Nebraska linebackers should lead Big 12

By Nathan Walters  |   Friday, August 25, 2006  |  Comments( 24 )

Nebraska Cornhuskers
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It isn't very often a team can spout off the names of five players with starting experience at the linebacker position, and it's even rarer to say that fans can name those players as well. But that isn't the case at Nebraska, as the Cornhuskers finish up fall camp and prepare for their season-opening game against Louisiana Tech on Sept. 2.

The Nebraska Cornhuskers do indeed return five linebackers that started at least one game in 2005, and three of those returning players are coming off season-ending injuries.

Senior Steve Octavien broke his leg in the first game of the '05 season against Maine, but was already proving himself to be a playmaker for the Huskers, amassing four tackles --including two for losses-- all in the first quarter.

Senior Stewart Bradley suffered a knee injury against Texas Tech in the fifth game of the season and was also sidelined for the rest of the Huskers' campaign. However, before his injury, Bradley opened last season in strong fashion, collecting 26 tackles, including five tackles for loss and three sacks in the season's first five games. He also reached the end zone for the first time in his career, returning an interception 43 yards for a touchdown in the Huskers' 31-3 win over Wake Forest. Bradley had a pair of seven-tackle efforts before his injury.

Junior Bo Ruud, younger brother of Nebraska's all-time leading tackler Barrett Ruud, was the third linebacker to go down with injury in 2005. Ruud became a starter after Octavien broke his leg and would start the rest of the season before breaking his arm while preparing for the Alamo Bowl. Prior to his injury, Ruud had 41 solo tackles to go along with his 80 assists and was third on the team with 14 tackles for loss. In the opening game of the season, Ruud recovered a fumble and returned an interception for a touchdown. He also recorded five tackles for loss against Kansas, a Nebraska linebacker record.

Ruud, Bradley and Octavien now join juniors Lance Brandenburgh and Cory McKeon and make up a linebacking corps that could allow the Huskers to play a 3-4 defense at times, in order to maximize the amount of talent on the field.

McKeon was named to Second-Team All-Big 12 after a stellar 2005 campaign in which he set a Nebraska linebacker single-season record with 22 tackles for loss. He had a team-high 98 tackles, including five double-figure tackle efforts, three interceptions and eight pass breakups. McKeon had at least one tackle for loss in nine of 12 games, including eight games with two or more tackles for loss. He has been named to the 2006 Chuck Bednarik Watch List as well as being named preseason First-Team All-Big 12. The Bednarik Award is handed out annually to the Defensive Player of The Year.

Junior Lance Brandenburgh provided great depth for the Cornhuskers last season after missing four of the first five games with a leg injury. He played in eight games overall and recorded 23 total tackles, including five tackles for loss. He played behind Bo Ruud until Ruud was injured. Brandenburgh then started at linebacker against Michigan and made six tackles in the Huskers' win over the Wolverines.

The Cornhusker linebackers should provide great depth behind what may be the best defensive line in the country, and, with all the returning talent at the LB position, defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove will have some serious decision-making in front of him in the next few days. Regardless of who starts or what the defensive scheme is, know that Nebraska will be looking forward to making Louisiana Tech quarterback Zac Champion very uncomfortable.

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