Top 40 Huskers for 2023: 16-20
With Nebraska football’s 2023 season around the corner, the HuskerOnline team voted on the top 40 Huskers for Matt Rhule’s first season.
The voting criteria was to rank the players based on importance to the team, overall talent and future potential for the upcoming season. Our voters focused specifically on the 2023 season, not future seasons or a player’s long-term importance or future talent.
The voting panel consisted of HuskerOnline Publisher Sean Callahan, columnist Steven Sipple, senior writer Robin Washut and staff writer Abby Barmore. Each voter submitted their own Top 40 list from which the votes were tallied.
Our series continues with the top 16-20 Huskers out of 40. This group includes some key starters and a few who will be battling for a job in 2023.
RELATED: 40-36 | 31-35 | 26-30 | 25-21 |
20. Nick Henrich, LB, Jr.
| Sean | Sipple | Robin | Abby |
| 14th | 25th | 27th | 14th |
2022 team captain Nick Henrich has been a staple in Nebraska’s defense over the last two seasons. However, in 2022, Henrich battled injuries as he started five games before suffering a season-ending injury. The linebacker sat out this spring but could be a full go this fall.
Over the last two seasons, Henrich recorded 136 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and a half sack in 17 games. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound backer was second in total tackles (99) in 2021 behind fellow linebacker Luke Reimer‘s 108 tackles.
If Henrich stays healthy in 2023, he and Reimer will continue their dynamic duo. But they will have more linebackers in rotation than they are accustomed to. Former walk-on John Bullock is just one name in the inside linebacker mix.
19. Elijah Jeudy, DL, Fr.
| Sean | Sipple | Robin | Abby |
| 16th | 25th | 17th | 23th |
Defensive lineman Elijah Jeudy was one of three underclassmen to start on the D-line during Nebraska’s spring game. True freshman Cameron Lenhardt and Princewell Umanmielen lined up with Jeudy and junior Nash Hutmacher.
During the Red-White scrimmage, Jeudy had the second-most tackles (five) behind DB Isaac Gifford. The Texas A&M transfer also forced the Red team’s only fumble.
Jeudy delivered a huge hit to QB Heinrich Haarberg to force the ball to pop out. Michael Booker III scooped up the ball and ran it back for a 53-yard touchdown.
The Huskers were thin in the interior D-line during the spring and added a few more bodies with freshmen arriving this summer. Jeudy will be one of the D-linemen that Nebraska relies on heavily this fall.
18. Myles Farmer, S, Jr.
| Sean | Sipple | Robin | Abby |
| 9th | 26th | 14th | 29th |
Safety Myles Farmer has continually improved throughout his career at Nebraska. As a redshirt freshman in 2021, he played in every game and started the final four games of the season. He had 30 tackles with 0.5 tackles for loss, one interception and one fumble recovery.
Last season, Farmer started all 11 games he was available for. He leveled up with a career-high 73 tackles, one tackle for loss, four pass breakups and one interception. His interception and 17-yard return against Rutgers set up the game-winning drive.
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The Huskers will need plenty of reliable versatility defensive backs in its new 3-3-5 defense. Farmer has lots of experience playing in the Big Ten but will need to prove his reliability with many other options at safety.
17. Brian Buschini, P, Jr.
| Sean | Sipple | Robin | Abby |
| 26th | 8th | 21th | 17th |
Punter Brian Buschini is one of the top punters in the Big Ten and is next in our Top 40 Huskers. He was named on Athlon’s preseason All-Big Ten fourth-team.
In 2022, Buschini averaged 44 years per punt on 68 attempts, the eighth-highest season average in school history. He also ranked 25th nationally in punt average and sixth in the Big Ten.
Last season, he had 16 punts of 50 yards or longer and 14 punts downed inside the opponent’s 20-yard line. Against Wisconsin, Buschini had a career-high 74-yard punt which is the seventh-longest punt in school history.
The 6-foot-1, 225-pound junior was the FCS Punter of the Year and an FCS First-Team All-American in 2021 at Montana. His reliability, while battling through an injury in 2022, was critical for the Huskers. They’ll need that again in 2023.
16. Nouredin Nouili, OL, Sr.
| Sean | Sipple | Robin | Abby |
| 16th | 17th | 15th | 23th |
Next in our Huskers Top 40 is offensive lineman Noure Nouili. He was up for a big 2022 season after he started the final seven games at left guard in 2021. However, the former walk-on was forced to sit out of the 2022 season by the NCAA. Now, the Huskers need him to have a big senior season.
In 2021 as a sophomore, Nouili‘s first start was against Northwestern. The Huskers recorded one of their best 2021 performances. The 6-foot-4, 315-pound guard posted an 80.7 pass block grade, a 75.1 offense grade and a 73.6 run block grade on Pro Football Focus.
During Nebraska’s 2023 spring game, Nouili was the starting left guard on the first team. The White team rushed for 192 yards with an average of three yards per carry.
The Huskers are also thin on the offensive line. Nouili will need to continue where he left off and should have leveled up as a senior.
