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No. 16: Nebraska

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You can sense the desperation from miles away: In Lincoln, the smell of fear – fear that there will be no renaissance, no climb back into the national picture – permeates every fiber of Nebraska football, from Taylor Martinez’s delivery to Barney Cotton’s offensive line to Cotton himself, with the Cornhuskers’ line coach drawing as much ire as any figure in the program’s proud history. There’s the fear that nine-win, four-loss seasons are the new norm; the former is a program birthright, but the latter is new. The fear that this current staff doesn’t have the answer. The fear that Nebraska bit off more than it could chew by hopping to the Big Ten. In Lincoln, the sense of impending doom stems from the idea that the offense will sputter, that the quarterback will throw off his back foot, that the defense isn’t up to par, that the pass rush lacks punch. Fear’s an ugly thing: Nebraska’s fan base is petrified. Good thing they play the games.

Conference
Big Ten, Legends

Location
Lincoln, Neb.

Nickname
Cornhuskers

Returning starters
14 (7 offense, 7 defense)

Last year’s ranking
No. 7

2011 record
(9-4, 5-3)

Last year’s
re-ranking
No. 25

2012 schedule

Sept. 1
Southern Miss.
Sept. 8
at U.C.L.A.
Sept. 15
Arkansas St.
Sept. 22
Idaho St.
Sept. 29
Wisconsin
Oct. 6
at Ohio St.
Oct. 20
at Northwestern
Oct. 27
Michigan
Nov. 3
at Michigan St.
Nov. 10
Penn St.
Nov. 17
Minnesota
Nov. 23
at Iowa

Last year’s prediction

I think we may see some early scuffles, but the Cornhuskers will be hitting their stride when it counts. And there are zero questions at all on defense: you can set your clock to Nebraska’s consistency on this side of the ball, in all facets and in every way possible. It’s the defense that will lift Nebraska to a Big Ten crown, in my opinion. But a national title? That depends on the offense, and Martinez in particular. And the offensive line, once again, is a work in progress. Those are concerns, and they’re really the reasons why Nebraska’s not among the top five teams in the country. But I’m confident — perhaps dangerously confident — in this team’s ability to hit the ground running in the Big Ten.

2011 recap

In a nutshell Well, this was a change: Nebraska’s defense was the team’s primary concern in 2011, not its offense. Four opponents rushed for at least 200 yards; five gained at least 418 yards of total offense. In the early going, the Cornhuskers struggled slowing down Fresno State and Washington, even if Nebraska won both games. The defense bottomed out against Wisconsin, continued scuffling against Ohio State and was embarrassed in losses to Northwestern and Michigan. The Huskers’ greatest defensive success came against more pro-style offenses, as in wins over Michigan State, Penn State and Iowa. After three years of continue growth under Pelini, the defensive decline was troubling. Was the offense perfect? Far from it. In 2012, Nebraska’s goal will be to play with more consistency on both sides of the ball.

High point A three-way tie. On one day, at least, the defense was vintage: Nebraska put the clamps down on Michigan State late in October, controlling the line of scrimmage and harassing Kirk Cousins in a 24-3 win. Two weeks later, the Cornhuskers adopted the perfect tone on and off the field in Penn State’s first game following its sexual-abuse scandal. In the season finale, Nebraska beat new rival Iowa, 20-7.

Low point Either the prime time collapse at Wisconsin, the defensive collapse against Northwestern or the second-half collapse against Michigan. All would work.

Tidbit The Cornhuskers have won at least nine games in every season since 1962 but six: 1967-68, 2002, 2004-5 and 2007. Just as a comparison, let’s hold the rest of college football’s historical elite to the same standard. Alabama has 30 such seasons, if you include 1993, over that same span; Georgia has 23; L.S.U. 20; Michigan 30; Notre Dame 21; Ohio State 30, if we count the wins vacated in 2010; Oklahoma 27; Penn State 30, if you count each season since vacated by the N.C.A.A.; U.S.C. 24, if you include 2005; Tennessee 23; and Texas 28. Over the past 49 years, Nebraska’s five Legends division brethren – Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota and Northwestern – have combined for 52 nine-win seasons, with 30 from the Wolverines; the Huskers have 43 alone.

Tidbit (four losses edition) Nebraska has also lost at least four games in each of the last eight years. From 1962-2003, the Cornhuskers lost four or more games in a season only four times: 1967-68, 1998 and 2002. The streak of four-loss seasons is a program-high since suffering 11 straight four-or-more-loss seasons from 1951-61. Overall, Nebraska is 66-38 since the start of the 2004 season.

Tidbit (magic number edition) Nebraska’s magic number: 200 – in more ways than one. Since Bo Pelini’s first season in 2008, the Cornhuskers are 24-2 when rushing for 200 or more yards as a team. The losses came against Oklahoma in 2008 and Virginia Tech a year later. On the other hand, the Huskers are only 14-7 when passing for 200 or more yards as a team.

Former players in the N.F.L.

40 DE Pierre Allen (Seattle), CB Prince Amukamara (New York Giants), S Larry Asante (Tampa Bay), CB Zack Bowman (Minnesota), LB Stewart Bradley (Philadelphia), K Josh Brown (New York Jets), DE Adam Carriker (Washington), DE Jared Crick (Houston), LB Lavonte David (Tampa Bay), CB Alfonzo Dennard (New England), LB Phillip Dillard (Carolina), WR Curenski Gilleylen (Green Bay), S DeJon Gomes (Washington), S Eric Hagg (Cleveland), OT Jemarcus Hardrick (Tampa Bay), RB Roy Helu (Washington), K Alex Henery (Philadelphia), OG Ricky Henry (Chicago), OG Russ Hochstein (Arizona), OG Richie Incognito (Miami), RB Brandon Jackson (Cleveland), OT D.J. Jones (Philadelphia), OT Marcel Jones (New Orleans), LB Chris Kelsay (Buffalo), WR Brandon Kinnie (Kansas City), P Sam Koch (Baltimore), TE Mike McNeill (St. Louis), DE Terrence Moore (Baltimore), OT Lydon Murtha (Miami), OG Carl Nicks (Tampa Bay), WR Niles Paul (Washington), TE Zach Potter (Jacksonville), C Dominic Raiola (Detroit), LB Barrett Ruud (Seattle), LB Scott Shanle (New Orleans), OG Matt Slauson (New York Jets), DT Ndamukong Suh (Detroit), DE Kyle Vanden Bosch (Detroit), LB Demorrio Williams (San Diego), OG Keith Williams (Buffalo).

Arbitrary top five list

Nebraska’s best wins under Bo Pelini (2008-11)
1. 2009: Nebraska 10, Oklahoma 3.
2. 2009: Nebraska 33, Arizona 0.
3. 2011: Nebraska 24, Michigan State 3.
4. 2010: Nebraska 51, Oklahoma State 14.
5. 2009: Nebraska 27, Missouri 12.

