5 Nebraska Players Sure to Surprise at Fall Camp

Nebraska football fans are always looking for surprises as fall camp opens. While the established stars are well-known, fall camp provides an opportunity for new playmakers to arise and take the stage for the upcoming season.

Therefore, while “sure to surprise” is a bit of a contradiction in terms (much like the advice from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy to “expect the unexpected”), here are five players who might be a bit under the radar but could play a major role this season. 

Alex Lewis

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Lewis has had a remarkable impact as a newcomer, unseating David Knevel (not an easy thing to do, considering Knevel is 6'9" and 310 pounds) and coming into fall camp as the likely starter at left tackle.

As can be seen from a tweet from the Lincoln Journal Star’s Steven Sipple, Lewis will have a difficult spring: "My read is DE Randy Gregory is hitting on all cylinders this spring. Fast and tenacious. I'm guessing Alex Lewis would concur."

If he’s able to improve through his spring battles and carry that into the fall, Lewis could become one of the key contributors on Nebraska’s offensive line—and perhaps one of the most important players on offense as a whole. 

Zaire Anderson

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Nebraska’s linebacker corps is something of a muddle, with a lot of talented and young players competing for positions. The one exception to that might be Zaire Anderson.

Along with Trevor Roach, Anderson is the only senior linebacker on the roster.

His career at Nebraska has been marred with injuries, but his talent is unmistakable. If he is able to stay healthy, Anderson could become the standout linebacker Nebraska fans have been looking for. 

Terrell Newby

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A smart and particularly handsome analyst opined that Terrell Newby would be Nebraska’s X-factor in 2014.

While he will likely start the season as a third-stringer (maybe a second-stringer) on the depth chart, Newby looks to have an expanded role on offense and on special teams. With his explosiveness, it won’t be a shock to see Newby as the talk of this year’s fall camp. 

Charles Jackson

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Ciante Evans held down Nebraska’s nickel position with experience and intelligence, helping to hold things together and make the smart play in the secondary. His graduation leaves a big hole for Nebraska to fill.

Jackson, who looks to be filling Evans’ spot at nickel, is in some ways Evans’ opposite. He has struggled throughout his Nebraska career with discipline on the field but is a freakish athletic talent in a way that Evans simply was not.

If he is able to bring at least some of Evans’ vision and experience to the nickel role combined with his athleticism and playmaking ability, he could be a remarkable weapon for the Blackshirts. 

Alonzo Moore

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Imagine a receiver with Kenny Bell’s speed but with an extra inch of height and 10 pounds of weight.

That’s Moore—at least potentially.

Injuries have kept Moore from being able to work his way up the depth chart, but he looks to be coming into fall camp healthy. If he can stay that way and demonstrate route-running and pass-catching to go with his speed, Moore could be one of the big surprises this fall.

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