With the Nebraska football team always on the lookout for talented depth on the offensive line, it's entirely possible a new target just fell into their laps on Monday morning. Bruce Feldman announced on Twitter this morning that Miami Hurricanes offensive lineman Sunny Odogwu has decided to leave their football program. Odogwu had started 14 games at right tackle over the last three seasons and appears to have one year left of eligibility. The sudden departure raises the question as to whether the Husker coaching staff should think about going after a transfer for the Nigerian and bring in some veteran depth.
Nebraska football wouldn't be playing the waiting game
Having just finished his redshirt Junior season, it appears Odogwu could be a graduate transfer as he has already achieved his bachelor's degree. That means if Nebraska did go after the tackle, he should not have to sit out a season before he could play here. Considering this is a Hurricane that did not lose his job because he was replaced by a "better" player, but has decided to leave after seeing his 2016 season come to an end because of injury, it's possible he'd still be one of the better linemen the Huskers could deploy during the 2017 season.
Sunny Odogwu has decided to leave the #Miami football program. He started 14 games at RT over 3 years.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) May 22, 2017
While reports out of Miami are saying the offensive lineman might have thought he was going to be losing his job in 2017 on the Hurricanes, this is far from a bench player who couldn't cut it at the ACC school.
This is also not a situation where the player has decided he might not be playing at all. Head coach Mark Richt has told the media in Florida, Odogwu wants to find somewhere else to play. Nebraska is certainly not a stranger to bringing in transfer players under the Mike Riley regime and this is one who could eventually make a difference up front.
Is there an opening for Odogwu at Nebraska?
As is usually the question when dealing with a player who is looking to transfer somewhere he can play right away. The question is always going to be whether the Nebraska football team can honestly offer him a starting job. While the offensive line had its detractors a year ago, all reports in the spring is that there was real and evident improvement among those who are expected to see the brunt of the playing time.
The Nebraska coaches have said they are going to be more willing to put the right football player in the right position and shift them around more so the question really does come down to whether Nebraska thinks Odogwu would be a fit and whether the now former Hurricane could be lured here.
