I thought this was an interesting comparison. 2016 was year two for Mike Riley, and his most experienced team during his time at Nebraska. While they benefited from an easier schedule, they ended the season a respectable 9-4. For the first time in the Scott Frost era, we have age/experience on our side. While the 2016 squad as more seniors listed, as you'll see below, 2021 team has more starts due to the free RS-COVID year.
2016 Depth Chart to start the season:
QB: Tommy Armstrong (Sr) - 33 starts
RB: Terrell Newby (Sr.) - 8 starts
WR: Jordan Westerkamp (Sr.) - 14 starts
WR: Alonzo Moore (Sr. ) - 14 starts
WR: Brandon Reilly (Sr.) - 7 starts [OR DPE (7 starts)]
TE: Cethan Carter (Sr.) - 25 starts
TE: Sam Cotton (Sr.) - 12 starts
LT: Nick Gates (So.) - 10 starts
LG: Jerald Foster (So.) - 0 starts
C: Dylan Utter (Sr.) - 14 starts
RG: Tanner Farmer (So.) - 0 starts
RT: David Knevel (Jr.) - 0 starts
DE: Ross Dzurius (Sr) - 4 starts
DT: Mick Stoltenburg (So.) - 0 starts
DT: Kevin Maurice (Sr.) - 1 start
DE: Freedom Akinmoladun (So.) - 4 starts
OLB: Marcus Newby (Sr.) - 6 starts
MLB: Josh Banderas (Sr.) - 19 starts
OLB: Dedrick Young (So.) - 11 starts
CB: Josh Kalu (Jr.) - 15 starts
CB: Chris Jones (Jr.) - 7 starts
S: Kieron Williams (Jr.) - 0 starts
S: Nate Gerry (Sr.) - 29 starts
2021 (Projected) Depth Chart to start the season:
QB: Adrian Martinez (Jr.) - 28 starts
RB: Markese Stepp (So.) - 12 starts
WR: Samouri Toure (Sr.) - 30 starts
(I was unable to find definite number on this. He has started at least 25 games, and played in all 11 his RFr season with 35 receptions. Unclear how many of those games he started, so I went with just under half)
WR: Zavier Betts (Fr.) - 1 start
WR: Oliver Martin (Jr.) - 6 starts (not counting Boobie in just yet)
TE: Austin Allen (Jr.) - 12 starts
TE: Travis Vokolek (Jr.) - 11 starts
LT: Turner Corcoran (Fr.) - 1 start
LG: Nouredin Nouli (So.) - 7 starts [OR Trent Hixson (12 starts)]
C: Cam Jurgens (So.) - 19 starts
RG: Ethan Piper (Fr.) - 7 starts
RT: Bryce Benhart (Fr.) - 7 starts
DE: Ben Stille (Sr.) - 21 starts
DT: Damion Daniels (Jr.) - 4 starts
DE: Ty Robinson (Fr.) - 6 starts
OLB: JoJo Domann (Sr.) - 15 starts
MLB: Will Honas (Sr.) - 9 starts [OR Chris Kolarevic (17 starts)]
MLB: Luke Reimer (So.) - 5 starts
OLB: Garrett Nelson (So.) - 9 starts [OR Caleb Tannor (9 starts) OR P. Payne (0 starts)]
CB: Cam Taylor-Britt (Jr.) - 17 starts
CB: Braxton Clark (So.) - 1 start
S: Marquel Dismuke (Sr.) - 19 starts
S: Deontai Williams (Sr.) - 9 starts
2016 Offense: 9 returning individual starters, 137 total game starts
2016 Defense: 7 returning individual starters, 96 total game starts
2016 total returning games started: 233
2021 Offense: 9 returning individual starters, 141 total game starts
2021 Defense: 9 returning individual starters, 115 total game starts
2021 total returning games started: 256
Potential biases in these numbers: I counted all starts equally (Toure's FCS starts are counted the same, which may inflate 2021 numbers). This also does not take into account any of the depth (no [OR] players counted, which would have boosted 2021 numbers). After looking at this, I'm curious what everyone would consider a successful season.
