Iowa Hawkeyes 2022 schedule breakdown: Nebraska

Right here it’s, the final recreation of the season! Hopefully, Iowa is standing at an 11-0 document with upsets over Ohio State and Michigan and the Cornhuskers signify their final cease earlier than the Huge Ten Championship… after which the nationwide championship. Whether or not or not that is certainly the truth (we will actually hope), Nebraska is a heck of a recreation to finish the season on.

The Cornhuskers are an especially attention-grabbing staff with how they’re portrayed within the media. Many have known as Nebraska the best three-win staff in faculty soccer historical past and suggesting that they had been significantly better than their 2021 document steered. If a couple of possessions swung the opposite approach, Nebraska may have completed as probably the greatest groups within the convention!

On the finish of the day, although, the Cornhuskers had been nonetheless a 3-9 staff final yr, and coach Scott Frost is on the most well liked of scorching seats. As many have identified, Nebraska is a troublesome out. They gave a number of high groups a troublesome battle final yr, together with each Michigan and Michigan State. They characteristic a sturdy protection and hope the offense takes a step ahead in 2022.

Casey Thompson, quarterback

AP Picture/Rebecca S. Gratz

Gone is Adrian Martinez! It feels so bizarre. After exhibiting promise as a freshman, many had excessive hopes of Martinez changing into a dual-threat star. Hopefully, he may convey Nebraska again to being a real energy! It didn’t actually work out that approach. He may at all times run, however Martinez by no means superior as a passer in his final three years as a Cornhusker. If something, he regressed.

Martinez is at Kansas State now, enter Casey Thompson. Thompson was an unlucky casualty of star prospect Quinn Ewers’ switch to Texas, and that could be Nebraska’s achieve. In his solely season as a starter, Thompson threw 24 landing passes and added one other 4 on the bottom. He won’t have been elite, however he gives a superb quantity of upside to the Cornhuskers’ passing recreation.

Luke Reimer, linebacker

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As talked about beforehand, the protection was the actual star for the Cornhuskers final yr. They held opponents to a shade underneath 23 factors per recreation, good for thirty sixth nationally. Michigan State solely mustered up 23 factors in opposition to them. Oklahoma scored 23 as effectively. Linebacker Luke Reimer was the chief of the Nebraska protection, totaling 108 tackles, together with 60 solo tackles. Reimer was a honorable-mention All-Huge Ten choice final season.

Ochaun Mathis, EDGE rusher

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For nearly as good because the Nebraska protection was final yr, they didn’t actually have a standout cross rusher. Linebacker Garrett Nelson led the Cornhuskers in sacks with 5. Ochaun Mathis transferred to Nebraska from TCU for his senior season, and brings lots of potential off the sting. As a sophomore in 2020, Mathis registered 12.5 sacks. His numbers took a step again final yr, however he brings expertise to Nebraska. Can he rebound?

Garrett Nelson, linebacker

Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports activities

Nebraska options probably the greatest linebacker rooms within the Huge Ten. Subsequent to Reimer, Garrett Nelson impressed at exterior linebacker. In his sophomore season, Nelson led the Cornhuskers in sacks with 5. He was extraordinarily disruptive, incomes 11.5 tackles for loss. Be careful for Nelson to have a good larger 2022.

Omar Manning, extensive receiver

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For as a lot upside as Casey Thompson provides to the passing recreation, it’s nonetheless an enormous query mark heading into the season. Prime receiver Samori Toure is now plying his commerce for the Inexperienced Bay Packers after going within the seventh spherical of the draft.

Tight finish Austin Allen can be preventing for a roster spot with the New York Giants. That’s 1,500 yards of manufacturing that the Cornhuskers have to exchange. Omar Manning is the highest returning receiver, totaling 380 yards final season. Nebraska will want him to take a leap ahead in 2022.

Brian Buschini, Punter

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The final participant featured within the sequence, and it actually is a particular (groups) entry! Brian Buschini is the brand new punter for the Cornhuskers, and he brings star pedigree with him.

Buschini was the perfect punter within the FCS for Montana, profitable nearly each award out there to him as a punter, together with being named an FCS first-team All-American. Buschini performed in 15 video games at Montana, averaging 45.8 yards per punt on 75 profession punts. He had 30 punts of fifty yards or longer with the Griz, whereas putting 35 of his 75 punts contained in the opponent’s 20-yard line.

Iowa 2022 schedule breakdown sequence

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