Nebraska Football: Future Looks Bright with Huskers' 2015 Talent

It's officially 2015. For Nebraska, that doesn't just mean a new year; it also means a new head coach and an opportunity for talent to shine.

The Huskers graduated some stellar seniors with the 2014 season. That includes I-back Ameer Abdullah and wide receiver Kenny Bell. Nebraska is also losing defensive end Randy Gregory to the NFL, per ESPN.com.

What does that mean for the Huskers? While it will mean some growing pains, it also means the talent that's been waiting in the wings will now have a chance to shine. Nebraska has plenty of talent to make the future look bright.

Running backs Imani Cross and Terrell Newby will be tasked with filling the void left by Abdullah. While Abdullah will be a difficult player to replace, Husker fans should feel good about Cross and Newby.

Cross, for example, had some shining moments in 2014. He finished the season with 384 rushing yards on 75 attempts for five touchdowns. His 2012 and 2013 numbers were also strong, showing that he has the potential to really step up for Nebraska in the future.

Season	Att	Yds	Avg	TD
2014	75	384	5.1	5
2013	85	447	5.3	10
2012	55	324	5.9	7

Cross also carries himself well. The junior is a calm force at postgame press conferences, which will be beneficial to the Huskers as the team looks for new leaders.

Newby will also be a bright spot for the Huskers in 2015. He had 297 yards on 67 attempts for five touchdowns in 2014. With a clearer offensive identity, Newby should grow and become a much smarter player with head coach Mike Riley.

As for the spot Bell leaves behind, Husker fans got a good idea of what Nebraska has with both Jordan Westerkamp and De'Mornay Pierson-El. Both players are young, but they both had stellar moments in 2014. That's enough to get fans excited about their potential.

Westerkamp proved in 2014 that he's willing to do whatever it takes to make a catch. Whether it was leaping or diving for a ball, Westerkamp was willing to do it.

As for Pierson-El, he initially made a name for himself in 2014 on special teams. Many opponents learned not to kick to Pierson-El, who returned three punts for touchdowns.

However, Pierson-El became known for more than just his punt return skills. As a wide receiver, he racked up 321 yards on 23 receptions for four touchdowns. One of those touchdowns came against USC in the Holiday Bowl.

On the defensive side of the ball, losing Gregory is not ideal; however, the Huskers are still in good shape, as The Associated Press' Eric Olson pointed out (via The State): "The defense's strength should remain the front four even without Gregory. Greg McMullen, Vincent Valentine and Maliek Collins are back, and Jack Gangwish played a lot of snaps when Gregory was hurt."

Plus, the Blackshirts will have Nate Gerry. As a safety, he had five interceptions in 2014. He also returned an 85-yard blocked field-goal attempt, which proves Gerry can make the big plays.

The best part? Gerry was only a sophomore in 2014. The offseason will provide him with plenty of time to continue to grow.

Husker fans have to feel good about the talent returning in 2015. The names listed above are only a handful of what Nebraska has to offer. Riley also has to feel good about the talent he has.

It's going to be a long spring and summer before college football returns to Lincoln, Nebraska. Looking at the talent alone, the future looks bright for the Huskers' talent.

Stats via ESPN.com unless otherwise noted.