Coaching

Bo Pelini (Ohio State ’90), 39-16 after four full seasons in Lincoln. Pelini was 1-0 when he took over as head coach, having replaced Frank Solich for Nebraska’s 17-3 Alamo Bowl victory in 2003. That game concluded a one-year stint in Lincoln for Pelini, who was hired earlier in the year as the Huskers’ defensive coordinator after nine seasons coaching in the N.F.L., most recently with the Green Bay Packers. Pelini also coached with the 49ers (1994-96) and the Patriots (1997-98) — both times alongside former U.S.C. coach Pete Carroll — before taking on a job with the Packers, coaching the linebackers, from 2000-2. Pelini might not have had the same impact on the Nebraska defense in 2008 as he had as the defensive coordinator in 2003, when he helped the Huskers finally rebound from its devastating finish to the 2001 season: late-season losses to Colorado, 62-36, and to Miami, 37-14. His defense ranked second in the F.B.S. in scoring defense and 11th in total defense in 2003, and made Pelini the fan’s choice to replace Solich. Pelini’s effect on Nebraska’s defense in his second go-round has been equally impressive: the 2009 group was the most well-coached defense in the country and the 2010 defense again ranked among the best in the nation – though last year’s defense didn’t take well to the Big Ten. Spurned by former athletic director Steve Pederson in his search for Solich’s replacement, Pelini spent the 2004 season as the defensive coordinator at Oklahoma before taking the same position at L.S.U., where he spent three seasons (2005-7). L.S.U.’s defense finished among the top five in the F.B.S. in each of his three years at the helm; in 2007, the national title-winning Tigers finished third in the nation in total defense (288.8 yards a game) and takeaways (36). Now entering his fifth season as the full-time coach, Pelini still has yet to lead Nebraska back into the national title hunt. His job is secure, but it’s time for the Cornhuskers to make a move.

Tidbit (coaching edition) One Pelini remains – the important one. Another is gone: Carl Pelini, the former defensive coordinator, left prior to bowl play to become the new head coach at Florida Atlantic. Rather than make a splash, perhaps going after Mike Stoops, Pelini opted to promote from within his staff, naming former defensive line coach John Papuchis as the Huskers’ new coordinator. While not a hire that drew attention nationally, Papuchis is a young, fast-rising assistant who has been with Pelini since L.S.U.; the two will work well together, with Papuchis helping create game plans and Pelini calling the signals. As its new defensive line coach, Nebraska nabbed Rick Kaczenski away from Iowa – now that’s a hire that draws the Big Ten’s attention. It was one of two home-run hires Pelini made during the offseason, joining former Tennessee assistant Terry Joseph, a second young and impressive position coach. He’ll lead the Huskers’ defensive backs, replacing Baton Rouge-bound Corey Raymond.

Players to watch

While Nebraska as a whole scuffled acclimating itself to the Big Ten, one player fit his new conference like a glove: Rex Burkhead. The senior excelled, in fact, finishing third in the Big Ten in rushing (1,357 yards) and touchdowns (15) and blessing Nebraska with the sort of consistency wholly lacking from nearly every other position player on the offensive side of the ball. The Huskers might have been a slight disappointment last fall, when they failed to even sniff Wisconsin and Michigan; just imagine how Nebraska would have fared without Burkhead – it wouldn’t have been pretty. What he brings to the table is more than just production: Burkhead brings leadership, poise, confidence and production to an offense that needs each quality in spades.

He’s a Heisman candidate, in my opinion, because of those qualities. Nebraska is a different team when Burkhead gets his touches – a better team, a winning team. He owned the fourth quarter against Ohio State. Played an adult game of football against Michigan State, chewing up 130 yards on 35 carries. Willed the Huskers into the end zone against Penn State. Completely and utterly demoralized Iowa in the regular season finale. When the offense runs through Burkhead, Nebraska’s chances at winning games increases exponentially. The issue isn’t his production, but rather a blueprint that places undue emphasis on the quarterback, not on the clear and undisputed star of this offense; Burkhead’s the star, not the Huskers’ quarterback.

But he’s an untraditional star. He’s not going to match a Montee Ball-like level of production. Burkhead’s highlight reel isn’t special – he’s not breaking ankles, breaking long runs, breaking records. But he is special: Burkhead is special off the field, where he quietly won a national award for his work with a young fan battling a rare form of cancer, and he’s special between the white lines, merely in a different way than most Heisman contenders. Burkhead is special because he turns a one-yard loss into a five-yard gain – that might not sound like much, but few can, and fewer still can do it 20-plus times per game.

He’s going to lack the signature play that defines all Heisman campaigns, which is unfortunate. But Burkhead is one of the great players in all of college football, one of the great leaders, on and off the field, and one of the great running backs in the history of a program known for backfield play. There are few players I’ve enjoyed watching more.

The Huskers do need to get more from their backup running backs, however. One option is gone: Aaron Green, one of the top recruits in the 2011 class, transferred to T.C.U. after last season. Another, Braylon Heard, was moved to cornerback in the spring, though I imagine that he’ll get another look on offense at some point this season. Sophomore Ameer Abdullah (150 yards), who earned a bigger role on offense late last season, could provide a nice complimentary style to Burkhead’s physicality. Keep an eye on incoming freshman Imani Cross, a 220-pound Georgia product who has turned head over the early stages of fall camp.

Taylor Martinez was improved last fall, though not to the rate that most expected after his injury-plagued first season as Nebraska’s starting quarterback. He was a better passer, especially when it came to limiting turnovers: Martinez threw only three interceptions over his last eight games after tossing three against Wisconsin alone. He continued to contribute on the ground, adding 874 yards and 9 scores, though I don’t think that he’ll ever be the Eric Crouch-like runner some envisioned after his sterling start to the 2010 season. Martinez was better, believe it or not – just not good enough. It’s obvious that he holds the key; when he’s on, Nebraska can be the best team in the Big Ten.

That Martinez is uneven is part of the problem. But so are his overall mechanics as a passer, which led the junior to devote his entire offseason to retooling his footwork and delivery out of the pocket. You know the old Martinez: catapulting the ball towards a receiver’s shoes, tossing off his back foot, throwing lollipops up for grabs over the middle of the field. Hopefully, the new Martinez, one with reworked mechanics, will deliver the ball with more consistency in the intermediate game. In conjunction with a physical running game, that could open up Nebraska for more fireworks downfield. Until he becomes more well-rounded – not to mention a runner who can break a tackle – Martinez is a flawed quarterback; in turn, Nebraska has a flawed offense. But I’m confident that Martinez’s hard work in the offseason will yield his finest season yet as a junior. That should make this offense far more consistent than it was last season.

