Nebraska building offensive tackle depth, spring transfer portal opens

Nebraska will increase those efforts each of the next three Saturdays when the majority of its practice includes full-contact scrimmage action.

Let’s drop into coverage:

Nebraska’s scrimmages over the next two weeks will be used as an evaluation tool to see where the team is at, head coach Matt Rhule said. But whereas those scrimmages will take place behind closed doors, fans and opponents alike will be able to follow NU’s Spring Game.

That’s a reason why Rhule indicated that the game could look slightly different than a year ago.

“Last year, we kind of ran everything, this year, I’m sure it’ll be a little more vanilla in terms of what we run for many reasons,” Rhule said Thursday. “But you still get to see who can block and tackle and all those different things.”

One of the reasons will be the knowledge of the playbook from freshmen quarterbacks Daniel Kaelin and Dylan Raiola, and from the other young players on the Nebraska offense. Only so many plays can be installed and repped over 14 spring practices after all.

Another key factor is wanting to disguise any schematic adjustments Nebraska may have made from the year prior. Most programs aren’t aiming for a flashy spring game regardless, with limiting injuries and good execution among the main goals.

With senior Turner Corcoran rehabbing a foot injury this spring, Nebraska’s offensive tackle position has a different look to it. Corcoran and junior Teddy Prochazka, both multi-year starters for NU at tackle, will again be favored to claim starting roles in the fall.

However, neither played all 12 games a year ago — and regardless of health, Rhule has seen Nebraska’s young linemen pushing for playing time.

“We have some depth and some guys who could challenge to play,” Rhule said. “It’s not just like, ‘Hey, these guys are gonna be good players down the line,’ the guys that are running with the twos and the threes, I think some of them are proving that if given an opportunity they can play.”

Sophomore Tyler Knaak, redshirt freshman Gunnar Gottula and freshman Grant Brix are among the tackles whose practice performances have impressed Nebraska coaches so far this spring.

Provided the University of Nebraska Board of Regents vote as expected this Friday, Nebraska football’s new athletic facility will finally have a fitting name. The “Go Big” facility, as it was temporarily called, didn’t have much of a ring to it — the “Osborne Legacy Complex” does.

Of course, Osborne’s name is already attached to other aspects of the program. Nebraska plays on the Tom Osborne Field at Memorial Stadium, while its football offices and player lounge inside North Stadium are in the Osborne Athletic Complex.

In that regard, keeping Osborne’s name attached to Nebraska football’s main office and player area within the new facility is simply fitting.

Nebraska’s spring camp is far from finished, but that’s not the case everywhere nationally.

Whereas the Huskers began their spring in late March, other programs started practicing earlier in the month or even in February. Many spring games marking the end of the practice slate took place Saturday, giving those teams a leg up on those still practicing.

That’s because regardless of team schedule, the NCAA’s spring transfer portal window opens on Monday. Players will have 15 days through the end of the month to enter into the portal, though they can wait several months before deciding upon their new school.

Due to Nebraska’s scholarship situation and the timing of the window, don’t expect much by way of transfer additions. Departures, though, will be necessary — and if players want to go through the end of spring camp, they’ll only have a couple of days to make up their minds before the window closes.

A final piece of news to watch for this week: on Thursday, the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel is expected to approve in-game electronic communication devices for college football.

The technology, which would allow coaches to radio in a play call to a quarterback through their helmet, was already approved by the NCAA Football Rules Committee for use at the FBS level. If it becomes official this week, the rule change will take effect ahead of the 2024 season.