NU’s prospects for 2009

LINCOLN -- A satisfying feeling of Nebraska football progress has made its way across the state, but the inevitable shift in conversation is about to occur.

Year 1 in the Bo Pelini era has mostly been declared a success. But you can already hear the page turning and the question coming: What might Year 2 bring?

Heading into Thursday’s Gator Bowl matchup against Clemson, Nebraska players and coaches spoke about the game being a springboard for the program. So perhaps you can consider the Huskers airborne, flying high into winter conditioning and then spring football after a 26-21 win and, most importantly, a 9-4 record.

“We have the right guy at the head with Coach Pelini, and these guys are seeing what it takes to get us back to that (top) level,” quarterback Joe Ganz said after his final game as a Husker. “This is just a great way to provide confidence and positive feelings going into winter conditioning and spring ball.”

But new names will have to step up for the Huskers, especially at the skill positions. Gone now are Ganz, receivers Nate Swift and Todd Peterson, and I-back Marlon Lucky.

Gone is the starting right side of the offensive line �” tackle Lydon Murtha and guard Matt Slauson.

And on defense, gone are six players who had Blackshirts by season’s end: cornerback Armando Murillo, linebacker Tyler Wortman, defensive tackle Ty Steinkuhler and defensive ends Zach Potter, Clayton Sievers and Shukree Barfield.

On top of that, there is the waiting game to see if Ndamukong Suh, the junior nose tackle who says he’s about 99 percent sure he’s coming back for his senior year, stays in Lincoln and does not declare for this year’s NFL Draft.

Suh is listed No. 31 on Scouts Inc.’s Top 32 NFL draft-eligible players, with only three other defensive tackles rated higher. The deadline for underclassmen to declare for the draft is Jan. 15.

One reason Suh has said he will probably return is he loves playing for these coaches, and he’s eager to see what additional concepts they might bring to a defense in their second season.

“I mean, we’re not basic this season, but I don’t think our coaches unleashed their full package of what they have,” Suh said.

Potter agreed, saying it’ll be much easier next season for defenders. They’ll better understand the Pelini system. The bowl practices helped. The spring will obviously help.

“I think next year you’ll see a lot more complex defense,” Potter said. “Guys will remember everything we did this year, and they’ll be able to install even more.”

But who will be the key figures on that defense? Who will be The Man to replace Ganz? And who will be the new starting quarterback’s targets at wide receiver?

Of course, it will be the quarterback competition that consumes Husker fans this offseason.

Sophomore-to-be Patrick Witt and junior-to-be Zac Lee seem to be the lead candidates to replace Ganz. Witt has been complimented by coaches for his maturity and understanding of the offense. Lee is strong-armed and mobile. Both have been around long enough to know the system well.

“It’s going to be a friendly competition,” Witt said a few weeks ago. “Coach (Shawn) Watson orchestrates it so it’s very fair and balanced. We’ve just got to go out there and perform.”

Witt may have a slight edge right now. It was Witt coaches called on to replace Ganz for a play in the Gator Bowl after Ganz suffered a hard hit. But coaches have said publicly throughout the fall that the race between the two has been back-and-forth.

Not to be discounted from the conversation are incoming recruit Cody Green and redshirt freshman Kody Spano. Green enrolled at NU and will start classes in a couple weeks, a move that will allow him to get a jump-start on the Husker offense.

Whoever the quarterback is, he will be aided by talent at running back and tight end.

It seems quite likely tight end Mike McNeill will be a top target for a first-year quarterback next season. McNeill is coming off a season in which he set a school record for most catches at his position with 32. He also had six touchdowns.

And at running back, there’s Roy Helu, Quentin Castille and Marcus Mendoza. Helu showed his promise when he rushed for more than 100 yards in three of the final four regular-season games, averaging 6.7 yards per carry before a knee infection slowed him in the bowl game. And Castille is coming off a career-high 125 yards against Clemson.

The offensive line loses Slauson, Murtha and Mike Huff off the two-deep. But center Jacob Hickman returns, and coming back at guard are D.J. Jones, Ricky Henry (redshirted this fall but heralded for his tenacity), Keith Williams and perhaps Andy Christensen, who would likely be granted another year of eligibility for a medical hardship earlier if he decides to return.

At tackle, the Huskers will have the likes of Mike Smith, Jaivorio Burkes, Marcel Jones and Brandon Thompson. Transfer Derek Meyer, who has one year to play for Nebraska after a previous stint at Kansas State, could also provide some punch, at guard or tackle.

“There is going to be so much power and physicality,” Slauson said of next year’s line. “Jacob Hickman has great smarts and great feet. Keith Williams has unbelievable power. Mike Smith is just real gifted.”

One of Nebraska’s biggest challenges as an offense will be replacing Swift and Peterson, who both finished in the top five on Nebraska’s career reception chart, with Swift at the top of the list.

Menelik Holt (30 catches for 355 yards) and Niles Paul (23 catches, 214 yards) are among the favorites to fill their shoes, but they’ll need to establish a bigger presence and have some help. Those who could offer it include Curenski Gilleylen, Khiry Cooper, Chris Brooks and Will Henry. The Huskers could also get a boost from 2008 recruit Antonio Bell if he’s academically eligible and junior college recruit Brandon Kinnie.

Defensively, the strength would still seem to be the line, especially with the assumption that Suh will be back.

The Huskers will have good experience at the defensive end spots with the return of Pierre Allen and also likely Barry Turner, who is expected to be granted another year of eligibility after an early season injury in 2008. Sophomores-to-be Terrence Moore and Jared Crick also have experience, but will need to reach another step.

Most interesting will be to see how Nebraska’s back seven shakes out. Best known of the returning linebackers is senior-to-be Phillip Dillard. But other contenders for starting roles have emerged, including Blake Lawrence (who had an impressive Gator Bowl), Colton Koehler and Mathew May. Factor in 2008 recruits such as Will Compton, Sean Fisher and Alonzo Whaley, and there should be pretty strong competition for playing time.

The competition will also be tough in the secondary. Aside from Murillo, the main components return �” including cornerback Anthony West and safeties Rickey Thenarse and Matt O’Hanlon. Then there’s Eric Hagg, who saw a lot of time in NU’s nickel package and is coming off a late-game sack in the bowl game that could serve as a confidence-builder. The Huskers also get a pick-me-up with the return of cornerback Anthony Blue from an ACL injury.

Then there’s a wealth of players who will want to prove they deserve some snaps, like Major Culbert, Lance Thorell, Alfonzo Dennard, P.J. Smith, John Levorson, Courtney Osborne, Mason Wald and Jase Dean, a walk-on who has gained some attention this fall while redshirting. To go with all those names, there are six players on Nebraska’s recruit list who are anticipated to play in the secondary.

It’s evident it won’t exactly be a sleepy offseason around here.

Pelini said as much after Thursday’s win, recognizing the significance of the moment for the senior class, but also sending a message to his younger players that they had to keep building off the victory.

“Now we just have to keep it going and pick up that torch that the seniors left and keep running with it,” Pelini said.