Of course, blaming Martinez for Nebraska’s woes issues that plagued the Huskers throughout last season: mediocre line play and a receiver corps that struggled catching the football. For example, drops and mental errors dropped sophomore Jamal Turner (15 catches for 243 yards) out of the mix over the final month of last season. If Turner can regain some confidence, he could team with sophomore Kenny Bell (32 for 461) and junior Quincy Enunwa (21 for 293) to give Nebraska a very young, explosive and promising top trio at the position. Bell’s the group’s best – he’s not only the Huskers’ most consistent receiver but also the only target capable of demanding double teams. While Bell and Turner are quicker options, Enunwa has the size to dominate smaller defensive backs.

In all, you can see the potential for Nebraska’s passing game to click should Martinez take a step forward. There’s that top threesome, followed by senior Tim Marlowe (12 for 113), redshirt freshman Taariq Allen – he’s been impressive this offseason – and true freshman Jordan Westerkamp, the latter the lone receiver taken in Nebraska’s most recent class. The Huskers also have one of the nation’s best tight end pairings in senior Kyler Reed (15 for 257) and Ben Cotton (14 for 189); Reed is the offense’s deep threat off of play-action. It’s on Martinez: Nebraska has given him weapons to work with.

And what does Nebraska do if Martinez doesn’t improve? Well, the staff could simply ride it out, sticking with the junior due to his experience and knowledge of this system. Another option would be to hand the offense over to sophomore Brion Carnes, who made a pair of attempts as last year’s backup. If things get really dicey – if both struggle, or if there are injuries – the staff would throw the reins to true freshman Tommy Armstrong, who played in a pass-first spread system in high school and could give this offense an entirely different look. As an aside, Nebraska has only three quarterbacks on scholarship; it’s probably time for this program to add some greater depth at the position – and I know that Pelini and this staff have struggled landing signatures from quarterback prospects.

Last year’s defense wasn’t ready for the Big Ten; the Huskers seemed more suited for the speed and finesse of the Big 12 rather than the Big Ten’s increased physicality, even if the conference is not quite the same grind-it-out league it has been in the past. The hope is that a year’s worth of growing pains provided enough ammunition – and game film – for Pelini, Papuchis and the two new assistants to draw up a better blueprint for slowing down teams like Wisconsin, Ohio State and Michigan. Any confidence that this will lead to an improved performance stems entirely from the fact that Pelini, for all his unevenness with in-game management, remains one of the three best defensive minds in college football. It wasn’t so long ago that Nebraska’s defense was the best in the country, mind you.

But that defense was propelled forwards by an utterly dominating defensive line. This year’s line, on the other hand, is steady but completely unspectacular – that’s not necessarily a bad thing, but the Huskers are lacking star power up front. Nebraska simply needs more: more from senior end Cameron Meredith (58 tackles, 5.0 sacks), who can’t trail off over the second half like he did a year ago, and more from senior tackle Baker Steinkuhler (40 tackles, 5.0 for loss), a former five-star recruit and a borderline all-conference candidate entering his senior season. This pair, the only full-time starters returning up front, need to give Nebraska more effort against the run and greater pressure on third down.

But the Huskers’ line play won’t be decided by this pair. It’ll be decided by what sort of progression the defense lands from junior Jason Ankrah (17 tackles) and sophomore Chase Rome (13 tackles), who will join Meredith and Steinkuhler to round out the starting lineup – and senior ends Eric Martin (23 tackles, 2.5 sacks) and Joseph Carter, who will provide depth on the outside. Martin, a converted linebacker, could be a difference-maker for Nebraska’s pass rush. Inside, Pelini and Kaczenski will spell Steinkuhler and Rome with junior Thad Randle, sophomore Jay Guy and a trio of freshmen.

The line has potential. Steinkuhler has the ability to dominate games inside – not like Ndamukong Suh, but perhaps like Jared Crick, a quicker, penetrating interior lineman. There’s depth inside, especially if redshirt and true freshmen Todd Peat, Kevin Williams and Vincent Valentine are ready to contribute. Martin could give Nebraska some flash coming off the edge. This group will take a step forward – with the length of that step decided by whether the seniors and underclassmen gel before the start of Big Ten play.

Nebraska had to happy with the way senior Will Compton (82 tackles, 7.0 for loss) played over the second half of last season. Something clicked for Compton, whether as a result of added experience or a coaching change – Ross Els, a former Ohio assistant, took over linebacker duties last fall – and the senior gave Nebraska all-conference-caliber play at middle linebacker for the first time in several years. Compton’s now the leader on the second level, with Lavonte David no longer wreaking havoc on the weak side, and he’ll need to carry his strong finish over to this fall to help Nebraska offset the lost production. David’s spot will be filled by another JUCO transfer, Zaire Anderson, unless one of two scenarios come to pass: one, Anderson fails to grasp this system, or two, senior Alonzo Whaley fends him off. Based on how well Pelini and this staff have smoothed the path for JUCO transfers to hit the ground running, I can’t imagine anyone but Anderson starting the majority of Nebraska’s games on the weak side.

Senior Sean Fisher (24 tackles) returns on the strong side, but Fisher has yet to regain his prior form after suffering a dreadful leg injury prior to the start of the 2010 season. While Nebraska is hopeful that Fisher can hold down the strong side – and play with greater confidence than he did a year ago – Pelini and Papuchis should be prepared to move Whaley over in a pinch. There isn’t great depth at linebacker, though sophomore Trevor Roach did a nice job behind Compton last fall. Nebraska also added three freshmen linebackers in February.

If there are questions about Nebraska’s front seven, they don’t extend to the Big Ten’s best secondary. There is ample depth at both cornerback and safety; the Huskers go five deep at both positions, by my count, with flexibility and interchangeability nearly throughout, giving Pelini and this defense several different alignment and formation options. And you’re also going to see fierce competition for starting roles during fall camp, which is good for business – the best four will start, but look for the Huskers to use as many as eight or nine defensive backs over the course of the season.

The only clear starter is senior Damion Stafford (80 tackles), a former JUCO transfer who will earn all-Big Ten honors in his first full season as the Huskers’ starting strong safety. In all likelihood, one of Nebraska’s starting cornerbacks will be junior Mohammed Seisey, another JUCO transfer who started his career at Memphis – and played very well as a freshman before leaving the program. That leaves juniors Andrew Green (48 tackles) and Ciante Evans (33 tackles) as the options on the other side, with Green likely getting the nod at cornerback and Evans serving as the Huskers’ nickel back.

There’s more: Stanley Jean-Baptiste, a junior, took well to cornerback last October after moving out from receiver; senior Antonio Bell will start ahead of Seisey if the JUCO transfer can’t grasp the system; and true freshman Charles Jackson, who was slowed initially by academic issues, has already carved out a meaningful role in this defense. Senior P.J. Smith (33 tackles) is the odds-on favorite to replace Austin Cassidy at free safety, though Nebraska could also turn to senior Courtney Osborne, a former starter who disappeared from the rotation last fall. Former walk-on Justin Blatchford will play when the Huskers add a sixth defensive back; likewise with sophomores Corey Cooper and Harvey Jackson, the next in line for starting roles.

