Nebraska Players Who Will Benefit Most from Extra Bowl Practices

The Holiday Bowl will be here before we know it. In the meantime, the Nebraska football team is taking advantage of every last practice it can before heading to San Diego.

As the Huskers prepare for their December 27 bowl game against USC, there are key players who can benefit from the extra time on the field. Defeating USC won't be easy and those additional practices could be make-or-break for Nebraska.

So, who exactly are those players?

All eyes will likely turn to quarterback Tommy Armstrong first. The sophomore didn't have the smoothest regular season this year, which has left some fans unsure of what to expect from him.

He ended the regular season with a 51.7 completion percentage. That's pretty much on target with his 2013 number( 51.9 percent). He's thrown more interceptions in 2014 compared to 2013 (11 versus eight), but it's important to remember that he played in more games this past season.

Turnovers have to be a primary focus for Armstrong before the Holiday Bowl.

Against Iowa, for instance, he threw two interceptions. While the Huskers won that game, it still doesn't mean Armstrong can be excused from those mistakes.

With the remaining practices, Armstrong will need to focus on staying calm under pressure. When an opposing team targets Armstrong and forces him to win a game with his arm, that's when things typically go south.

Knowing and understanding this should help Armstrong properly prepare if the Trojans put him in a similar situation.

Another player who will use the extra practices to his benefit is center Paul Thurston. After Mark Pelini went down, Ryne Reeves stepped in. All was well until Reeves went down against Iowa and Thurston was thrust into the job.

He had been the Huskers' third-string center, but that likely won't be the case come the bowl game. According to the Fremont Tribune, interim head coach Barney Cotton confirmed that both Pelini and Reeves are out for the Holiday Bowl.

Cotton also made note of Zach Hannon and Dylan Utter as possible candidates for the center position, but Thurston has to be ready.

The job could very easily be his alone in San Diego and his performance will impact Armstrong. If the two can find a good rhythm with one another, Armstrong will have less to worry about.

On the defensive side of the ball, safety Nate Gerry is likely using these last practices to his advantage. USC is expected to throw the ball a lot against Nebraska, and that's where Gerry can step up for the big plays.

During the regular season, Gerry had five interceptions and two forced fumbles. As USC quarterback Cody Kessler prepares for the Husker defense, Gerry is likely someone on his mind. After all, the sophomore can wreak havoc when he wants.

Gerry should expect the Trojans to be preparing for him. As a result, he can use the bowl-game prep to make sure USC isn't able to stop him so easily.

As a whole, the Nebraska football team will do nothing but benefit from the final weeks of bowl-game practices. With former head coach Bo Pelini gone, there's a lot that needs to be figured out. The extra practices will help.

Some players, like Armstrong, Thurston and Gerry, may benefit the most from the extra practices, but it'll truly be a team effort.

That's reason enough for every player to be putting in the time before the Holiday Bowl rolls around.