“Name the former Husker star who was named the top CFB player from the state of Nebraska, as determined by an October 2021 article from Fox Sports that named the best college gridiron star to come from each state in the U.S.”

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Answer:

Johnny “The Jet” Rodgers

Tell me what you think are the most important positions to be a successful team. It's harder than it sounds and there are obviously arguments for each position.
Mine:
1) QB
2) O line
3) D line
4) DBs
5) LBs
6) WR
7) RB
8) Kicker
9) Punter

My hardest choice was DBs and LBs...I put RBs at #7 because I feel an elite O Line can make an average RB look elite, but An elite RB can't make an average O Line look elite.

Example: in the 70s through the early 2000s seemingly year after year we had "statistically elite" running backs at NU (average 6+ ypc and 100+ypg). Other than Roger Craig and maybe Ahman Green name any others who were "elite" in the NFL (multiple 1000+yard seasons)... I'm not including fullbacks but Tom Rathman might have been the best NFL back of them all.

That has to hurt for the Terps.

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Happy Saturday, folks. Enjoy some Nebraska football open practice highlights.

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Rhule met with the media for a brief presser ahead of tonight's Big Red Preview. Here's a quick rundown of the new injury updates he gave through three fall camp practices:

Leaning toward this PSH classic:

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Switch the title again, long way from spring practice. Here we go…

WR
J. Banks - sr
M. Coleman - so
I. Garcia-Castaneda - sr

WR
I. Neyor - sr
J. Lloyd - so
J. Barney Jr - fr

Slot
J. Bonner - so
C. Nelson - fr
A. Bullock - jr
K. Smith - fr

Not Listed
DJ Singleton - fr
R. Mangini - so
E. Brown - jr
Q. Clark - fr
J. Miller - so
D. Hall - fr
C. Hausmann - so
I. McMorris - fr
D. Bell - rfr (out for season)

TE
T. Fidone II - jr
N. Boerkircher - jr
L. Lindenmeyer - so
I. Flynt - fr
C. Schutt - fr
D. King - fr
E. Ingwerson - fr
C. Echternach - rfr

A lot of bodies! Not sure how they’re gonna run the slot, probably some sets with big bodies there, and some with J. Barney/I. McMorris type players. Either way, plenty of options!

Go big red!!

The USC Twitter page has a link that gives fans btn+ free for a year. Just worked for me.

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Thinking about best and worse cases for the upcoming season.

There are two games that we should absolutely win easily: UTEP and Northern Iowa, we are just simply much better than they are.

Purdue, Illinois and UCLA shouldn't be very good this year, we should be decent favorites. As long as we don't self destruct these should be wins.

Colorado, Rutgers and Indiana are teams that we are better than, but they are capable of capitalizing on a mistake and winning. We don't have a lot of margin of error.

Wisconsin and Iowa, honestly these are toss up games that could go either way this year.

USC has shown plenty of issues under Riley, but they are a very talented team and I like their new DC and think he is a good one. Talent level just isn't there yet to beat USC in California.

tOSU is just a better team than we are right now. We play our best and it still won't be enough unless tOSU completely self destructs.

Ceiling, best case scenario and we play very clean football: 10-2, losses to tOSU and USC. I think that's the best we can do this year.

Floor, things that we are expecting and hoping for don't improve. 5-7, losses to tOSU, USC, Wisconsin, Iowa, Rutgers, Indiana, Colorado. That would be absolute worst case.

What will happen is most likely somewhere in between. So we will assume the 5 wins from the worst case: UTEP, UNI, Purdue, UCLA, Illinois and the 2 losses from the best case: USC and tOSU. It's the other 5 games that will make or break the season.

Colorado, Indiana and Rutgers. I think we lose 1 game from this group that we should be favored in. Just think we will have a bad game, with a true Freshman QB making some mistakes. Hopefully it's not Colorado.

Wisconsin and Iowa, we certainly could beat both of them, or lose both of them. They just aren't great teams, but some how are always good. I'm guessing a split right now. I think Fickle will have some issues in his second year and will lose to us in Lincoln and Ferentz will have a slightly better offense and pull off a close game in Iowa City.

Anything between 5-7 to 10-2 is possible, but I think 8-4 is most likely. Seven or more wins this season and I think we should be pretty happy with how things are going.

