Nebraska Football: Projecting the Offensive Depth Chart for the Season Opener

We've already looked into our collective crystal ball and seen what the defensive depth chart will look like for Nebraska in 2011. Now it's time to flip to the other side of the ball and see what the offense is going to look like. 

Spoiler alert! There's a lot of youth on this side of the ball, way more than defensively, for Nebraska.

Quarterback

Starter: Taylor Martinez

Backup: Brion Carnes

For good or bad, the Huskers are Martinez’s team. New offensive coordinator Tim Beck has tailored his offense in large part around Martinez’s feet-first threat, and NU will likely go as far as Martinez will take them. Redshirt freshman Brion Carnes impressed the crowd at the spring game and clearly is a legitimate option to play Beck’s offense behind Martinez. Freshman walkon Ty Brockemeier will compete with Ron Kellogg III for the third quarterback spot.

Running Back

Starter: Rex Burkhead

Backups: Aaron Green/Ameer Abdullah/Braylon Heard

Burkhead is the clear starter and workhorse coming into 2011. He established himself as the most trusted back in 2010 even with the presence of Roy Helu, and with Helu’s graduation, the starting position is unquestionably his. Ordinarily, I wouldn’t include freshmen in the depth chart, but it is clear that currently-rostered Collins Okafor and Lester Ward are unlikely to see any significant playing time. It will fall to the incoming freshmen (at least the ones that don’t redshirt) to carry the backup load.

Fullback

Starter: Tyler Legate

Backup: C.J. Zimmerer

It is unclear exactly how much role the fullback will have in Tim Beck’s new-look Nebraska offense. When the fullback is in the game, Legate will be the clear starter given his experience. But, from all evidence so far, don’t look for either to be a major offensive contributor.

Wide Receiver

Starters: Brandon Kinnie, Jamal Turner

Backups: Kenny Bell, Quincy Enunwa, Stanley Jean-Baptiste, Curensky Gilleylean

Given that I put a fullback into the depth chart, I’m assuming a two-wideout set. Kinnie is clearly the leader of the receiving corps and is the first name to go on the depth chart. Again, I’m breaking my rules on freshmen, but Turner is such a unique talent and has the speed and elusiveness Nebraska desperately needs to get on the field.

Bell, Enunwa and Jean-Baptiste will all see regular playing time. Gilleylean is currently listed as a running back, but it seems more likely he will return to his wide receiver role and provide some additional experience to the corps.

Tight End

Starter: Ben Cotton

Backup: Kyler Reed

It’s tough putting Reed in as a backup, given his performance in 2010. But Cotton is the better blocker, with Reed being more of a hybrid-type receiving tight end. Rest assured, both will see ample playing time in rotations or in two-tight sets.

Center

Starter: Mike Caputo

Backup: Ryne Reeves

Caputo, as a senior, will provide the leadership and experience to anchor Nebraska’s offensive line in 2011. Once again, the no-freshman rule is broken here, but Reeves is too good a talent to leave on the bench. Cole Pensick will also see playing time in rotation.

Offensive Tackle

Starters: Jeremiah Sirles, Marcel Jones

Backups: Jemarcus Hardrick, Mike Moudy, Jake Cotton

Sirles will, in all likelihood, start at left tackle, with Jones taking the right tackle spot. Hardrick will see extensive playing time at both positions in the rotation, and Moudy and Cotton will provide additional rotation flexibility and depth. Don’t be surprised to see freshman Zach Sterup and Tyler Moore get playing time in 2011 as well.

Offensive Guard

Starters: Andrew Rodriguez, Brent Qvale

Backups: Brandon Thompson, Nick Ash, Seung Hoon Choi

A position of some question for Nebraska, as neither Rodriguez nor Qvale bring any starting experience back in 2011. Look for a significant rotation in playing time between them and Thompson, Ash and Seung.

Placekicker

Starter: Mauro Bondi

Backup: Brent Maher

Nebraska went hard for a scholarship kicker this offseason, and landed a promising one in Bondi. It’s unlikely NU would have made such a focus at the position if they were confident in their options on the roster, specifically Maher and Jon Damkroger. Look for Bondi to win the placekicking job, but to not be the iron-man kicker/punter that Alex Henery was in 2010.

Still, it's going to be a strange sight for the Children of the Corn in 2011 to see a kicker trotting onto the field that isn't the Skinny Assassin.

Like what you read? Please LIKE me here and on Facebook, re-tweet or plus-one this article, and follow me on Twitter @law_talking_guy to follow my thoughts and observations about college football—and one or two other topics —throughout the year!

If you'd like to read a sometimes-weekly, sometimes-funny look at Nebraska athletics and college football in general, check out the Husker Hotwire!