The Nebraska football team is nearing the end of fall camp, and head coach Matt Rhule said he will (probably) announce who the Huskers will be playing this week.
That got me thinking about some of the other position battles. We made some predictions ahead of the Nebraska football team’s fall training camp and here’s where things stand on some of the Huskers’ most hotly contested position battles.
Quarterback: Announcement coming soon
Ohio State announced Will Howard as its starting quarterback last week. Rhule said he will announce the decision once it is finalized.
Despite some other good quarterbacks, it has to be five-star Dylan Raiola at this point. The kid is special and it’s clear he’s earned a spot as a leader on this team.
Daniel Kaelin was praised by Rhule. Heinrich Haarberg too, but I would be stunned if anyone other than Dylan Raiola was named the starting quarterback.
Runningback: In the air
It seemed like Dante Dowdell was lagging behind the rest not too long ago, but this week he started to step up and earned praise from offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield.
Dowdell was once a top-10 recruit at his position. He is 6’2″ and 220 pounds. Gabe Ervin has had some moments this fall. Rahmir Johnson has also stood out, and Emmett Johnson is solid.
It’s pure speculation who will start the first game, but right now it feels more like the running back team will make the decision.
Left Tackle: Out due to injury
As long as he stays healthy, Turner Corcoran will be the left tackle for Nebraska football this season. Corcoran battled Teddy Prochazka for the job. Prochazka started the final five games of last season and the 6-foot-1 tackle was possibly the Huskers’ best pass blocker before another knee injury ended his season.
Now the backup tackle position becomes important as Gunnar Gottula or Grant Brix could be needed this season.
Corcoran was average at best and missed the final five games last season due to injury, so one way or another, the Nebraska football team may have to use a freshman or redshirt freshman at left tackle this season.
Cornerback: Mario Buford
Injuries have plagued the battle for the starting cornerback position opposite Tommi Hill. Jeremiah Charles missed some time this fall and Blye Hill is just getting back to 100 percent.
Marques Buford has emerged as a candidate for the cornerback position. He has played safety and cornerback for the Huskers in the past, and on Saturday Rhule said he sleeps well when Buford, Tommi Hill, Malcolm Hartzog, DeShon Singleton and Isaac Gifford are on the field.
That tells me Buford will be the No. 2 cornerback in Week 1 against UTEP.
Kicker: Draw
The incumbent is Tristan Alvano, but Alvano has been limited by injuries. He didn’t start training camp on the Nebraska football team’s 120-man roster. Now he’s on, the former three-star recruit has been stripped of the yellow jersey.
Matt Rhule talked about John Hohl being ahead of Alvano, but that’s mostly due to injuries. Now that Alvano is healthy enough to compete, we should have more clarity.
Alvano has shown in the past that he can make big kicks. He just needs to find his consistency again and in a season where close games could be an issue again, decisive kicks are a must.