So what’s the ceiling for this defense? It’s not going to play at a 2009 level, but Nebraska’s defense should improve upon last year’s finish and move into the top third of the Big Ten. Whether this defense can really improve, taking a step into the nation’s elite, depends on the play of several returning and new starters: Meredith, Steinkuhler, Anderson, Martin, Fisher, Seisay and Stafford. If these defenders plays to up their potential and the youngsters contribute, the Huskers could very well slow down enough teams to win the Big Ten. But that’s a stretch – Nebraska’s defense will be good, but not elite.

I knew that Brett Maher wouldn’t be another Alex Henery. He might have been better, in fact, though no one – no one ever, perhaps – will be as consistent as Henery was on field goals throughout his career. But Maher is an all-American for all that he brings to the table, for his ability to make 19 of 23 field goals, dictate field position as a punter and put more than a quarter of his kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks. He’s the total package. Nebraska also has an all-conference return man in Abdullah, who handles both punts and kickoffs. Up next: preventing opponents from tasting the same level of success in the return game. The Huskers ranked 104th in the nation last fall in both kickoff and punt return coverage.

Position battle(s) to watch

Offensive line It’s a tumultuous time for Barney Cotton and this offensive line, which suffered another tough blow when would-be sophomore Tyler Moore, a projected starter at tackle, left the program earlier this week. It’s nearly a devastating loss, but not quite: Moore’s departure hurts more down the road than in 2012, as while certainly an upper-crust prospect his all-conference days were at least one more season down the road. With Moore gone, along with three of last season’s starters, the spotlight turns even more firmly on Cotton and his perennially underachieving line. Some – but not all – of the vitriol is based in reality: Nebraska’s line play has been an embarrassment. This is Nebraska, after all, home of the pipeline, and I thought that a return to a more physical running game would lead to a rejuvenated performance up front.

Well, not quite. One thing hasn’t changed, on the other hand: Nebraska’s best offensive lineman is a former walk-on. That would be junior Spencer Long, who turned in an all-conference season at right guard. With Long the line’s best and junior Andrew Rodriguez moving to right tackle, the Huskers will have a very solid strong side. That position change will hand left guard over to another former walk-on, senior Seung Hoon Choi, who started Nebraska’s last four games on the left side and six overall. Junior Cole Pensick will get the nod at center, replacing Mike Caputo. Is Pensick bigger than Caputo, who was generously listed at 6’1? Yes, but not by much. While Pensick is strong, Nebraska must get bigger at center to combat Big Ten interior linemen.

It’s obvious that Moore’s departure threw Nebraska for a loop – even if the staff had to know that he was entertaining the idea of heading home. Before this week, Cotton and the Huskers were planning on using junior Jeremiah Sirles as a swing tackle, someone who could provide depth and the occasional start on both sides of the line. With Moore gone, Nebraska might need Sirles to reclaim the starting spot at tackle, something he lost heading into last season. It’s going to be either Sirles or junior Brent Qvale on the blind side, and neither scenario is particularly appetizing. You can blame Martinez for this team’s offensive woes, but that’s not entirely correct: Nebraska’s offensive line is the reason why the Huskers shoot blanks in key games. Something has to give – and Pelini might have no choice but to make a coaching change if the sour line play continues.

Game(s) to watch

The year comes down to how Nebraska fares in five Big Ten games: Wisconsin, at Ohio State, Michigan, at Michigan State, at Iowa. The Hawkeyes are the weakest team of that bunch, but the game takes on added meaning as the Huskers’ new end-of-year rivalry game. Nebraska must take at least three of those five to win nine games, especially with the program’s recent propensity for losing at least one game it shouldn’t – see Northwestern, 2011. The must-wins: all four non-conference games, one of two of the Michigan schools, Northwestern, Minnesota and Iowa. Netting a Legends title and a conference title game berth should be the Huskers’ top goal. Everything after that point is gravy – though the fan base is pretty hungry, and gravy sounds just right.

Season breakdown & prediction

In a nutshell Nebraska is very good but not great – you can say the same of this team as you can now say about this program, in fact. Why Nebraska will continue its streak of nine-win seasons is because of its senior leadership, beginning with Burkhead on offense and extending to Meredith, Steinkuhler, Compton and Stafford on defense. This sort of leadership has been lacking in Lincoln over the last few years; having seniors in key roles will help the Cornhuskers stay more balanced, perhaps avoiding the sort of manic episodes that have plagued the program for nearly the entirety of Pelini’s tenure. As of now, Nebraska has enough on offense to remain solid: Burkhead is a star, Martinez is fine and the receiver corps deep, though line play remains a concern. Defensively, the Huskers have a capable front seven and a potentially dominant secondary. In my mind, this is a team that will win nine games.

But will the Huskers lose four? Yes, if last season’s foibles carry over to September. The offense will sputter if Martinez hasn’t improved as a passer; his deficiencies make Nebraska one of the nation’s worst teams when coming from behind. The Huskers must get more balance on this side of the ball, so all eyes will be on the junior as he attempts to take a step forward as a third-year starter. The line needs to round into form early – and the offense needs to make things easier by running the ball well on first down, which not only makes for easier drives but also sets up the play-action pass. The Huskers must get better play against the run from the interior of the defensive line and more pressure on third down at end. If not, it’s easy to see teams like Wisconsin and Michigan continuing to have success moving the football.

So we’re waiting to see improvement. And for Nebraska, improvement in these areas – passing, blocking, stopping the run, rushing the passer – would mean the difference between another 9-4 season and a Rose Bowl berth. Listen: Nebraska’s not that far off. This team is one of four teams with a realistic shot at winning the Big Ten; I have them third in the league, just behind Michigan State in the Legends division, and right in the mix for an at-large B.C.S. bid. It will only take a little push, a little nudge, for this team to start moving in the right direction. Can Pelini push the right buttons?

Dream season Nebraska runs the table. Glory days. Smiling people. For one day, they allow balloons to fly in Lincoln.

Nightmare season The Huskers lose every road game but Northwestern – could have used that win last year – and lose another one-sided affair to Wisconsin, sliding down to 6-6 and forcing Pelini to make several tough decisions on his coaching staff.

In case you were wondering

Where do Nebraska fans congregate? An overwhelming number of options. Independent message boards can be found at Husker Board and Husker Max – and Husker Max is your place for every link available on Nebraska football. To catch up on Nebraska recruiting, check out Huskers Illustrated and Big Red Report. You can find additional coverage at Corn Nation and the Web sites of the Lincoln Journal Star and the Omaha World-Herald. Finally, check out Huskers Gameday.

Nebraska’s all-name nominee RB Rex Burkhead.

Word Count

Through 109 teams 445,950.

