Defensive Preview

Nebraska returns six starters from a defense that ranked 11th nationally in total defense, second in scoring defense and first in pass efficiency defense. The 2003 Blackshirts also forced a school-record 47 turnovers, keying Nebraska to lead the nation in turnover margin. Up front, Nebraska lost a pair of steady players in nose tackle Ryon Bingham and defensive end Trevor Johnson. Demorrio Williams had an all-conference season at outside linebacker, while T.J. Hollowell was a steady force at the other outside spot. In the secondary, three of four starters return, but four-year letterman Pat Ricketts was lost to graduation.

This spring the Huskers will look to find two outside linebackers to surround All-America candidate Barrett Ruud at Mike linebacker. Up front, Nebraska will be looking for two new starters, while the secondary enters the spring regarded as one of the best units in the country.

Defensive Line...

Pos.

Lettermen Lost...

Lettermen Returning...

DE:

TREVOR JOHNSON**** (13)

Adam Carriker*

   

BENARD THOMAS*** (10)

DT:

RYON BINGHAM*** (11)

Titus Adams** (1)

 

Patrick Kabongo**** (2)

Le KEVIN SMITH** (12)

 

Jason Lohr****

Brandon Teamer*

The Defensive Line Briefly...On the interior, Nebraska lost three seniors who earned a combined 11 letters, including Bingham, Patrick Kabongo and Jason Lohr. However, Nebraska returns outstanding talent at the position. Junior Le Kevin Smith started 12 games last season at defensive tackle and holds down the No. 1 spot at left tackle entering spring practice. Omaha native Titus Adams has enough athletic ability that he spent the 2003 season at defensive end. However, he will move back inside to tackle, where the junior is listed No. 1 on the right side entering the spring. Behind Smith and Adams, respectively, are sophomores Brandon Greeson and Brandon Teamer. Greeson has seen limited playing time, but has outstanding size (6-3, 290) and ability, while Teamer showed flashes of great potential as a true freshman last fall.

Senior Benard Thomas returns to his No. 1 position at left end. The 6-4, 265-pounder has the strength to stop the run and ability to pressure the passer. Sophomore Jay Moore is listed behind Thomas on the left side. At right end, sophomore Adam Carriker battled an ankle injury throughout the 2003 campaign. However, when he was on the field he showed the potential to become a dominant player at the position. Junior Wali Muhammad missed all of last season because of injury, but came to Nebraska after a promising junior college career.

Lettermen Lost...

Lettermen Returning...

Chad Buller**

Stewart Bradley*

T.J. HOLLOWELL**** (13)

Ira Cooper***

Lannie Hopkins*

BARRETT RUUD*** (13)

Steve Safranek***

Chad Sievers**

Curt Tomasevicz*

 

DEMORRIO WILLIAMS** (13)

 

The Linebackers Briefly...Nebraska lost a pair of outstanding outside linebackers to graduation. Demorrio Williams was a Butkus semifinalist and had 11 sacks and 21 tackles for loss as the leader of the 2003 Blackshirts. His running mate on the outside was four-year letterman T.J. Hollowell, who was third on the team in tackles last season and was also outstanding in pass coverage.

The third member of Nebraska's outstanding 2003 linebacking corps does return in senior Mike linebacker Barrett Ruud. The Lincoln native has held down the starting spot each of the past two seasons and in 2003 he established a single-season school tackle record with 149 stops. Ruud has outstanding size (6-2, 240), but has the speed to make plays from sideline to sideline. Senior Ira Cooper has earned three letters as a key reserve at linebacker and special teams standout. Cooper enters the spring listed second at Mike linebacker, but also has the ability and experience to play either outside spot. Redshirt freshman Corey McKeon is also listed at Mike linebacker and could push for playing time.

Senior Chad Sievers has been Ruud's top backup in the middle the past two years, but enters spring practice listed as the Huskers No. 1 player at Will linebacker. Listed behind Sievers is sophomore Mark Brungardt. Another sophomore, Stewart Bradley, has emerged at the No. 1 spot at Sam 'backer entering spring ball. Bradley played linebacker last spring, but was utilized as a reserve defensive end last fall. He will be backed up by redshirt freshman Bo Ruud, Barrett's younger brother, who impressed coaches during his redshirt campaign.

Secondary...

Pos.

Lettermen Lost...

Lettermen Returning...

CB:

Terrell Butler**

Kellen Huston*

 

Kevin Guse*

Lornell McPherson*** (2)

 

PAT RICKETTS**** (13)

FABIAN WASHINGTON** (13)

   

Seth White*

FS:

Jerrell Pippens**** (1)

JOSH BULLOCKS** (13)

   

Andrew Shanle*

   

Blake Tiedtke*

SS:

Philip Bland*** (4)

DANIEL BULLOCKS** (9)

 

Fred Thorne*

Shane Siegel**

The Secondary Briefly...On paper, the secondary appears to be Nebraska's top unit entering the 2004 campaign. The Huskers return three starters from last fall and a fourth player who has seen extensive playing time as Nebraska's nickel back. Nebraska did lose starting cornerback Pat Ricketts and backup safety Jerrell Pippens to graduation, and lost safety Philip Bland who will not continue his career because of a foot injury.

The safety positions are in the good hands of Daniel Bullocks and Josh Bullocks, junior identical twins from Chattanooga, Tenn. Josh Bullocks will resume his role as Nebraska's starting free safety after picking off a school and Big 12 record 10 passes last season as a sophomore. Bullocks was a consensus first-team all-league pick, earned first-team All-America honors from The Sporting News and was a Thorpe Award semifinalist. Sophomore Andrew Shanle is listed as Nebraska's No. 2 free safety entering the spring, after seeing action on special teams in 2003.

Daniel Bullocks took over the starting assignment at strong safety after Bland was lost to injury four games into last season. Bullocks responded with 69 tackles, the most among the secondary, and two interceptions. Bullocks' top backup at strong safety entering the spring is junior Shane Siegel who has seen backup duty each of the past two seasons.

The left cornerback position is in the good hands of junior Fabian Washington, who has started each of the past two years. Washington has picked off four passes each of the past two years and already ranks fifth in school history in pass breakups. He added more than 10 pounds of muscle during winter conditioning. Redshirt freshman Adrain Turner is listed as Washington's backup entering spring practice. At right corner, fifth-year senior Lornell McPherson is set for his first full-time starting assignment. McPherson was Nebraska's starting nickel back last season and has played in 38 games with nine starts during his Husker career and intercepted six passes. His backup on the right side entering spring ball is redshirt freshman Titus Brothers. Junior Donald DeFrand missed nearly all of last season because of injury, but could also push for playing time at corner.