The 3-2-1: What we learned from Nebraska's updated roster, more B1G talk

We continue our weekly column, “The 3-2-1,” which will look at some of the top current storylines surrounding Husker athletics.

Here we recap three new things we learned, ask two pressing questions, and make one bold prediction.

Three things we learned

1. Nebraska has a history with new Big Ten members USC, UCLA

Last week’s announcement that USC and UCLA would join the Big Ten Conference in 2024 sent shockwaves around the college sports landscape. But for Nebraska, the new additions will be relatively familiar foes.

The Huskers have played a combined 18 football games against the Trojans and Bruins, with six coming in the last 16 years.

NU has never beaten USC, standing at 0-4-1 in the all-time series, and three of those losses have come since 2006 (45-42 in the 2014 Holiday Bowl; 49-31 at home in 2007, and a 28-10 road loss in 2006). 

The only tie came back in 1970, a 21-21 deadlock in Lincoln that helped preserve Nebraska’s undefeated national championship run.

The history with UCLA runs even deeper, as the programs have met 13 times with the last three games played in the past 10 years. The Huskers won the most recent meeting in the 2015 Foster Farms Bowl (37-29) but got swept in a home-and-home series in 2013 (41-21 in Lincoln) and 2012 (36-30 in Pasadena).

As it turns out, no current Big Ten team has played UCLA more than Nebraska. Illinois is next with 12 all-time meetings, followed by Michigan and Wisconsin (11). 

The Huskers are also one of only three Big Ten teams with a winning record vs. the Bruins (7-6). Michigan is 8-3 against UCLA, while Minnesota is 2-1.

For USC, Ohio State is the clear rival in its future conference. The Trojans and Buckeyes have faced off 24 times, with USC owning a 13-10-1 all-time series lead.

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2. NU’s updated roster shows the evolution of its defense

Nebraska updated its 2022 football roster with the latest heights, weights, jersey numbers, etc., earlier this week. One change that jumped out immediately was the addition of a couple of new defensive position names.

The Huskers now have listed position groups of EDGE and NICK. EDGE is the hybrid role of outside linebackers/defensive ends, while NICK is the group working at nickel back.

Players now at EDGE include Garrett Nelson, Ochaun Mathis, Caleb Tannor, Jimari Butler, Blaise Gunnerson, Jake Appleget, and a handful of other walk-ons.

Those at NICK include Chris Kolarevic, Isaac Gifford, Javin Wright, and Gage Stenger, among others.

For me, those changes reflect what Nebraska’s defensive scheme has steadily evolved into over the past few years. It’s not just a true 3-4 system, as it regularly uses four down linemen and a nickel back. 

Depending on the opponent and situation, NU has utilized a 3-4, 4-3, and even some form of a 5-2 in a single game. The newest roster reflects how some positions have evolved along with that schematic flexibility.

3. Teddy Prochazka somehow got even bigger

Sophomore left tackle Teddy Prochazka was already larger than life, even by college football standards. But, according to Nebraska’s recently-updated roster, the Elkhorn native somehow got even bigger.

The Huskers now list Prochazka at a whopping 6 feet, 10 inches, and 320 pounds. That’s one inch taller and 15 pounds heavier than the 6-9, 305 he was listed at last season.

Prochazka is one of the most important pieces to an offensive line that is arguably the most concerning position group on NU’s roster. However, questions remain about where he is in his recovery from a significant season-ending knee injury he suffered last October vs. Michigan.

When I spoke with him earlier this summer, Prochazka guaranteed that he would be ready to go for the start of fall camp. Though he feels 100%, handling the mental hurdles of such an injury will be equally important.

Two questions this week

1. Who will Nebraska send to Big Ten Media Days?

The annual Big Ten Media Days event has always felt like the unofficial start to the college football season. This year’s trip to Indianapolis is now a little more than two weeks away.

After an offseason full of change and the departures of some of NU’s most veteran leaders on both sides of the ball, it will be interesting to see which players head coach Scott Frost chooses to represent the Huskers at Media Days.

An obvious choice would be Nelson, who is maybe the top leader on the team right now. After that, though, it’s up for debate.

Nebraska doesn’t have many established returners on offense. Would it go with a guy like Travis Vokolek, who has stepped into a leadership role but has limited on-field production?

Inside linebackers Nick Henrich or Luke Reimer would make sense on defense. How about Tannor, who is a bit unfiltered on social media but has garnered a lot of respect from his teammates this offseason? From the secondary, Quinton Newsome would seem like a logical choice.

Those selections could also give us a glimpse into where NU might go with its eventual decisions on 2022 team captains.

2. Are the Huskers reshaping their offensive line?

Prochazka’s gains stood out as much as anything when looking at Nebraska’s latest roster, but the rest of the offensive line also raised eyebrows for a different reason. 

Overall, the unit has apparently dropped a significant amount of weight across the board, with Prochazka being one of the few exceptions as a guy who bulked up.

Henry Lutovsky was listed as 20 pounds lighter than a year ago, going from 330 to 310. So was Broc Bando, who went from 315 to 295. Trent Hixson (320 to 305) and Bryce Benhart (330 to 315) were right behind at 15 pounds lighter. Ethan Piper (305 to 295) was down 10 pounds.

In all, 12 of the Huskers’ 19 returning offensive linemen from last season are said to be at least five pounds lighter than they were in 2021. Of those 19, only four had gained weight.

These are just preseason measurements and obviously will fluccuate between now and December. But it’s still interesting to see how the o-line seems to be trimming down under new OL coach Donovan Raiola. 

I will be in Nebraska This weekend for a Official Visit #GBR🌽 #gohuskers pic.twitter.com/z4nvZVDtNf

— Ryan Robinson,Jr. 1️⃣. (@ryan1rob) June 16, 2022

One prediction

Nebraska’s run of commitments is going to slow down for a bit

Nebraska’s recruiting has been on a torrid pace lately, landing commitments from three 2023 prospects in four days over the Fourth of July weekend.

However, I’m getting the sense that things will cool off a bit for the Huskers, at least for a while.

I predict that NU will have no more than one commitment publicly announced through the rest of July. There could be a silent commit or two in the books during that time, but those likely won’t be made official until August at the earliest.

The best chance Nebraska has at another July commitment is New Orleans cornerback Ryan Robinson Jr. After that, I don’t see anything else happening until August and September.