By Brandon Cavanaugh
A Bo Pelini-led defense is salty and vicious. Only a select few can call themselves starters and are rewarded by being part of a Nebraska tradition that spans over four decades. A simple black practice jersey denotes some of the nastiest young men in the country. We look at the into the crystal ball and see what's to come for the 2011 Blackshirt unit.
Strongside Defensive Tackle
This spot’s where you need a mauler and no one on Nebraska’s defensive line can match Jared Crick’s intensity. In 2009, Crick wreaked havoc alongside then-senior Ndamukong Suh. Now it’s his turn to end his Cornhusker legacy on a high note.
The Cozad, Nebraska native has an impressive resume. He’s tallied 145 tackles (68 solo and 32 for a loss), 19 sacks while accounting for 26 quarterback hurries. When the Cornhuskers traveled to Baylor in 2009, the Bears heavily underestimated Crick who set single-game records for both sacks (five) and tackles for loss (seven).
He’s been named to several post-season award watch lists, pre-season All-America boards and may very well boast a number of honors after the year’s through. The future looks bright for the 6’6” 285-pound monster. Crick’s considered one of the best overall prospects in next year’s NFL draft. Should he be able to go toe-to-toe with some of the best offensive linemen that the Big Ten has to offer, an NFL franchise selecting him in the first round seems likely.
While he has teammates like Terrence Moore to help him take a breather, Crick will hold onto his Blackshirt until the day he graduates.
Projected Blackshirt: Jared Crick
Other Predicted Starters: Strongside Defensive End
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