With Rome leaving here is the depth as I see it:

Starter: Thad Randle (SR- Good when healthy.)
Starter: Vincent Valentine (R/FR- Based upon nothing but some youtube and forums.  He needs to be real good.)

Depth by playing time:
Back-up: Aaron Curry (SO- A little light but some potential.)
Back-up: Kevin Williams (SO- He needs to get bigger/stronger.  I think he is a DE.)
Back-up: Jay Guy (SR- Looks the part but has not produced.)
Back-up: Tobi Okeyumi (JR- Has he played a down?)

There it is and pretty scary.  Unless there is a position switch, and I hope Ankrah is not moved inside to give us another year of Cam Meredith II at DT, that could be the rotation.  I doubt the FR DT's contribute.

Kevin Williams is probably a better DE than a DT, but that is where he played last year and there really are no other options.  Best case scenario, Randle stays healthy 'cause he is good when he is; VV is as good as we hope; Curry gets bigger/stronger; Guy plays meaningful downs.  I just don't think Kevin Williams at 265 pds can hold up all season playing inside.  Just watch Cam last year.  Ankrah would be the same.

I even looked at the OL roster to find a potential position switch, but found no player that made sense; even in a fantasy world.

Let's be realistic, the DT rotation will be avg. at best so the DE's- Ankrah, Gregory, Moss, McMullen, Natter...must be good.

Gregory and McMullen have the potential to be exceptional players at DE - I expect them to get most of the snaps. Hence the talk of moving Ankrah and maybe one other DE inside to DT. Although we need depth - Ankrah will play where we need him to play (which is more likely to be DT).

Jay Guy does not look the part unless the part refers to someone with an aversion to exercise. Some people have spare tires, but Jay has a full-size semi-trailer tire. He makes Terrance Cody's Senior Bowl body look svelte.

dsbigred1 wrote: Jay Guy does not look the part unless the part refers to someone with an aversion to exercise. Some people have spare tires, but Jay has a full-size semi-trailer tire. He makes Terrance Cody's Senior Bowl body look svelte.

question is can he eat up two blocks....   I'll take that anyday no matter what his spare tire looks like

the answer to this point would be "no" as the coaches have not seen fit to play him in any meaningful games, and very minimal snaps in blowouts. He still needs to add a lot of strength, even after being in the program for 3 full years.

DT is going to be scary (in a bad way next season.  I concur with the other posters about Jay Guy.  I use to have a class with him while at UNL. He was maybe 5'11 and 270lbs.  He looked like an Average Joe in class.  If not for his book bag name tag, you would have never guess he was an athlete.

Wouldn't be shocked to see Ankrah move inside either.

I would be shocked to see Ankrah be a full-time DT I feel he is a good sized DE that on running downs he will be on the outside with VV and Thad Randle in the middle. However on passing downs he will take VV's spot to give us a pass rusher in the middle next to hopefully Gregory and that side of the line will be very quick. Add in one of our Freshman DE's to Ankrahs spot.

I wouldn't be shocked if there is one more addition to this list from outside the program by spring ball.

Well they would already have to be here, registration ended January 14th. I highly doubt it. 

Blackshirt83 wrote: I wouldn't be shocked if there is one more addition to this list from outside the program by spring ball.

Unless you know of a JUCO DT who has already enrolled at semester who is under the radar and didn't get an offer, this isn't possible.

Not like a NFL team who can pick someone up off teh wires.

Blackshirt83 wrote: I wouldn't be shocked if there is one more addition to this list from outside the program by spring ball.

Maliek Collins  DT 6'2"  285  - Fr
Jay Guy  DT   6'1"  290  - Jr
Steve Graeber  DT 6-1 250  -- Fr
Kevin Maurice  DT  6-3  270   - Fr
Greg McMullen  DE/DT  6'4" 280 - RFr
Tobi Okuyemi  DT   6'2 275  - Jr
Aaron Curry  DT  6"1"  280  - Soph
Thad Randle  DT  6'1"  295  - Sr
Kevin Williams  DT  6'2"  265  - Soph
Jeff Uher  DT  6'1"  280  - Jr
Vincent Valentine DT  6'3"  320  - RFr

Also could add --

Andrew Rodriguez 6'6"  320  -  Senior ** move from OL was outstanding both sides in H.S.
Adam Kucera   6'6"   310  - Soph ** move from OL was outstanding both sides in H.S.
Jake Cotton   6'6"   295    - Junior ** Played DT as RFr until knee injury - physical

>>>> That would be 11 players for one or two positions at DT.  If Valentine, Curry, Randle,  Williams, Guy, Okuyemi, Uher can provide the foundation -- then the three crossovers Rodriquez (who I think could start)  Cotton and Kucera could make an impact and allow Bo to Redshirt 2 DT's

I would hate to have an offensive line try to move Valentine and Rodriquez out of the Middle .   That would free up the DE's to presssure the passer or drop in zone and send a LB.