10-2 = Perfect season
9-3 = We are way ahead of schedule
8-4 = Right were we should be
7-5 = Need a few tweaks but we are on the right track
6-6 = Disappointed, what needs to be fixed?
5-7 = Major changes needed

Gives coach Bolt the top 2 in the 2026 class. Brody Jindra committed in January 2023 before the new recruiting rules. Now it's August 1st of a prospects junior year is when coaches can contact them and make offers.

Expecting 2 more in-state guys to make it official, which will give the staff the top 3 in-state for 2026.

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Update – This is now official. Full press release just sent out from Nebraska Athletics:

Former Husker Spencer Schwellenbach is set to become the 40th Nebraska baseball player to reach the Major Leagues after his contract was selected by the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday morning.

It marks the first MLB call-up for Schwellenbach, who started the year with High-A Rome before being called up to Double-AA Mississippi on May 14.

The Saginaw, Mich., native was 2-1 with a 2.53 ERA in six starts with Rome. At Mississippi, Schwellenbach posted a 2-0 record with 17 strikeouts across 13 scoreless innings in two starts.

Schwellenbach was named the 2021 John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year after hitting .284 with six homers and 40 RBI at shortstop, while also going 3-1 with 10 saves and a 0.57 ERA in 31.2 innings of work.

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😎

Have slices of shingles on the back deck and yard. So far the trees have held up and we have power. This is pretty bad

Big Ten Announces 2024 Volleyball Preseason Honors
BigTen.org

ROSEMONT, Ill. - The Big Ten Conference announced its 2024 volleyball preseason honors and preseason poll on Thursday, ahead of the third-annual Volleyball Media Days on August 5-6 at Big Ten Network Studios in Chicago.

Nebraska, the reigning Big Ten Champion and National Runner-Up, received 13 first-place votes to secure the top spot in the preseason poll.

Eleven schools were represented among the 18 student-athletes receiving preseason recognition.

Three members of the preseason all-conference team were unanimous selections: Nebraska’s Merritt Beason and Lexi Rodriguez and Penn State’s Jess Mruzik. Rodriguez was named the 2023 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and Beason and Mruzik each earned unanimous First Team All-Conference recognition in 2023. The preseason team also features AVCA National Player of the Year and Big Ten Player of the Year, Sarah Franklin, Big Ten Setter of the Year, Bergen Reilly and Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Harper Murray.

The preseason all-conference team also features three players from three of the four institutions that will be playing their first season in the Big Ten. Oregon’s Mimi Colyer, UCLA’s Anna Dodson and USC’s Mia Tuaniga each earned preseason recognition.

The preseason poll and all-conference teams were voted on by the conference’s 18 head coaches. Six members of the preseason all-conference team are scheduled to attend Big Ten Volleyball Media Days next week.

The complete list of Big Ten volleyball preseason honors is as follows:

2024 Big Ten Volleyball Preseason Poll
1. Nebraska
2. Wisconsin
3. Penn State
4. Purdue
5. Minnesota
6. Oregon
7. USC
8. UCLA
9. Ohio State
10. Indiana
11. Illinois
12. Michigan State
13. Washington
14. Maryland
15. Michigan
16. Northwestern
17. Rutgers
18. Iowa

Preseason All-Big Ten Team
Raina Terry, Gr., OH, Illinois
Camryn Haworth, Sr., S, Indiana
Melani Shaffmaster, RS-Sr., S, Minnesota
MERRITT BEASON, Sr., OPP, Nebraska
Taylor Landfair, Sr., OH, Nebraska
Harper Murray, So., OH, Nebraska
Bergen Reilly, So., S, Nebraska
LEXI RODRIGUEZ, Sr., L, Nebraska
Emily Londot, Gr., OH/OPP, Ohio State
Mimi Colyer, Jr., OH, Oregon
JESS MRUZIK, Gr., OH, Penn State
Chloe Chicoine, So., OH, Purdue
Eva Hudson, Jr., OH, Purdue
Anna Dodson, Gr., MB, UCLA
Mia Tuaniga, Sr., S, USC
Carter Booth, Jr., MB, Wisconsin
Sarah Franklin, Sr., OH, Wisconsin
Anna Smrek, Sr., MB/OPP, Wisconsin

Unanimous selection listed in ALL CAPS

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After visits to Texas, Oregon and Nebraska, 2025 San Antonio (Tex.) Alamo Heights four-star wide receiver Michael Terry is back at home closing in on a decision expected this month, likely later in the month. Talking to sources close to the situation, Nebraska made a strong case, and heading into the final stretch, at least once source believes they have made up ground or even overcome Oregon, but Texas remains the school at the top of this recruitment. The one thing hurting the Longhorns was a one-time pitch for the four-star to play defense. But Steve Sarkisian now sees Terry as an offensive weapon, the lone hurdle Texas had to clear (which they created for themselves). Nebraska has been competitive on the NIL side, if you noticed, an 1890 representative was in the staff picture he took while on campus, and the Huskers have made him feel comfortable in Lincoln. He's a culture fit, with good relationships on the staff, if Nebraska does somehow overcome the Longhorns down the final stretch, it will be because of those two factors. That being said, the odds remain in Texas' favor.

