Top 40 Huskers for 2023: 21-25

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.

Next up are the top 21-25 Husker players. There are plenty of wildcards littered throughout this group, including NU’s starting tackles from 2022.

RELATED: 40-36 | 35-31 | 30-26

25. Zavier Betts, WR, Soph.

Sean	Sipple	Robin	Abby
27th	20th	25th	32nd

Of all of Nebraska’s numerous X-factors in 2023, Zavier Betts may be the most intriguing.

Now a sophomore, Betts sat out last season after departing the Husker program in March of that year. By all accounts he has done a great job transitioning back into football life after rejoining the team in January. Positive comments from receivers Garrett McGuire earlier in June touched on his academic work, too.

Betts’ talent isn’t in question. The former four-star recruit showed multiple explosive moments throughout his first stint in Lincoln. Notable highlights include a 45-yard touchdown catch-and-run against Penn State in 2020. The 55-yard grab at Oklahoma in the next year sticks out along with an 83-yard option play against Northwestern.

The latter play is Nebraska’s longest rush since 2012.

Billy Kemp projects as the Huskers’ top wideout from the slot, but Nebraska is still looking for playmakers on the outside. Betts can be that weapon for NU if he gets back up to speed.

24. Nate Boerkircher, TE, Soph.

Sean	Sipple	Robin	Abby
22nd	23rd	22nd	33rd

While much of the offseason discussion around Nebraska’s tight ends involves Arik Gilbert and Thomas Fidone, it’s clear that Nate Boerkircher could play an important role for the Huskers this season.

The sophomore made headlines in May when Rhule announced the former walk-on had been place on scholarship.

Boerkircher’s numbers a year ago were relatively pedestrian. He collected six catches for 52 yards and a touchdown in 2022. But, Rhule called the 6-foot-5, 230-pounder a starting-caliber tight end last month. Boerkircher led the White team in receiving yards during the spring game. His three catches for 44 yards were featured a 38-yard grab.

Gilbert and Fidone each have their own questions to answer ahead of Boerkircher. The first is yet to be officially cleared by the NCAA on his eligibility waiver while the second’s injury history is well documented.

Should either be unable to take the field in August, Boerkircher’s number will certainly be called. That’s assuming he doesn’t work his way up the depth chart or become a commonality in multi-tight end sets.

23. Turner Corcoran, OL, Jr.

Sean	Sipple	Robin	Abby
33rd	24th	32nd	11th

Turner Corcoran will have a key part to play on Nebraska’s offensive line this season. Where? That remains to be seen.

The junior started the first three games of 2022 at left guard before switching to left tackle for the final nine contests when Teddy Prochazka got injured. With Prochazka and Nouredin Nouili back in the picture, it’s hard to project where Corcoran ends up.

Corcoran had an average offensive grade of 62.6 from Pro Football Focus when at left guard. Those three games saw a gradual graded increase up to his best game of the season against Georgia Southern where he scored a 72.6.

The rest of the year at left tackle saw an average offensive grade of 40.4 and a pass-blocking grade at 26.2.

The 6-foot-6, 300-pound Corcoran said this spring he had been working at a number of different positions like the rest of his fellow lineman. It’s part of Donovan Raiola’s strategy to prepare his unit for uncomfortable in-game situations.

It’s easy to see Corcoran playing on the inside or outside of the line as needed. Where Corcoran fits is for Raiola to decide.

22. Marques Buford, DB, Jr.

Sean	Sipple	Robin	Abby
25th	28th	17th	18th

Junior defensive back Marques Buford appears ready to take his game to the next level.

A solid sophomore season came to an end in the Huskers’ home finale with a season-ending injury against Wisconsin. Buford started the prior 11 games and totaled 59 tackles, three pass breakups, two interceptions and a forced fumble. His recovery from injury held Buford out of spring competition.

The former three-star recruit has a solid library of experience to pull from. Buford played in every game as a freshman in 2021 and fought through an injury the previous spring. However, most of that came on special teams with two defensive appearances. Given that, it’s evident the talent Buford displayed last year was no fluke.

So, what does his next jump look like?

Some of it depends on how well and how quickly Buford’s rehab goes. How soon can he get on the field and learn Tony White’s defense? What does he look like once he can put pads on again? Critical questions to answer for a potentially important piece of the Blackshirt defense.

21. Bryce Benhart, OL, Jr.

Sean	Sipple	Robin	Abby
32nd	16th	23rd	16th

Bryce Benhart’s measurables have never been in question. The 6-foot-9, 315-pound tackle has had his fair share of struggles though.

Benhart started 11 games at right tackle this past season and finished with an offensive grade above 70 once according to his Pro Football Focus evaluation. His year-long average was 60.6 with a 57.7 pass-blocking grade. While both of these were better than his counterpart Corcoran, it’s not the level of play expected of a player who has been with the program since 2019.

But Rhule still believes in Benhart. He called him a potential NFL player during a press conference this past spring.

A change in Nebraska’s strength-training program may be a factor that helps Benhart trend in that direction. The junior recently highlighted strength coach Corey Cambell’s focus on training flexibility.

“Flexibility affects how you play,” Benhart said in April. “Flexibility, it helps a lot – just be able to bend, get lower, get under, start the fight and come off the line.”

Benhart and the rest of the Husker offensive line has the full support of the coaching staff. The fall will reveal if that backing, and Benhart’s work, pays off.

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