While there is still quite a few questions about the Nebraska football team coming into the 2017 season, there is little doubt that Mike Riley and company have put together a decent amount of talent. Athlon recently released its preseason All-Big Ten team and it turns out there are seven Huskers on these various teams. Athlon has listed all the positions on offense, defense, and Special Teams and has gone all the way to fourth-team to have a rather exhaustive compendium of talent in the conference.
Nebraska football has two first teamers
While there are seven Huskers on the team, only two of those are on the first-team on Athlon’s list.
While there is talent across the board, it looks like the Nebraska football defense is blessed with a cornerback that is among the best in Chris Jones and punt returner in De’Mornay Pierson-El.
Jones has gotten better and better the more playing time he’s gotten for the Huskers. The senior had his best season for the Nebraska football team in 2016 when he had 37 tackles, three interceptions, one for a touchdown and 10 passes defended. Pierson-El still seemed to be a shadow of his pre-injury self but Athlon expects the receiver and punt returner to “return” to form.
The best of the rest All-Big Ten teamers for Nebraska football
While Chris Jones and Pierson-El are the only players on Athlon’s first team, offensive lineman Nick Gates is Nebraska football’s only addition on the publication’s second team.
It makes some sense, as quite a few players on the team are going to have to prove themselves before they move up the list.
Third teamers include safety Aaron Williams and kicker Drew Brown. Williams, like Jones led a secondary that was among the best in the league for a decent part of the season. Like Jones and the rest of his unit, they got less mention as the Huskers got run over by Ohio State, Iowa and Tennessee.
Tre Bryant being added to the fourth team on Athlon’s list means punter is the only special teams position Nebraska football doesn’t have on the list. Bryant is listed as one of the best returners in the conference while the final member of Athlon’s list is wide receiver, Stanley Morgan. Most Husker fans at this point have heard about the problems he had in Florida.
Morgan is expected to be among the best receivers in the conference but he’s gonna have to get his issues with Marijuana ironed out in order to do that. At least he has a position coach who has a history and an understanding of what can drive someone towards substance abuse.