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We wrap-up our spring positional recaps today by giving our final take on Nebraska’s safeties.
Sixth-year senior Deontai Williams. (Tyler Krecklow)
WHAT WE LEARNED: Williams and Dismuke will help lead this defense
When you talk about leadership on Nebraska’s veteran defense heading into the 2021 season, it’s hard not to start with the safety position.
Seniors Marquel Dismuke and Deontai Williams both came back for a sixth season in 2021. Over the last two years, Dismuke has played 1,312 snaps at safety, while Williams has seen 777 snaps from 2018 to 2020, including 519 this past season.
Both of these guys came back for unfinished business. Neither Dismuke nor Williams liked the way last season ended, especially the decision not to play in a bowl game, which was a vote driven by many players that ended up leaving the program.
We continue our spring positional recaps today by giving our final take on Nebraska’s outside linebackers.
Nebraska’s outside linebackers have gone from a concern to a strength over the past year. (Tyler Krecklow)
WHAT WE LEARNED: What was once a worry is now a strength
A year ago, outside linebacker was arguably the most significant question mark on Nebraska’s defense.
The Huskers had just brought in a (kind of) new position coach with the return of Mike Dawson, and outside of
JoJo Domann, no one knew much of anything about what NU had to work with at OLB.
These are players I’ll be watching closely:
QB Heinrich Haarberg – The Kearney native may have the best arm talent on the team.
RB Gabe Irvin – The freshman could be Nebraska’s most complete back right now.
WR Omar Manning – Will the talented JUCO transfer put on another show in front of the fans?
WR Samori Toure – The Montana transfer broke a Randy Moss playoff record. How many others on NU’s roster can say something like that?
TE Austin Allen – The staff feels like he’s one of the top overall players on this roster right now.
OLB Pheldarius Payne – He has arguably made the biggest jump of any player from last season.