.Good Group.  But the size and depth is needed.

.

It is exceedingly rare for frosh-soph DT's to be anything more than average. It is a difficult position to master even if the physical side is there. Don't expect much because its highly probable this will be a huge struggle again this year.

Not trying to be flippant... but "average" D-Line play would somewhat of an upgrade from this past year. Hold their own, contain the edges, and let the faster LBs and more experienced DBs make plays.

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--- Mrjfb wrote:

It is exceedingly rare for frosh-soph DT's to be anything more than average. It is a difficult position to master even if the physical side is there. Don't expect much because its highly probable this will be a huge struggle again this year.

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Rodriquez played quite a bit on offense - he is not moving. Barney won't let one of kids move off offense where he can keep a tight leash on Jake. Kucera - maybe that would work.

Jimbosc wrote: Rodriquez played quite a bit on offense - he is not moving. Barney won't let one of kids move off offense where he can keep a tight leash on Jake. Kucera - maybe that would work.

I agree with the statement on Rodriquez, but I'm sure Barney doesn't care if his son moves back to DT. I would guess he would rather see his son on the field then sitting on the bench.

I see it as a wide open race. There's just too many young bloods, and there are very few older guys that have a position locked. (if any)  In fact there isn't a guy that has his position locked.

Just don't see any OL guys getting moved. The OL is not deep enough to let the guys mentioned, leave to go play defense.

Finding the 2 deep line up, will be an experiment for all of fall and probably through the "pre-season" games.

There could be some surprises. There's just too many freshman, red shirts, and new blood coming in....need to throw them all together and see want falls out as the most capable of the bunch.

With the mess that happened last year, I certainly welcome a race to find the new line up.

True.  This area could be a flat out disaster this coming season.  Hopefully that isn't the case but the reality is there is no reason to be optimistic other than just blind faith that things will be better. 

Cubanpep wrote: Not trying to be flippant... but "average" D-Line play would somewhat of an upgrade from this past year. Hold their own, contain the edges, and let the faster LBs and more experienced DBs make plays.

---------------------------------------------
--- Mrjfb wrote:

It is exceedingly rare for frosh-soph DT's to be anything more than average. It is a difficult position to master even if the physical side is there. Don't expect much because its highly probable this will be a huge struggle again this year.

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Cali4Carolina wrote: True.  This area could be a flat out disaster this coming season.  Hopefully that isn't the case but the reality is there is no reason to be optimistic other than just blind faith that things will be better. 

Cubanpep wrote: Not trying to be flippant... but "average" D-Line play would somewhat of an upgrade from this past year. Hold their own, contain the edges, and let the faster LBs and more experienced DBs make plays.

---------------------------------------------
--- Mrjfb wrote:

It is exceedingly rare for frosh-soph DT's to be anything more than average. It is a difficult position to master even if the physical side is there. Don't expect much because its highly probable this will be a huge struggle again this year.

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The 2013 team desperately needs Thad to be healthy all season. I sure hope for his sake that he can be.  He has had a tough stretch of injuries while at NU.

With the increase talents/skills of the Nebraska LB's ------- I could see some use of a 3-4 defense.  It would bring more speed and allow Z. Andersen to be used as a "Clay Matthews" type LB.

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NebPrep wrote: With the increase talents/skills of the Nebraska LB's ------- I could see some use of a 3-4 defense.  It would bring more speed and allow Z. Andersen to be used as a "Clay Matthews" type LB.

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I love the idea, but I'm not sure it would help. VV is the only guy who is really big enough to play NT. I could see it used as a package, but probably not as a base. My guess is you will see a hybrid type where they have a DE standing & could drop into short coverage or move around & blitz.

Cubanpep wrote: Not trying to be flippant... but "average" D-Line play would somewhat of an upgrade from this past year. Hold their own, contain the edges, and let the faster LBs and more experienced DBs make plays.

---------------------------------------------
--- Mrjfb wrote:

It is exceedingly rare for frosh-soph DT's to be anything more than average. It is a difficult position to master even if the physical side is there. Don't expect much because its highly probable this will be a huge struggle again this year.

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That's why I said its exceedingly rare. Even some of the best DT's weren't really noticeable until they are juniors or seniors. Just the way that positions develops, probably the slowest in football. So even if Valentine is the next Suh, we won't see him dominate anyone this year and probably next.  You may see signs of a great lineman but it won't be displayed as domimance.

Alot of bodies with no experiance.  Good thing is we should always be fresh in the 4th quarter.  Hopefully we aren't already down 28 points.