Ranking the 5 Most Important Seniors on the Nebraska Cornhuskers in 2014

Nebraska football fans know how important seniors are to the success of the Cornhuskers in 2014. Not only do seniors provide the leadership that sets the tone on the field and in the weight room, but seniors also tend to be the players who make the plays to win games.

So for Nebraska to be successful in 2014, NU’s seniors will have to shine. Here, in order of importance, are Nebraska’s five most critical seniors.

No. 5: Zaire Anderson

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Nebraska’s linebacker corps is full of youth, much of it untested. Middle linebacker Josh Banderas got playing time last year as a true freshman but is now in the position due to a season-ending injury to Michael Rose.

Courtney Love, Marcus Newby and other young linebackers will help provide depth to the position.

However, it is Anderson, a senior who arrived in Lincoln as a junior college transfer, who can provide leadership as a starter to Nebraska’s linebacker corps.

Anderson has not been able to avoid the injury bug during his Nebraska career, but if he is able to stay off the training table, he could be massively important for the Blackshirts. 

No. 4: Mark Pelini

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Never underestimate the importance of a center to an offense. While Nebraska is starting four new offensive linemen and has flashy stars like Alex Lewis to watch, it’s Pelini’s senior leadership that is directing the line and making the necessary calls to keep drives clicking.

In other words, if you’re going to have just one senior on the offensive line, having him at center is a pretty good way to go. 

No. 3: Kenny Bell

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“The Fro” has been a fixture for Nebraska’s offense since he arrived in Lincoln. However, as a senior, Bell will be leading Nebraska’s wide receiver corps.

As Nebraska’s primary threat to stretch the field, combined with a quarterback in Tommy Armstrong who particularly excels at throwing the deep pass, Bell could become an even bigger part of NU’s offense than he has been in the past. 

No. 2: Josh Mitchell

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Mitchell isn’t the tallest Blackshirt, nor is he the fastest, nor is he the hardest hitter.

However, Mitchell is without question the vocal and spiritual leader of Nebraska’s defense. His pugnacious attitude, as much as his cover skills and his tackling ability, will help drive the Blackshirts in 2014. 

No. 1: Ameer Abdullah

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What more can be said about the spiritual and physical leader of the 2014 Cornhuskers?

Particularly with the injury to defensive end Randy Gregory, Abdullah is unquestionably the best player on the team.

His leadership off the field, best demonstrated by the speech he gave at Big Ten media days, sets the kind of hard-working and selfless tone head coach Bo Pelini wants to see.

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