How a crowd of fifth- and sixth-year vets has Nebraska growing into October

A projector screen showed fullback Barret Liebentritt surging ahead as a lead blocker for running back Dante Dowdell on a key fourth-and-goal play from the Purdue 1-yard line. Liebentritt whiffed on one such chance in training camp and was featured on the undesirable end of one of Nebraska’s teamwide “lion/sheep” film sessions.

This time Liebentritt absorbs two blocks. Dowdell dives over the top for a pivotal fourth-quarter touchdown.

Another fourth-quarter moment featured receiver Alex Bullock, who cleared a sideline path for Jacory Barney’s 25-yard scoring sprint by simultaneously pushing back a Purdue cornerback and safety. The fourth-year Husker missed the rolled-down safety earlier on the same sweep earlier in the game.

“I got an earful from Coach (Matt) Rhule,” Bullock said. “So I was pretty pumped to go fix it when that happened.”

Development in progress. Improvement in the real-time throes of a season. Rhule last weekend labeled the 4-1 Huskers a growing team — and with more than half the roster composed of freshmen and redshirt freshmen, they are.

But don’t forget the older guys. Ten sixth-year contributors, all a blend of pandemic eligibility, redshirts and medical waivers. Nine on-field regulars in their fifth college campaigns and 15 more in their fourth.

“They’re all growing,” Rhule said. “I don’t think it’s age as much as it is, ‘Hey, what does this take? What does this require?’”

Almost midway through the regular season and with undefeated Rutgers rolling into town for a 3 p.m. kickoff Saturday, the Huskers learned their lesson with an overtime loss to Illinois and applied it at Purdue. And for every early individual freshman success story — Dylan Raiola, Carter Nelson, Vincent Shavers, Barney and more — there’s a veteran anecdote reminding why youth and experience can be a potent blend.

Defensive lineman Ty Robinson put off the NFL for a sixth Big Red tour and has already equaled his 2023 total in tackles for loss (four). Linebacker Javin Wright, at 24 years old, inspired teammates with his debut last week following September health issues. Punter Brian Buschini — 23 and married — has become a reliable weapon flipping the field.

Exhibit A for old growth is John Bullock. The sixth-year Husker out of Creighton Prep was a reserve walk-on safety until Rhule and his staff quickly moved him to linebacker upon their arrival. He’s become an all-conference-level playmaker, directly or indirectly causing three takeaways along with a team-high 29 tackles this fall.

“He’s loving where he’s at,” NU defensive coordinator Tony White said. “Still got a lot of games to go — he better play well the rest of the way — but it’s turning out to be a good one so far.”

Of the 26 defensive players on Nebraska’s two-deep, 16 are upperclassmen including all 11 starters. Safety Isaac Gifford, linebacker MJ Sherman and D-lineman Nash Hutmacher are all fifth-year seniors. White told Gifford this week he saw the defender jumping around with a fresh energy and joy.

Guys are having fun, White said. They want to set a foundation. Leave Nebraska better than they found it while getting better along the way.

In a parallel universe, NU could be navigating the season without most of its current linebacker rotation, its entire starting defensive line, the majority of its top offensive line and its top two leading receivers. All decided to stay or come when pro ball or retirement were viable options.

And while younger players develop behind the scenes — a luxury not always afforded to such Huskers in the recent past — the vets continue to show their own strides on Saturdays.

Fourth-year tight end Thomas Fidone considers himself an improved blocker, route runner and reader of defenses in his second fully healthy season. Alex Bullock is owning his role as a perimeter run blocker while picking up pointers from Jahmal Banks and Isaiah Neyor, both veteran transfers who have a combined 37 catches for 543 yards and six touchdowns.

Sixth-year offensive lineman Ben Scott marvels at how weekly opponent preparation — keys in run blocking one week, technique in pass protection the next — has grown his game as a 23-year-old who could have been battling this fall to stick in the NFL.

“You’re trying to gather all your strengths and work on your weaknesses and get better every day,” Scott said. “We’ll watch film of last year’s tape and it’s crazy to see how much we’ve all gotten better.”

That includes fellow year-six offensive contributors like Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda — whose 52 punt-return yards are already more than Nebraska had all of last season — and running back Rahmir Johnson. Right tackle Bryce Benhart has started more games than any Nebraska O-lineman ever, and his Pro Football Focus grade continues to steadily rise this fall.

“They make plays and take a lot off of my plate,” said Raiola, just five games into his career as a college quarterback. “I couldn’t be more grateful and learn so much from them every day. …You have a group of older guys making plays and younger guys, things can get scary if you put it all together.”

Jimari Butler, a fifth-year D-lineman, called Saturday a chance to validate to himself his physical and mental gains in stopping the run. He’s enjoying personal firsts of being a mentor and on an NU squad winning games.

Only a few of the oldest players have been on Husker teams with a winning record through September. None have felt a successful back half of a Nebraska season — at least not yet.

One more area for growth.

“They’re growing too,” Rhule said, “because they’re in territory they haven’t been in before.”