Nebraska spring camp review: Depth still the deal for talented, veteran secondary

LINCOLN Nebraska defensive backs began spring workouts as the teams largest and most familiar position group.

That remains true a few months later.

The secondary didnt remain static veteran Malcolm Hartzog is moving closer to the line of scrimmage at nickelback, senior safety DeShon Singleton took reps at the rover spot and transfer Andrew Marshall is firmly in the cornerback mix.

A variety of underclassmen made practice pushes too.

But while the NU defense generally turns to new leadership within the front seven, the back end brings back single-digit jersey wearers and producers.

The crowd of 26 defensive backs includes 129 career college starts ahead of another wave of players who have appeared in multiple games.

We can start six different guys at corner right now, Nebraska coach Matt Rhule said.

We could start four or five different guys at safeties.

The biggest change might be adjusting to a fourth position coach since 2022.

Thats Addison Williams formerly the defensive coordinator at Central Florida who takes over for John Butler, a late-summer hire last year who is now the Husker defensive coordinator.

Williams early in spring ball already had a sense of the depth of talent, even if he was still learning names.

Practices were about technique and scheme.

Building trust too.

Im not naive to knowing thats the situation, Williams said.

I know I do gotta come in and earn their respect.

It goes back to relationships, which is one of my core values.

A bunch of prominent back-end Nebraska defenders already know each other pretty well.

The five in the Husker 3-3-5 scheme may well be entirely upperclassmen.

Ceyair Wright who could have conceivably declared for the NFL draft appears a lock at one cornerback spot.

Some combination of Marques Buford, Singleton and Hartzog at safety is also likely with each able to freelance or shift around to rover/nickel as needed.

The battle for the other corner job extends to fall camp with coveted transfer Andrew Marshall and Blye Hill who had been trending toward starting a year ago before his ACL injury in the spring game the top candidates.

Theres a parallel universe where Wright, Singelton and Buford dont come back for a fifth college season and Nebraska resets with a young lineup of DBs.

Marshall or Hill are primed to rotate in regularly while transfer Jamir Conn started 11 games with Southern Illinois and could factor at safety or corner.

Georgia transfer and former four-star prospect Justyn Rhett is another notable offseason add while youngsters like Amare Sanders, Donovan Jones, Larry Tarver, Mario Buford, Caleb Benning, Derek Branch and others also have a future with the program.

Any could have a path to meaningful snaps in the fall.

Hill appeared on his way to starting last year as a playmaking transfer from FCS-level Saint Francis before the spring injury.

He never made it all the way back last season while redshirting and seeing just 22 defensive snaps.

But he made an impression this spring on teammates and his new position coach, with his name coming up regularly during media sessions.

His upside is considerable with the 6-foot-4, 190-pounder among the longest and tallest players in the secondary.

How much better can Nebraskas man coverage be and what will it free the defense to do? Rhule last year bemoaned NUs ability to lock down receivers in one-on-one situations the Huskers surrendered a Big Ten-worst nine pass plays of 40-plus yards and 23 passing touchdowns (more than any league team except Purdue).

Better corner play means less safety help deep and more flexibility to bring pressure, especially on money downs.

The secondary didnt absorb major attrition despite the large numbers, an open portal window and uncertainty about a 105-man roster limit.

Only redshirt freshman DAndre Barnes and true freshman Evan Taylor transferred out as deep reserves.

Younger defensive backs were among the standouts of the football portion of the Husker Games.

Interceptions came from Tanner Terch, Kahmir Prescott and Bryson Webber while redshirt freshman Rowdy Bauer broke up a pass to prevent a touchdown.

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