Top 40 Huskers for 2023: 6-10
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 6-10 top 40 Huskers, including some of the most critical players on the team.
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10. Malcolm Hartzog, DB, Soph.
| Sean | Sipple | Robin | Abby |
| 10th | 18th | 7th | 7th |
We kick off the Top 10 with defensive back Malcolm Hartzog. During the 2022 season, Hartzog started eight games and played in all 12 games as a true freshman. As a cornerback, he led Nebraska with three interceptions and added 22 tackles, one tackle for loss and two pass breakups.
The 5-foot-9, 170-pound cornerback was the first true freshman at Nebraska to start at corner since 2016. During his first start, which was against Indiana, he had one pass breakup and returned a blocked punt for a 30-yard touchdown.
Hartzog didn’t let up. He had his first career interception against Rutgers in the next game to secure the win.
Nebraska’s new coaching staff has been moving Hartzog around in the secondary. They are confident in his ability to play anywhere in the secondary. He started the Red-White Spring game at cornerback with Quinton Newsome.
9. Anthony Grant, RB, Sr.
| Sean | Sipple | Robin | Abby |
| 12th | 14th | 11th | 4th |
During his first season at Nebraska, Anthony Grant was the Huskers’ leading running back with 218 carries, the most by a Husker since 2014. He rushed for 915 yards with six rushing touchdowns and an average of 76.3 rushing yards per game.
The 2022 All-Big Ten honorable mention selection had three consecutive 100-yard rushing games to start the season. He had 101 yards and two touchdowns in his debut against Northwestern. Grant ended the season with five 100-yard rushing efforts, the first Husker to do so since Devine Ozigbo in 2018.
Nebraska’s second running back, true freshman Ajay Allen went down with a collarbone injury against Oklahoma. Allen and Grant proved to be a dynamic duo at running back. However, the other Husker running backs lacked consistency and NU relied heavily on Grant toward the end of the season.
This season, Nebraska has lots of experience and potential at running back. Gabe Ervin Jr. and Rahmir Johnson will be in the top rotation battle with Grant.
8. Thomas Fidone, TE, Soph.
| Sean | Sipple | Robin | Abby |
| 8th | 12th | 10th | 9th |
Thomas Fidone is preparing to make his Husker debut in 2023 after battling two major knee injuries. The sophomore has only played a few snaps in one game during his time as a Husker. He has not recorded a catch yet.
The tight end is projected to be Nebraska’s No. 1 tight end this fall with Nate Boerkircher and Arik Gilbert behind him. Fidone started on the first team during the Red-White spring game with Boerkircher. He recorded one catch for four yards.
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- 3
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He is one of the most highly anticipated players in Nebraska’s class of 2021. The 6-foot-6, 235-pound tight end was the 2021 class’s top tight end recruit and was a top 40 recruit. The Huskers dipped into Iowa to snag Fidone, a life long Husker fan.
The uncertainty of Gilbert’s 2023 eligibility and lack of experience out of the top three is one of the reasons that Fidone will need to show up big time this upcoming season. He has made it clear that he’s itching to get back from his injury and be a force in the Big Ten.
7. MJ Sherman, LB, Jr.
| Sean | Sipple | Robin | Abby |
| 6th | 7th | 8th | 12th |
Linebacker MJ Sherman has two seasons of eligibility at Nebraska after transferring from Georgia. The 6-foot-3, 250-pound linebacker played in every game of the Bulldog’s back-to-back national championship seasons.
Sherman played 136 snaps on defense in 2021 and 2022 and 308 snaps on special teams over the two seasons. He recorded 15 tackles, one tackle for loss and a half sack.
During the Huskers’ spring game, Sherman had four tackles and 1.5 tackles for a loss of six yards. The junior, who started for the White team, will be one of Nebraska’s key pass-rushers and linebackers this fall.
His skills will be maximized at the ‘jack’ position, which allows him to pass rush and drop back to play as a classic linebacker. Jimari Butler and Sherman have clicked with each other and within their new position.
6. Ty Robinson, DL, Jr.
| Sean | Sipple | Robin | Abby |
| 4th | 9th | 4th | 10th |
Nebraska’s defensive line will be critical to their success in 2023, just like usual. The Huskers don’t have much depth on the interior line, so senior Ty Robinson will be very important to their success.
The junior missed this spring as he recovered from a shoulder injury. Nebraska will struggle with depth if any of its interior linemen battle injuries this fall.
Robinson has played in every game since 2020 and started each game in 2022. He’s recorded 68 tackles, 10 tackles for a loss of 43 yards and four sacks for a loss of 34 yards over three seasons. He had four TFL and two sacks in both the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
The 6-foot-6, 310-pound lineman is Nebraska’s most experienced D-lineman. The Huskers will lean on him for leadership but also to make big-time plays.
