Young Husker linebackers will decide the return of the blackshirts

By Marc Hudgens  |   Tuesday, March 04, 2008  |  Comments( 0 )

Nebraska Cornhuskers
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The Huskers' linebacker squad became severely depleted after last season with the losses of seniors Corey McKeon, Bo Rudd and future NFLer Steve Octavien, who tore it up in the combine. Replenishing this group will arguably be Bo Pelini's most-watched scenario by fans as the new head coach sets out to build another high-caliber defense, something Pelini is known for and for doing so almost instantaneously.

The opportunity is there for up-and-comers Tyler Wortman, Blake Lawrence, LaTravis Washington, and Phillip Dillard to make the defense special once again. Specifically, Dillard and Lawrence were highly-rated coming out of high school, so the talent is there albeit not the experience. The door is wide open, it's just a matter of rolling up the sleeves and putting in the elbow grease to get it.

If they hit on all fours, expect them to be the first to receive the blackshirts.

Pelini is more "Nebraska" than Callahan ever was. He's in synch with the fanbase and the university administration, with the legendary Tom Osborne leading the parade. Pelini likely has more carte blanche than any other head coach in all of college football, so he will have complete freedom to stamp this team in a huge way come March 26 when the Red-White Game commences.

Expect the brunt of the stamp's impact to hit the linebackers.

Pelini will be working very closely with linebackers coach Mike Ekeler, a Nebraska native who worked with Pelini at LSU and Oklahoma, so there is a historical chemistry there between the two to make for a formidable squad. If Ekeler brings back his fiery nature he had during playing days at Kansas State back in the early 1990s, expect a meanness to be infused into this young bunch.

Although it's difficult to expect All-Big XII honors for the new guys, the landscape is set for a solid linebacking corps this season that will only contribute to preventing points. Therefore there should be no reason why the retooled linebackers won't be donning the blackshirts by mid-season.
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About Marc Hudgens

Marc Hudgens has been with RealFootball365 since 2007, covering college football, specifically Clemson and Oregon. He also writes for SouthernPigskin.com covering the ACC. He enjoys the acidic wit of Hunter S. Thompson, is a freelance graphic designer and has written several screenplays. He ...
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