Up Next

Who is No. 15? The head coach of tomorrow’s program won his 100th career game on the same day that two heavyweights fought for the W.B.A. title.

Mike Stoops interested in Nebraska defensive coordinator job

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According to the Associated Press it looks like former Arizona head coach Mike Stoops is interested in joining Bo Pelini in Nebraska.

It’s well known that the Stoops’ and Pelini’s know each other from their days in Youngstown.

He declined to comment on whether Bo Pelini had discussed a job with him but added, “I talk to Bo a lot.”

“They’re awfully good, and Bo has a great defensive mind,” he said. “Those are important elements to me, as well as having an opportunity to win at a high level.”

Mike Stoops last week told the Daily Oklahoman newspaper that he had spoken to new Ohio State coach Urban Meyer but did not disclose whether he was offered a job on Meyer’s staff.

2011 NCAA Football Rankings Week 13 – USA Today Poll

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2011 NCAA Football Rankings Week 13 – USA Today Poll

1 LSU (59) 11-0 1475
2 Alabama 10-1 1413
3 Arkansas 10-1 1349
4 Virginia Tech 10-1 1242
5 Stanford 10-1 1222
6 Oklahoma State 10-1 1156
7 Houston 11-0 1075
8 Boise State 9-1 982
9 Oregon 9-2 933
10 Michigan State 9-2 928
11 Oklahoma 8-2 826
12 Wisconsin 9-2 808
13 South Carolina 9-2 806
14 Georgia 9-2 803
15 Kansas State 9-2 671
16 Michigan 9-2 618
17 Clemson 9-2 587
18 TCU 9-2 494
19 Penn State 9-2 455
20 Baylor 7-3 302
21 Georgia Tech 8-3 203
22 Nebraska 8-3 165
23 West Virginia 7-3 158
24 Notre Dame 8-3 156
25 Virginia 8-3 154

Dropped from rankings: Southern Miss 20, Florida State 22

Others receiving votes: Rutgers 54, Auburn 33, Southern Miss 25, Tulsa 23, Brigham Young 21, Arkansas State 10, NORIL 10, Missouri 8, Texas A&M 4, Utah 3, Texas 1, Florida State 1, Iowa State 1

No. 12 Penn St, No. 19 Nebraska meet amid scandal

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There’s also a football game.

No. 19 Nebraska and 12th-ranked Penn State will play Saturday in Happy Valley, capping a week in which a lurid child abuse sex scandal involving a former Penn State assistant led to the firing of iconic coach Joe Paterno.

If it’s possible to set aside the scandal, the big football question is how the Nittany Lions will respond to Paterno’s absence after 46 seasons.

The Nittany Lions (8-1, 5-0) have a two-game lead in the Big Ten’s Leaders Division and are harboring Rose Bowl hopes. Interim coach Tom Bradley said he expects Penn State to “play a good, hard football game” against the Cornhuskers (7-2, 3-2).

Nebraska is fighting to stay alive in the Legends Division.

Copyright Associated Press

Upsets in Big Ten leave Michigan State on top

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Iowa knocked off Michigan and Northwestern upset Nebraska, leaving Michigan State the big winner in the Big Ten’s Legends Division on Saturday.

And the Spartans barely escaped a close call against Minnesota.

In Iowa City, the Hawkeyes made a late goal line stand to preserve a 24-16 lead and beat No. 13 Michigan.

That was a mild upset because just last week Iowa had lost to Minnesota. What happened in Lincoln, Neb., was far more surprising.

With backup quarterback Cain Colter playing for Dan Persa, Northwestern upset the ninth-ranked Cornhuskers 28-25.

The loss by Nebraska put No. 15 Michigan State (4-1) alone in first in the Legends Division, the only team with one loss. The Spartans rallied in the second half to beat Minnesota 31-24.

Michigan, Iowa and Nebraska are all 3-2.

© 2011 The Associated Press.

2011 NCAA Football Rankings Week 9 – USA Today

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2011 NCAA Football Rankings Week 9 – USA Today

1 LSU (41) 8-0 1457
2 Alabama (18) 8-0 1434
3 Stanford 7-0 1327
4 Oklahoma State 7-0 1301
5 Boise State 7-0 1213
6 Clemson 8-0 1174
7 Oregon 6-1 1121
8 Arkansas 6-1 974
9 Oklahoma 6-1 964
10 Michigan State 6-1 932
11 Wisconsin 6-1 867
12 Kansas State 7-0 827
13 Nebraska 6-1 798
14 South Carolina 6-1 730
15 Virginia Tech 7-1 729
16 Texas A&M 5-2 520
17 Michigan 6-1 519
18 Houston 7-0 507
19 Penn State 7-1 448
20 Arizona State 5-2 253
21 Georgia 5-2 208
22 Texas Tech 5-2 180
23 Cincinnati 6-1 159
24 West Virginia 5-2 155
25 Southern Miss 6-1 128

Dropped from rankings: Georgia Tech 19, Illinois 21, Auburn 23, Washington 24

Others receiving votes: Texas 49, Georgia Tech 39, TCU 33, Baylor 29, Illinois 22, Washington 20, Iowa 14, Syracuse 10, Brigham Young 9, Southern Methodist 7, Wake Forest 6, Notre Dame 5, Auburn 3, Rutgers 2, Florida 1, Miami (FL) 1

Nebraska’s Jared Crick out for the season

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Nebraska All-American defensive tackle Jared Crick’s college football career is over.

The Huskers announced on Wednesday that Crick, a senior, has a torn pectoral muscle that will keep him out for the rest of the season.

Crick was a second-team All-American last year and a two-time first-team All-Big 12 honoree. He has been projected as a first-round NFL pick and ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has him ranked him No. 18 overall on his most recent 2012 Big Board.

“I feel extremely bad for Jared,” Bo Pelini said. “Jared has a bright future in front of him on the field at the professional level. I know he will bounce back from this, and become a stronger player and person.”

Full story at ESPN

No. 7 Wisconsin beats No. 8 Nebraska 48-17

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MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Now fully settled in at his new school, Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson looks like the class of the conference.

Another newcomer can’t quite say that same thing, as Big Red showed it wasn’t quite ready for the best of the Big Ten.

Wilson gave Nebraska a harsh welcome to conference play, throwing for two touchdowns and running for another in No. 7 Wisconsin’s 48-17 rout of the eighth-ranked Cornhuskers on Saturday night.

“If there’s a better player in college football right now, I’d like to see it,” Badgers coach Bret Bielema said of Wilson.

Montee Ball ran for 151 yards and four touchdowns for the Badgers (5-0, 1-0 Big Ten). But Wilson was the main attraction for a primetime audience as Wisconsin overcame a slow start to solidify its status as Big Ten favorites.

Badgers safety Aaron Henry compared Wilson to NFL star Michael Vick, perhaps minus some of the speed.

“His personality is through the roof, but his play on the field is tremendous,” Henry said. “He can get us out of plays with his legs, and he also can get us out of tight situations throwing the ball.”