2016 Depth Chart to start the season:
QB: Tommy Armstrong (Sr) - 33 starts
RB: Terrell Newby (Sr.) - 8 starts
WR: Jordan Westerkamp (Sr.) - 14 starts
WR: Alonzo Moore (Sr. ) - 14 starts
WR: Brandon Reilly (Sr.) - 7 starts [OR DPE (7 starts)]
TE: Cethan Carter (Sr.) - 25 starts
TE: Sam Cotton (Sr.) - 12 starts
LT: Nick Gates (So.) - 10 starts
LG: Jerald Foster (So.) - 0 starts
C: Dylan Utter (Sr.) - 14 starts
RG: Tanner Farmer (So.) - 0 starts
RT: David Knevel (Jr.) - 0 starts
DE: Ross Dzurius (Sr) - 4 starts
DT: Mick Stoltenburg (So.) - 0 starts
DT: Kevin Maurice (Sr.) - 1 start
DE: Freedom Akinmoladun (So.) - 4 starts
OLB: Marcus Newby (Sr.) - 6 starts
MLB: Josh Banderas (Sr.) - 19 starts
OLB: Dedrick Young (So.) - 11 starts
CB: Josh Kalu (Jr.) - 15 starts
CB: Chris Jones (Jr.) - 7 starts
S: Kieron Williams (Jr.) - 0 starts
S: Nate Gerry (Sr.) - 29 starts
2021 (Projected) Depth Chart to start the season:
QB: Adrian Martinez (Jr.) - 28 starts
RB: Markese Stepp (So.) - 12 starts
WR: Samouri Toure (Sr.) - 30 starts
(I was unable to find definite number on this. He has started at least 25 games, and played in all 11 his RFr season with 35 receptions. Unclear how many of those games he started, so I went with just under half)
WR: Zavier Betts (Fr.) - 1 start
WR: Oliver Martin (Jr.) - 6 starts (not counting Boobie in just yet)
TE: Austin Allen (Jr.) - 12 starts
TE: Travis Vokolek (Jr.) - 11 starts
LT: Turner Corcoran (Fr.) - 1 start
LG: Nouredin Nouli (So.) - 7 starts [OR Trent Hixson (12 starts)]
C: Cam Jurgens (So.) - 19 starts
RG: Ethan Piper (Fr.) - 7 starts
RT: Bryce Benhart (Fr.) - 7 starts
DE: Ben Stille (Sr.) - 21 starts
DT: Damion Daniels (Jr.) - 4 starts
DE: Ty Robinson (Fr.) - 6 starts
OLB: JoJo Domann (Sr.) - 15 starts
MLB: Will Honas (Sr.) - 9 starts [OR Chris Kolarevic (17 starts)]
MLB: Luke Reimer (So.) - 5 starts
OLB: Garrett Nelson (So.) - 9 starts [OR Caleb Tannor (9 starts) OR P. Payne (0 starts)]
CB: Cam Taylor-Britt (Jr.) - 17 starts
CB: Braxton Clark (So.) - 1 start
S: Marquel Dismuke (Sr.) - 19 starts
S: Deontai Williams (Sr.) - 9 starts
2016 Offense: 9 returning individual starters, 137 total game starts
2016 Defense: 7 returning individual starters, 96 total game starts
2016 total returning games started: 233
2021 Offense: 9 returning individual starters, 141 total game starts
2021 Defense: 9 returning individual starters, 115 total game starts
2021 total returning games started: 256
Potential biases in these numbers: I counted all starts equally (Toure's FCS starts are counted the same, which may inflate 2021 numbers). This also does not take into account any of the depth (no [OR] players counted, which would have boosted 2021 numbers). After looking at this, I'm curious what everyone would consider a successful season.
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