Nebraska offensive line eyes improvements in 2023

That’s because the NU offensive line struggled during the 2022 season, including a few games missed due to injuries. According to Pro Football Focus, Nebraska had the fourth-worst pass-blocking grade of any FBS offensive line during a season in which NU gave up 32 sacks.

Nebraska’s linemen were better run-blockers, though, and had stretches of strong individual play at times — leaving Rhule wanting to see more of that in 2023.

“That offensive line’s as talented as one I’ve been around in college football as a head coach — but are they going to believe it and put it together?” Rhule said in March.

Who left: No one. With fewer scholarship players than other position groups, Nebraska lost zero offensive linemen this spring.

Who’s still here: Justin Evans-Jenkins, Bryce Benhart, Ethan Piper, Henry Lutovsky, Dylan Parrott, Ben Scott, Nouredin Nouili, Teddy Prochazka, Ezra Miller, Joey Mancino, Turner Corcoran, Keegan Menning, Jacob Hood, Gunnar Gottula.

Who’s arriving: Brock Knutson, Grant Seagren, Sam Sledge, Mason Goldman.

Post-spring summary: Another offseason under offensive line coach Donovan Raiola has done plenty of good for Nebraska’s returning linemen. Plus, a new training regimen in the weight room has NU’s linemen moving with more agility out of their blocking stances.

The additions of two players who didn’t play a single snap for NU in 2022 — Scott and Nouili — have raised the overall play of the offensive line. Scott is a natural fit for center, and his experience means Nebraska shouldn’t miss a beat with a new player at the heart of the offensive line. Nouili’s strength as a run blocker was sorely missed last year, and he picked up right where he left off in the spring.

Corcoran, who missed just 40 snaps last season, remains a key piece of Nebraska’s offensive line. Corcoran has the positional flexibility to play either guard spot or at left tackle, where he spent much of last season. He will be pushed by Piper for playing time.

There’s no doubt Prochazka is the best left tackle NU has on its roster, but the sophomore missed the spring while rehabbing from injury. Prochazka has played just eight games in the last two seasons — and if he were to go down, Corcoran and Gottula would be the primary options to fill in at the crucial left tackle spot.

Stock up: Benhart. Rhule showed his belief in Benhart by identifying the junior right tackle as a potential NFL-caliber player in the future. Inconsistent play, particularly in pass protection, had limited Benhart’s productivity in the past, but he took steps in the right direction during the spring. Plus, his presumptive backup, Georgia transfer Jacob Hood, was not nearly as game-ready as Benhart in the spring.

Coach quote: “They deeply, deeply care and they want to make everyone proud. They want to honor the legacy of the Pipeline. They cannot be working any harder at it, so if there’s a reason I won’t take shots at them, it’s because I honor people’s work and I see how much they care. Their passion motivates me and everyone should be rooting for our offensive line this year.”

Post-spring pecking order: 1s: Prochazka, Corcoran, Scott, Nouili, Benhart. 2s: Gottula, Piper, Evans-Jenkins, Lutovsky, Hood.