Taylor Martinez threw three interceptions for the Huskers (4-1, 0-1).

“We didn’t make plays,” Nebraska coach Bo Pelini said. “I’m embarrassed. I apologize to the fans of Nebraska.”

By the time the Camp Randall Stadium public address system blared “Jump Around” to get fans hopping before the fourth quarter, the game already was in the bag for the Badgers.

“I knew there was a lot of hype going into this game,” Bielema said. “That’s why I kind of challenged our players to embrace it all week. I knew if we went out and played well and did what we do, we’d get a lot more attention.”

It was the sixth meeting between the teams and the first since 1974, but clearly the biggest and one of the most anticipated games in recent memory for Wisconsin. The Badgers fans didn’t exactly have Camp Randall to themselves.

The crowd of 81,384 was filled with plenty of Nebraska fans – they wore black to differentiate themselves from Wisconsin fans who wear a similar shade of red – amid reports earlier in the week that thousands of fans were expected to make the trip to Madison this weekend for the Huskers’ first conference game as a member of the Big Ten.

“Like coach said, that’s not Nebraska football,” cornerback Alfonzo Dennard said. “How we came out and played, that’s not Nebraska football.”

The Badgers sent the Huskers and their fans home disappointed, but the two teams could be on track to meet again.

Wisconsin is in the Leaders division of the Big Ten and Nebraska is in the Legends division, meaning the two teams could play in the conference championship game.

It was another big step for Wilson, the former North Carolina State quarterback who gave up minor league baseball to return to college football and play for a Badgers team that seemed to have all the pieces of a BCS bowl contender but needed a quarterback.

Five games into the season, there’s no reason to think otherwise.

Wilson had played well in his first four games for the Badgers after joining them over the summer, but hadn’t yet been tested by a top-level opponent since his days with the Wolfpack.

“He’s a good football player, obviously,” Pelini said. “He hurt us with his feet.”

And Wilson found himself under pressure early, especially by standout Nebraska defensive tackle Jared Crick. But then Wilson started showing his ability to scramble out of trouble and extend plays – and Nebraska’s defense couldn’t keep up.

“Russell throws the ball on the move about as well as he throws the ball in the pocket, right or left,” Bielema said.

Wisconsin’s defense also appeared to be in for a long night, allowing a pair of early – and easy – touchdown drives to Martinez and the Huskers that put the Badgers behind 14-7 early in the second quarter.

Wilson answered with a drive, and Ball scored his second touchdown of the day. The extra point try was blocked by Crick, and Nebraska still led 14-13.

Later in the quarter, Wisconsin’s defense picked off Martinez on two straight possessions, the first by linebacker Mike Taylor and the second by Henry.

Wilson made the Huskers pay for both turnovers, firing a 36-yard touchdown to Jared Abbrederis, then a 46-yard touchdown to Nick Toon with 0:32 left. Nebraska missed a 50-yard field goal try near the end of the second quarter, and Wisconsin took a 27-14 lead into halftime.

Martinez then threw another interception on the first play from scrimmage in the second half, this time to cornerback Antonio Fenelus.

Wilson helped the Badgers cash in again, this time with his legs. On first-and-goal at the 10, Wilson faked a handoff and took off running, leaving the Huskers’ defense in his dust on a touchdown run. Wisconsin took a 34-14 lead, effectively ending the game early in the third quarter.

Rex Burkhead had 18 carries for 96 yards and a touchdown for the Huskers.

© 2011 The Associated Press

Russell Wilson looking to keep touchdown streak alive

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Wisconsin QB Russell Wilson has thrown a touchdown pass in 28 consecutive games, the longest current streak in the nation. Wilson will be looking to keep that streak going Saturday vs. the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Graham Harrell (36) holds the alltime mark set at Texas Tech. Although Wilson’s numbers are expected to decline with Wisconsin entering conference play, his supporting cast is good enough to put him within striking distance. WR Nick Toon and Jared Abbrederis lead a unit that ranks first in the Big Ten in total offense.

Source: Rotoworld

Fanatic Sports and Cards – 2011 College Football Top 10

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Fanatic Sports and Cards 2nd 2011 College Football Top 10

1. Alabama 5-0
2. LSU 5-0
3. Oklahoma 4-0
4. Wisconsin 5-0
5. Boise State 4-0
6. Oregon 3-1
7. Clemson 5-0
8. Oklahoma State 4-0
9. Stanford 4-0
10. Arkansas 4-1

I still think Alabama and LSU are head and shoulders above the rest and Alabama is better than LSU.

2011 NCAA Football Rankings Week 5 – USA Today Poll

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2011 NCAA Football Rankings Week 5 – USA Today Poll

RK TEAM RECORD PTS
1 Oklahoma (32) 3-0 1434
2 Alabama (7) 4-0 1404
2 LSU (20) 4-0 1404
4 Stanford 3-0 1225
5 Boise State 3-0 1223
6 Oklahoma State 4-0 1172
7 Wisconsin 4-0 1156
8 Nebraska 4-0 1040
9 South Carolina 4-0 976
10 Virginia Tech 4-0 935
11 Oregon 3-1 914
12 Florida 4-0 817
13 Texas A&M 2-1 681
14 South Florida 4-0 631
15 Clemson 4-0 598
16 Baylor 3-0 528
17 Texas 3-0 525
18 Arkansas 3-1 432
19 Michigan 4-0 414
20 TCU 3-1 364
21 Georgia Tech 4-0 333
22 Illinois 4-0 181
23 West Virginia 3-1 158
24 Florida State 2-2 157
25 Michigan State 3-1 153

Dropped from rankings: North Carolina 25

Others receiving votes: Houston 70, Ohio State 61, Arizona State 57, Penn State 34, Iowa State 33, Kansas State 13, North Carolina 13, Texas Tech 13, Utah 11, Northwestern 5, Washington 3, Tennessee 3, Auburn 2, Temple 1, Air Force 1

No. 9 Nebraska’s defense surprisingly soft

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LINCOLN, Neb. — The surprise isn’t that No. 9 Nebraska is unbeaten. It’s that the offense has been carrying the defense so far.

The Cornhuskers are nowhere to be found in the top 60 of the major defensive categories, while the offense has scored 40 or more points in the first three games for the first time since 1995.

Coach Bo Pelini, whose success has been predicated on strong defense, says he’s not worried. He said he and his staff believe they can coach up the defenders and shore things up.

Nebraska has been soft against the run and has failed to get much pressure on quarterbacks.

Pass defense has been much less aggressive without injured Alfonzo Dennard.

Tackling also has been shoddy at times.

