The Nebraska Cornhuskers take on the Kansas State Wildcats Saturday in the final home game of the season for the Huskers. The 11:30 a.m. kickoff will be televised on Versus.
The Wildcats have been an inconsistent team in 2007. Kansas State is 5-4 overall and 3-3 in Big 12 Conference play.
K-State can be very impressive, as illustrated by a 41-21 win over Texas. On the other hand, they looked very poor in a 31-20 loss to Iowa State last week. Ron Prince will be looking for his team to be better in all phases of the game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln.
The Wildcats are led by a solid quarterback in Josh Freeman (6-foot-6, 250 pounds, Sophomore). Freeman has good skills as both a runner and passer.
Freeman had committed to the Nebraska football team before changing his mind at the last minute and landing in Manhattan.
While Freeman does not have great rushing stats this season (12 total net yards) his physical size makes him imposing when he does choose to run. Freeman averages 280 yards passing per contest. On the season, Freeman has completed 63.5 percent (237 of 373) with 12 touchdowns and 10 interceptions on the season.
The Wildcats have a big-play receiver in former walk-on Jordy Nelson (6-3, 217, Sr.). Nelson is not only a talented receiver, but he is great in the return game as well. Nelson has 90 catches for 1,222 yards and eight touchdowns. The Huskers will need to keep Nelson from making key plays in the game. At the other wideout, Deon Murphy (5-10, 170, Jr.) adds 41 grabs and five scores to the Wildcat passing game.
On the ground, K-State averages over 134 yards per game. The key man is tailback James Johnson (5-11, 200, Sr.). Johnson has 777 yards rushing and nine touchdowns. He also is effective out of the backfield with 27 receptions.
Overall, the offense has enough weapons to keep the Husker defense concerned all day long.
The offensive line is better as a pass blocking group rather than in the running attack. The Wildcats average over 6-5 and 295 pounds from tackle to tackle. Because of the size of Freeman, the Wildcats have only given up eight sacks on the season. The leader is Logan Robinson (6-8, 318, Sr.) at left guard. Kansas State will not be challenged by the Nebraska defensive line up front.
Defensively, the Wildcats run a 3-4 look. Anytime a team employs a 3-4 scheme, the strength of the team is in the linebackers. That is certainly true for the Wildcats. The two inside linebackers, Justin Roland (6-0, 245, Sr.) and Reggie Walker (6-1, 231, Jr.) and second and third, respectively on the team in total tackles.
The athletic leader of the defense is outside linebacker Ian Campbell (6-4, 249, Jr.), who has 31 tackles and leads the team with 7.5 tackles for loss on the year. Campbell is capable of disrupting the Husker offense because of his mix of size and quickness.
The defensive front gives up only 126 yards rushing per game. This unit is weakened by the loss of the starter at nose tackle to a knee injury. Steve Cline was a leader up front, and his loss will hurt the Wildcats ability to stop the running game.
The three men up front are small, but quick. That will make for an interesting problem for the Nebraska o-line.
The secondary has two talented players. Cornerback Justin McKinney (5-9, 191, Sr.) leads the team with 58 total tackles and also has three interceptions. Sophomore Chris Carney (6-1, 190) has four interceptions as a ball-hawk in the defensive backfield.
Kansas State gives up 221 yards passing per game. The secondary as a group is very small and will have a tough task matching up with the tall Husker receivers.
On special teams, Nelson can score anytime he touches the ball. Murphy and Johnson also have good speed. Kicker Brooks Rossman (6-0, 178, Jr.) is 19 of 25 (76 percent) on field goals with a long of 52 yards this season.
Punter Tim Reyer (5-11, 201, Sr.) averages 44.1 yards on 43 attempts this season.
Nebraska needs to play for pride Saturday. While Kansas State has been inconsistent, they have the weapons to hurt the Husker defense.
Josh Freeman will use his strength and athleticism to lead the Wildcats to a 27-23 victory over Nebraska.
Jim Dolezal is a local Husker football fanatic as well as a part-time sports writer for the Telegram. He will analyze the Huskers’ opposition from a hometown perspective every Thursday throughout the season.
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