Nebraska Football: Updating the 5 Best Spring Football Battles

Spring practice is when position battles get decided. While fans watch the spring games around the country and view it as the (early) beginning of the college football season, for players the spring game is the culmination of hard work and competition throughout spring practice and attempting to win one of those coveted starting positions in the fall.

Nebraska has a number of open competitions for starting spots going into 2012. Let’s take a look at the five most competitive races.

Center

Current Leader: Cole Pensick

Challengers: Ryne Reeves

Of all the position battles this spring, the fight for the starting center spot might be the most important. While Nebraska has a number of returning starters on the offensive line, it has precious little in terms of centers with game experience.

While Pensick has been in the system longer and starts with the upper hand, don’t be surprised to see Reeves overtake him once fall rolls around.

Wide Receiver

Current Leaders: Tim Marlowe, Kenny Bell

Challengers: Jamal Turner, Quincy Enunwa, Taariq Allen, Jordan Westerkamp

It’s likely that all of the wide receiver positions are up for grabs this spring. Marlowe and Bell have a leg up based on their performance last year, but the depth at the position means any one of the contenders could end up with starting roles.

Defensive End

Current Leaders: None

Challengers: Eric Martin, Jason Ankrah, Joseph Carter, Josh Williams

It should be clear that this competition is for one spot, opposite Cameron Meredith, who has cemented his starting position. There is very little space between each of the challengers, and this spring’s performances will likely determine the starters this fall.

Safety

Current Leader: None

Challengers: P.J. Smith, Courtney Osborne, Harvey Jackson

Another position battle for one spot, as Daimion Stafford has pretty well sealed up the other safety position. Smith and Osborne have the advantage of playing experience, while Jackson is an unproven talent that Nebraska fans have been excited to see on the field.

Cornerback

Current Leaders: Mohammed Seisay, Andrew Green

Challengers: Antonio Bell, Ciante Evans, Stanley Jean-Baptiste, Braylon Heard

It would be a surprise if junior college transfer Seisay didn’t win the starting position in his first year at Nebraska, but until we see him on the field, it’s hard to know for certain. Green began 2011 as a starter, lost his job, then won it back at the end of the year. As a result, Green is likely to have a step ahead of the challengers, but his spot is far from safe this spring.

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