2011 NCAA Football Rankings Week 4 – USA Today Poll

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2011 NCAA Football Rankings Week 4 – USA Today Poll

RK TEAM RECORD PTS
1 Oklahoma (50) 2-0 1463
2 Alabama (4) 3-0 1402
3 LSU (5) 3-0 1373
4 Boise State 2-0 1212
5 Stanford 3-0 1208
6 Oklahoma State 3-0 1126
7 Wisconsin 3-0 1121
8 Texas A&M 2-0 1033
9 Nebraska 3-0 966
10 South Carolina 3-0 876
11 Virginia Tech 3-0 852
12 Arkansas 3-0 851
13 Oregon 2-1 804
14 Florida State 2-1 801
15 Florida 3-0 670
16 West Virginia 3-0 529
17 South Florida 3-0 485
18 Texas 3-0 464
19 Baylor 2-0 391
20 TCU 2-1 310
21 Michigan 3-0 243
22 Clemson 3-0 181
23 Michigan State 2-1 119
24 Georgia Tech 3-0 118
25 North Carolina 3-0 99

Dropped from rankings: Ohio State 16, Arizona State 18, Auburn 19, Mississippi State 25

Others receiving votes: Ohio State 92, Illinois 90, Houston 60, Miami (FL) 39, Iowa State 27, Missouri 22, California 21, Penn State 19, Utah 17, Arizona State 16, Auburn 14, San Diego State 14, Florida International 11, Vanderbilt 11, Mississippi State 8, Tennessee 5, Texas Tech 3, Notre Dame 3, Washington 3, Ohio 2, Northwestern 1

Nebraska QB Martinez pays price for his fumbles

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LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Taylor Martinez will be concentrating on the football in Saturday’s game against Washington.

The Nebraska quarterback has fumbled five times in two games and 21 times in 14 career games. Coach Bo Pelini says Martinez needs to concentrate on tucking away the ball.

Martinez fumbled on the second play from scrimmage in last week’s 42-29 win over Fresno State. Fortunately for Nebraska, on each of Martinez’s fumbles a teammate recovered or the ball went out of bounds.

Martinez and other players who fumble face repercussions at practice. A team rule requires a player to lie on his side and roll for 100 yards for each fumble.

Martinez says the punishment leaves him dizzy.

2011 NCAA Football Rankings Week 3 – USA Today Poll

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2011 NCAA Football Rankings Week 3 – USA Today Poll

RK TEAM RECORD PTS
1 Oklahoma (44) 1-0 1453
2 Alabama (8) 2-0 1410
3 LSU (7) 2-0 1372
4 Boise State 1-0 1214
5 Florida State 2-0 1211
6 Stanford 2-0 1165
7 Oklahoma State 2-0 1072
8 Wisconsin 2-0 1033
9 Texas A&M 1-0 1001
10 Nebraska 2-0 911
11 South Carolina 2-0 863
12 Virginia Tech 2-0 842
13 Arkansas 2-0 825
14 Oregon 1-1 754
15 Michigan State 2-0 639
16 Ohio State 2-0 566
17 Florida 2-0 498
18 Arizona State 2-0 353
19 Auburn 2-0 331
20 West Virginia 2-0 304
21 Texas 2-0 260
22 South Florida 2-0 230
23 TCU 1-1 211
24 Baylor 1-0 171
25 Mississippi State 1-1 125

Dropped from rankings: Missouri 19, Penn State 20

Others receiving votes: Michigan 97, UCF 49, Houston 43, Northwestern 31, Penn State 29, North Carolina 23, Tennessee 21, Missouri 21, Georgia Tech 9, Maryland 9, Clemson 8, Washington 7, California 6, San Diego State 3, Georgia 2, Iowa State 2, Brigham Young 1

Nebraska’s Will Compton day to day

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LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska coach Bo Pelini says linebacker Will Compton is “day to day” with an injured right foot and that cornerback Alfonzo Dennard continues to improve from his strained right leg muscle.

Compton hurt his foot early in the opener against Chattanooga on Saturday. Pelini said Monday there are no fractures or structural damage. Trevor Roach filled in for Compton and made seven tackles in his first college game.

Dennard hasn’t practiced since getting hurt Aug. 17. Pelini said Dennard is getting closer to being ready to play, but he didn’t know whether he would be available this week against Fresno State.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

Last 10 BCS Championship Games

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Last 10 BCS Championship Games

Jan 07, 2010 Alabama vs Texas 37 – 21 BCS National Championship
Jan 08, 2009 Florida vs Oklahoma 24 – 1 BCS National Championship
Jan 07, 2008 Louisiana State vs Ohio State 38 – 24 BCS National Championship
Jan 08, 2007 Florida vs Ohio State 41 – 14 BCS National Championship
Jan 04, 2006 Texas vs Southern California 41 – 38 Rose Bowl
Jan 04, 2005 Southern California vs Oklahoma 55 – 19 Orange Bowl
Jan 04, 2004 Louisiana State vs Oklahoma 21 – 14 Sugar Bowl
Jan 03, 2003 Ohio State vs Miami (FL) 31 – 24 Fiesta Bowl
Jan 03, 2002 Miami (FL) vs Nebraska 37 – 14 Rose Bowl
Jan 03, 2001 Oklahoma vs Florida State 13 – 2 Orange Bowl

Oklahoma No. 1 in AP Top 25

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NEW YORK (AP) — Being voted preseason No. 1 is a tradition at Oklahoma, and this season is no different.

The Sooners will start out top-ranked in The Associated Press college football poll for the 10th time, more than any program in the country.

The defending Big 12 champions received 36 of 60 first-place votes and 1,464 points in the Top 25 released Saturday.

Auburn, last season’s national champion, will start the season No. 23, one spot behind where it began in 2010.

If the rankings are any indication, the national title race could be a scramble.

No. 2 Alabama, one of a record eight Southeastern Conference teams in the preseason poll, wasn’t far behind OU, receiving 17 first-place votes and 1,439 points.

No. 3 Oregon got four first-place votes, No. 4 LSU received one and No. 5 Boise State got two.

Florida State was No. 6, the Seminoles’ best preseason ranking since starting the 2004 season at No. 5.

Heisman Trophy favorite Andrew Luck and Stanford were No. 7.

Rounding out the top 10 are Oklahoma’s Big 12 rivals, Texas A&M (No. 8) and Oklahoma State (No. 9), and Nebraska (No. 10), in its first season in the Big Ten after leaving the Big 12.

No. 16 Notre Dame is ranked for the first time since early November 2009.

As for Oklahoma, no matter where it lands in the preseason, it always expects to make a run at a national championship in the end. It hasn’t won it all, however, since 2000.

That’s when coach Bob Stoops led the Sooners to their seventh AP national title in his second season in Norman. Since then, Oklahoma has lost three BCS championship games.

The Sooners have won the AP national title four times when they were preseason No. 1 (1956, 1974, 1975 and 1985). The last time they started a season top-ranked was 2003. That season, they lost the BCS championship game to LSU.

“We’re very matter of fact,” Stoops said this week. “All we think about is doing the work.

