Post-spring progress and projected depth chart for Nebraska’s offensive line

Donovan Raiola doesn’t crack many jokes with the media. In practice, the Nebraska offensive line coach has a glare and no-nonsense approach with his players.

But as he talked this spring about his position group, Raiola had a pep in his voice and even a bit of optimism. His room is full of old guys with NFL aspirations. 

“With all the experience, I think they do a great job of helping the young guys understand the technique, understand the scheme, understand the standards we expect,” Raiola said on April 11. “It’s just great to be a part of.”

If Turner Corcoran fully recovers from offseason foot surgery, it’s possible that Nebraska will start five offensive linemen with at least four years of college football experience. Sixth-year seniors Ben Scott and Bryce Benhart lead the way there, and Benhart, using his extra COVID year, will break the school record for most offensive lineman starts next season.

Earning Big Ten honorable mention in 2023, Benhart has slimmed down, ditched the precautionary knee braces and flourished under Raiola’s tutelage.

“He’s the best for us, and he wants — demands — perfection out of us,” Benhart said of Raiola. “He’s the coach that you want.”

NU’s line has spent five of the last six seasons blocking for quarterbacks who like to run as much, if not more, than they pass, and it always leads to inflated sack totals. Nebraska hasn’t allowed fewer than two sacks per game since 2016. With Husker coaches embracing a pro-style pass game in 2024, pass protection could be easier.

“We truly want to build like an NFL, cup-style protection where we’re never getting beaten inside-out, and trusting that the quarterback, versus an edge rusher, will step up,” coach Matt Rhule said.

Who’s here: There are, in essence, 15 scholarship or NIL scholarship-in-kind guys on the spring roster, including, among the starting contenders, Bryce Benhart, Ben Scott, Turner Corcoran, Teddy Prochazka, Justin Evans, Henry Lutovsky, Tyler Knaak and Florida transfer Micah Mazzccua. The developing, younger reserves include Sam Sledge, Gunnar Gottula, Grant Brix, Gibson Pyle, Jacob Hood, Brock Knutson and Jason Maciejczak. The top walk-on could be Grant Seagren or Dylan Parrott.

Who left: Ru’Quan Buckley, who spent most of his Husker career along the defensive line before spending one spring as an interior offensive lineman. He committed to Michigan State on Monday.

Who’s the coach: Raiola, now in his third year and the lone assistant coach holdover from the Scott Frost era. He and head coach Matt Rhule hit it off, and Raiola’s preference that linemen drive defenders off the ball — contrasted to the method of walling off and controlling defenders in a stalemate — appealed to Rhule. Raiola teaches blocking a little differently than some contemporaries.

“We block with our knuckles up,” he said during spring camp. “… We don’t grab people, right, because holding encourages lazy blocking. So we don’t teach holding.”

Players like Raiola — tough in practice, cerebral away from it. So many veterans wouldn’t have stayed if he turned them off. As a recruiter, he’s secured in-state guys and blue-chip talent like Brix and incoming freshman Preston Taumua.

Snapshot: When it comes to offensive lines, the concept of a “two deep” exists in theory more than practice; typically, five guys start, play every relevant snap together, and try to stay healthy. But NU could probably rotate seven, eight, nine, even 10 linemen and not lose much. The Huskers’ top group is full of grown men, at this point, with sixth-year seniors Bryce Benhart and Ben Scott holding down two spots, fifth-year senior Turner Corcoran manning another, and fourth-year junior Teddy Prochazka at left tackle. Florida transfer Micah Mazzccua might start at a guard, too. This group has seen just about everything.

Behind them is the next wave, many of whom can and will play in 2024. Justin Evans, one of Raiola’s first recruits, packs a good punch at 6-1. Henry Lutovsky, a giant at 6-6, 325, will battle to start at one of the guard spots. Utah transfer Tyler Knaak appears ready to be a factor at tackle, while redshirt freshmen Gunnar Gottula and Sam Sledge could begin their climb toward playing time, as well.

NU plowed open plenty of holes in 2023; it was a good run-blocking group. The Huskers can continue to improve in pass protection, although a quarterback who stays in the pocket, like Dylan Raiola, should help.

Arriving this summer: Nebraska would entertain a transfer offensive tackle — nearly every program would — but, for now, the Huskers will welcome freshman interior offensive linemen Jake Peters, Preston Taumua and Landen Davidson, plus tackle Xander Ruggeroli, who might have the most upside of any incoming lineman. Las Vegas Bishop Gorman — where Ruggeroli played — tends to produce good blockers.

Post-spring depth chart: LT: 1 Teddy Prochazka, 2 Turner Corcoran; LG: 1 Justin Evans or Micah Mazzccua; C: 1 Ben Scott, 2 Justin Evans; RG: 1 Turner Corcoran or Henry Lutovsky; RT: 1 Bryce Benhart, 2 Tyler Knaak.