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Nebraska three-star athlete commit Jeremiah Jones made a visit to Missouri last weekend and was offered by the Tigers as a tight end. He's exploring that option pretty seriously, especially because playing offense at the college level is an opportunity he's quite interested in. Nebraska pitched him on wide receiver or defensive back, but the staff is leaning defensive back with him, while the Tigers solely see him on the offensive side of the ball. Right now, it's safe to be a little wary of Missouri's presence here. As long as he's listening, Louisville will continue to maintain a presence as well. Losing Evan Cooper so shortly after he committed doesn't exactly help the Huskers, but John Butler has his own plan for the 6-foot-6 athlete who could play all over the field. Butler's recruiting chops will be tested, as it appears he'll have to fight to keep Jones committed.

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Another commit to potentially keep an eye on, 2025 Salt Lake City (Uta.) West three-star offensive tackle commit Brian Tapu has wiped his social media completely, with no traces of offers or commitments on display. He recently landed a new offer from Washington, an offer worth keeping an eye on as the opportunity to stay on the West Coast, while playing in a Power Four conference, is one that is intriguing to him. Wouldn't sound the alarm here or anything yet, social media wipe seems to be more related to the start of his fall camp more than anything, but that Washington offer did cause some ripples here the Huskers have been able to withstand so far.

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Nebraska made the top twelve for 2026 Dunlap (Ill) four-star tight end Mack Sutter, one of the top athletes in the Midwest next cycle. I've stated multiple times the 2026 tight end class, especially in the region, is loaded, but Sutter is among the best of the best. Essentially a jumbo wide receiver at the high school level, his athleticism and fluidity at 6-foot-6, 220lbs is unique. The likes of Alabama, Ohio State, Georgia, Michigan, Auburn and Tennessee remain in the mix as well. This will be a highly, highly contentious recruitment that only continues to heat up these next few months.

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Nebraska offered the top-ranked 2026 tight end in Kendre Harrison, who announced he'll be playing his junior season at Charlotte (N.C) Providence Day School just hour before the Huskers offered. Providence Day School is of course the home of 2025 five-star offensive tackle target David Sanders Jr. Nebraska is trying to get their foot in the door with Harrison now that both are at the same school. Standing 6-foot-7, 237 pounds, Harrison is a legit two-sport athlete with basketball offers from the likes of North Carolina, Oregon, Wake Forest, Texas A&M and more. He's hoping to play both sports at the next level, and the opportunity to do it for a blue-blood basketball program like North Carolina, while also playing football in a Power Four conference, has the in-state Tar Heels trending early. Huskers will look to get him on campus for a visit this fall, if they are, I'm expecting Fred Hoiberg to be involved in this recruitment too. But it's a big if, as he's been working to cut down his list of offers this summer and the Huskers might be just a bit late to the party. That hasn't stopped them in the past though, they'll work to ascend up his list.

Nebraska still with the first score balloon release.

So, what is/are your biggest concern(s), holding back your expectations this year? I will say, I’m heavily into the Big Red kool aid. I feel 9-3 and maybe 10-2 is what this team is on the verge of. I understand major injuries are always a concern, but one area on the team is holding my enthusiasm back slightly.
My biggest concern is our kicking game. I’m not convinced Alvaro can come through in the clutch, and his injury doesn’t help. I believe a strong kicking game is all that stands between Nebraska and big time success.
I believe Raiola will be good. There is enough depth at every position. The Defense is good, and can become elite. The Offense can be good, and looks to show more explosive plays than we’ve seen in a while.
To me it rests on the kicking game stepping up. And I will add consistency in the punting game to that. This offense will get turnovers under control. Now can we flip field position and get critical points out of our kicker in tight games.
Somehow, I feel it works out, but this is my biggest concern. What are yours??? GBR

215,000 still without power in metro Omaha. Unreal winds. Trees down all over.