The Husker Locker staff will be presented a number of questions addressing various aspects of Nebraska Cornhuskers sports every week.
This week:
- Which three recruits do you feel Nebraska absolutely needs to wrap up for this to be a successful class?
Brian: Follow through on the signatures that have to come through on Signing Day. Too many times have classes been lost (and made) by eleventh hour decisions. Said it before, will say it again: They are not “N” till the fax hits the machine.
James: Nebraska needs five-star offensive tackle Andrus Peat, three-star defensive tackle Vincent Valentine (or Aaron Curry), as well as four-star cornerback/safety Devian Shelton. These are three positions that need some depth and on the defensive side, defensive tackle and safety are positions where Nebraska does not yet have a commit for the class of 2012.
The other spot I'd like to see is another running back who can redshirt before playing their freshman/sophomore campaigns behind the current three sophomore running backs. Fortunately, this is a "nice to have" slot, rather than a "need to have" as Nebraska currently doesn't have a running back commit in the class.
Greg: Having Tommy Armstrong is huge. Adding Devin Fuller to that would be, in my opinion, EPIC (and that's not a word I throw around lightly). I'm also really excited to see Jared Afalava heading to Lincoln, as I see a lot of Troy Polamalu-esque ability there. Peat, c'mon buddy, join your bro in the Big Red. You know you want to!
Brandon: 1.) OT Andrus Peat – Some players you go after because you need them, others you go after because they’ll improve what you already have. Peat falls under both categories. If Peat signs, in a season or two, we could see both he and his brother starting on opposite sides of the ball.
2.) DT Vincent Valentine/Aaron Curry – One of these two must end up in red come February 1. Interior line depth isn’t exactly bountiful, so plugging new blood in is crucial. Best case scenario, both sign, but it’s been hard to pinpoint Valentine’s feelings lately.
3.) CB/S Devian Shelton – Some coaches in California feel Shelton’s a better fit for Nebraska than Brandon Beaver. Much like Valentine/Curry, Shelton would add needed depth to a secondary that loses fantastic talent in Alfonzo Dennard along with one of its most cerebral players in Austin Cassidy. As we saw in 2011, a stout secondary can make or break a Bo Pelini defense.
- How do you see Nebraska basketball's regular season ending?
Brian: If this team gets to six wins in conference play and can make the second round of the Big Ten tourney, it’s a success considering the way this season began. That being said, a miracle run to a tourney title will probably be the only thing that saves Doc.
James: As all Nebraska basketball seasons do, with a streaky weird run culminating in another upset, some fantasies about somehow being on the edge of the bubble, followed by a total collapse and a berth in the NIT.
Greg: I'd like to reserve answering this until after the Ohio State game, but there's no time for that. The Big Ten is a wild and wacky world where anything can happen. We've seen it already. If the team continues to be focused and play with intensity, they could be a mid-conference finisher. What was that line from "Miracle?" They "don't have enough talent to win on talent alone." At times, like this past Wednesday night, they had the desire and heart to be a solid team.
Brandon: Including today’s tilt with Ohio State, at best they finish these 11 games with a 7-4 record, at worst 3-8. As of this writing, I feel 4-7 is realistic. If they knock off the Buckeyes (and that’s a big “if”), that could propel them to salvaging this season. As of now, I see a 14-15 record heading into the Big Ten tournament.
- Do you have a favorite Husker still in the NFL playoffs?
Brian: Prince. He’ll be a good one in the league.
James: There are only a few left! As a huge 49er fan, I'll take former Nebraska fullback and current 49er running backs Coach Tom Rathman. The 49ers have one of the best running games, and arguably the best defense left in the NFL. I missed their upset of the Saints last week while traveling in Europe for work, so getting to watch my first San Francisco playoff game in eight years will be a thrill this weekend. I almost want to fly up from Los Angeles for the game.
Greg: Prince - I hate the Patriots and Ravens. As a Steelers fan, I can't stand to see the 49ers win Lombardi number six. There can be only one dominant trophy case in the NFL, and it must be the Steelers', so Prince wins.
Brandon: I’d say New York's Prince Amukamara. He hasn’t been healthy all year, but it’d be pretty cool to begin your NFL career with a Super Bowl ring.
- What Husker football player has to have the best winter conditioning period?
Brian: Everyone. The burn of losing games the way they did last year should light fires under some asses. The greater part of one of the best runs in college football history was created by the memory of a field goal in the 1994 Orange Bowl. The burn of that loss motivated back-to-back national titles and an attitude that is still revered to today in Lincoln.
James: I think this boils down to the three freshman running backs as well as the young offensive linemen. All three of the backs so flashes, but they'll need to be bigger and stronger. The offensive line is still a work-in-progress. While they improved in 2011, they still have a long way to go to mirror the pipeline of the 1990s.
Greg: Jason Ankrah - he has so much potential but I'd like to see him get a little bigger for next year's defensive end spot.
Brandon: There’s a number of guys that need solid performances, but Chase Rome needs to be a war daddy in the weight room so he can hold down the fort on the interior defensive line. If Nebraska can force Big Ten running backs to the outside next season, it’ll make life much easier as more experienced ends can clean things up.
Follow the panel on Twitter:
Brandon: @huskerlocker
Brian: @btbowling
Greg: @thehooch36
James: @jamesstevenson
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