“We’re also very aware we’re not much different than about 12, 15 other teams that’ll be competing for it that have legitimate chances to win it. What are we going to do differently to separate ourselves?”

Having the combination of quarterback Landry Jones and receiver Ryan Broyles is a good place to start.

Jones passed for 4,718 yards and 38 touchdowns last season, his second as a starter, and Broyles was his favorite target. The senior had 131 catches for 1,622 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Jones was forced into a starting role two years ago as a redshirt freshman when Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford went down with a shoulder injury. That was a tough season for the Sooners, who started ranked third but finished it 8-5.

Bradford was one of several key players Oklahoma lost to an injury that season, and Jones wasn’t the only underclassman who played a bigger role than expected.

“Now two years from that they have benefited from the maturity and the experience gained from being on the field at an early age,” Stoops said. “Our (offensive) line was young and now two years later they’ve got experience and some maturity to them. Same with Landry Jones. Same with Ryan Broyles.”

Earlier this month, Sooners fans must have had flashbacks to Bradford’s injury when linebacker and leading tackler Travis Lewis hurt his left foot in practice. He likely will miss at least the first four games, including a road trip to Florida State on Sept. 17.

“It’s a big blow to us, there is no denying it,” Stoops said.

Oklahoma has also been coping with the death of linebacker Austin Box, a would-be starter who overdosed on prescription painkillers in May.

“He’s very close to so many guys and … it wouldn’t be right to brush it to the side,” defensive coordinator Brent Venables said. “We’re trying to move forward and deal with it as best we can.”

The SEC has won five straight BCS title games and has plenty of candidates to make it six.

“We want to come out and win a national championship, to be undefeated,” Alabama safety Mark Barron said. “Every time we step out on the field, one of our motivating factors is to be special.”

South Carolina (No. 12), Arkansas (No. 15), Georgia (No. 19), Mississippi State (No. 20) and Florida (No. 22) give the SEC more teams in the preseason poll than any previous conference.

The Big Ten placed four teams in the rankings with Wisconsin (No. 11), Michigan State (No. 17) and Ohio St. (No. 18) joining Nebraska.

With No. 21 Missouri, the Big 12 had four teams, too.

The Pac-12 had three teams, with No. 25 Southern California joining Oregon and Stanford.

The Atlantic Coast Conference placed two teams (Florida State and No. 13 Virginia Tech), as did the Mountain West Conference (Boise State and No. 14 TCU)

The Big East, which finished last season with no ranked teams, had one team in the preseason poll, No. 24 West Virginia.

Notable by its absence is Texas. Coming off a 5-7 season, the Longhorns are missing from the preseason Top 25 for the first time since 1998.

For now, ranked or not, every team is chasing Oklahoma.

“Who doesn’t want to be No. 1?” Sooners cornerback Jamell Flemming said.

© 2011 The Associated Press

Bubba Starling chooses Royals over Nebraska

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Three-sport star Bubba Starling, perhaps the most celebrated high school athlete in Kansas history, made a last-second decision Monday night to forgo football at Nebraska and play baseball for the Kansas City Royals.

A person familiar with the negotiations said Starling received a team-record rookie signing bonus of $7.5 million spread over three years.

The tall, lean and exceptionally fast Starling grew up in Edgerton, Kan., about 30 minutes southwest of Kauffman Stadium. The Royals made him the fifth player taken in the June baseball draft.

“Things really didn’t heat up until probably the last 5 or 6 minutes,” said general manager Dayton Moore. “It came down pretty quick. I’ve got a lot of adrenaline going through me right now.”

Moore indicated the Royals did not make a last-minute addition to their final offer.

“We had had some talks earlier today and just kind of left it at that. We just kind of reached out together.”

With a scholarship to play quarterback for the Cornhuskers, Starling and super agent Scott Boras had plenty of leverage in hardball negotiations which apparently did not get resolved until Starling agreed to terms moments before the 11 p.m. CDT deadline.

“I sweat them all out,” Moore said. “This was particularly tough. We knew on draft day and prior to draft day that this had a chance to work really, really good or had a chance to go wrong.”

The Royals began courting Starling when he was still in his early teens, just beginning to star for Gardner-Edgerton High School.

On several occasions, they invited him to Kauffman Stadium to watch games and hit in their underground batting range. By the time they made him the No. 5 overall selection last June, he had become a local high school legend, belting tape-measure home runs, chalking up 200-yard rushing games in football and even drawing admiring looks from college basketball coaches.

If he makes it to the majors in the next 2-3 years, he will join a roster full of talented young position players who made their big league debut this season after coming in as high draft picks — including first baseman Eric Hosmer, third baseman Mike Moustakas and second baseman Johnny Giavotella.

If the Royals had taken anyone else with their first-round pick, many fans would have been bitterly disappointed, especially those who still have not forgotten how they let a power-hitting local kid named Albert Pujols get away to St. Louis in the 1999 draft.

As a top baseball prospect who had also accepted a football scholarship, Starling was in much the same situation as Joe Mauer. After Mauer turned his back on a Florida State’s football program and chose baseball, he became a four-time All-Star with the Minnesota Twins and 2009 AL MVP.

When Starling was 8 years old playing in a recreation league, parents complained to his father that they feared their kids might get hurt because Bubba threw and hit the ball so hard. So he was bumped up two years and began competing with 10-year-olds.

Playing for suburban Gardner-Edgerton last spring, he batted .481 and averaged a home run every six at-bats. His fastball has been clocked around 95 mph but he played only in center field his senior season. Playing for Team USA in the under-18 category last summer, he batted .399 with three home runs, 12 RBIs and 20 runs scored.

But his best sport may be football. His senior season, after rushing for 2,471 yards and 31 touchdowns, he was heavily recruited by just about every major program before signing with Nebraska.

“The combination of speed, power, athleticism, the ability to play the field up the middle, we feel like he’s got the makings of a star player in the major leagues,” said J.J. Picollo, assistant general manager.

Moore acknowledged that Starling’s being a local kid made his signing even more imperative.

“We don’t want to get beat in our own backyard. It’s very important to us. That being said, if there was another player we felt was better than Bubba Starling from Florida or Texas, we would have selected him.

“But there’s no doubt it has more appeal to us as an organization a local player, a local talent. This is his boyhood team. This is where he wants to be. He’s going to take that field in the minor leagues every day with that vision of playing here in Kansas City, and making his home team proud. You need that motivation because it’s very difficult to make it to the major leagues.”

Nebraska had promised Starling he could play baseball for the Huskers as well as football.

“Everyone associated with our football program at Nebraska wishes Bubba nothing but the best in his future with the Kansas City Royals organization,” Nebraska football coach Bo Pelini said in a statement. “I know this decision has been very difficult for Bubba and his family, as it would be for anyone in his position. In the end, Bubba was in a win-win situation regardless of his choice, and we respect the decision he has made.”

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press