS. Exactly what you think we should be recruiting.

 

[inWV]

He was Oregon's 5th string rb when we recruited him buddy. Again extremely average.

Bucky Irving was a 4* recruit out of HS with 2 1000 yd seasons. Jordan James was a 4* recruit out of HS and was a 1000 yd rusher his last year. Both are playing in the league. Dowdell and the other two RBs on that roster combined for less than 350 yards rushing. They weren't factors, and they weren't going to take reps from the top two guys. He was recruited to NU to be a power back and he performed well in that role. That role is going to be diminished under Holgerson and KY showed up with a pickup bed full of cash, so he transferred. Are there better backs? Sure. Dowdell is average? No.
Dowdell's departure from Eugene and Lincoln was because he's not much for catching the ball out of the backfield. But in 2024, Dowdell's had almost as many yards rushing as the other two Oregon scrub RBs from 2023 combined.

 

[inWV]

Relation to others on the roster is irrelevant - he was exactly what you said you wanted in terms of stars and potential.

In his mind, Dowdell sucks, and any evidence to the contrary must be waived away. In reality, the kid has some real strengths but also has a deficiency or two. An NFL evaluation mention that he seems to seek contact. That should be able to be modified with coaching.

 

[RealTucoSalamanca]

No but lack of experience is sometimes a bigger factor than talent. We don't need to go into the first game with guys who have little or know experience.

He wrote there was not an overflow of talent. He didn't mention experience. There are plenty of P4 football players that have ample talent to play their freshman year and some do. When you don't know what they can do on the football field you just can't assume they have a lack of talent.

I write this alot on this forum, but college football players rotate out and nearly every player that is uses all of their eligibility going to be replaced by someone younger and less experienced. That doesn't mean they are less talented than who they replace. In my opinion Van Popple is more talented than Hutmacher and possibly Robinson. Will he have the same impact as a RS Frosh as 23 year old Robinson did? IDK, but I believe by the time he is a senior, he will have better stats and be a better player than either of the other 2

 

[Trike Rider]

Relation to others on the roster is irrelevant - he was exactly what you said you wanted in terms of stars and potential.

When we recruited Dowdell he was a 3 star and the 19th ranked transfer RB. I'm sorry if that concept is hard for you to comprehend, but those are not rankings of an elite prospect.

 

[Trike Rider]

He wrote there was not an overflow of talent. He didn't mention experience. There are plenty of P4 football players that have ample talent to play their freshman year and some do. When you don't know what they can do on the football field you just can't assume they have a lack of talent.

I write this alot on this forum, but college football players rotate out and nearly every player that is uses all of their eligibility going to be replaced by someone younger and less experienced. That doesn't mean they are less talented than who they replace. In my opinion Van Popple is more talented than Hutmacher and possibly Robinson. Will he have the same impact as a RS Frosh as 23 year old Robinson did? IDK, but I believe by the time he is a senior, he will have better stats and be a better player than either of the other 2

This doesn't hold true for RB's. If they don't play considerable snaps as a freshman you can basically write that player off from ever developing into a stud.

The past 20 years of Nebraska football has held true to this fact even with the new 4 game redshirt rule.

 

[Mr. Dick Herbstreit]

We have so many options at Corner. Buford and Hartzog can both slide over and play on an island if needed.

Did you watch any games last year? Hartzog can’t cover ****!!

 

[inWV]

When we recruited Dowdell he was a 3 star and the 19th ranked transfer RB. I'm sorry if that concept is hard for you to comprehend, but those are not rankings of an elite prospect.

For both the 2024 and 2025 portal cycles, 247 lists him #14 (actually tied for #10). In both years, the list of portal RBs is much longer than that. I count 201 players on the 247 RB list for 2025. That would be him in the top 7 percent of portal RBs. Elite? Depends on how you define that. A pretty solid big back? For sure.
Somehow you are hung up on this elite thing, and if a player isn't elite, he sucks or is average. It's a little grade schoolish.

 

[Walleye 1]

The angst of jilted Husker fans. Never ceases to amaze me. 15 days to go. Can’t wait

 

[RBigredMax1]

When we recruited Dowdell he was a 3 star and the 19th ranked transfer RB. I'm sorry if that concept is hard for you to comprehend, but those are not rankings of an elite prospect.

So you would have been happy if we landed him a year prior and out of high school AND before he went to one of the top programs in the country and got worse?