It doesn't have the cache of Florida vs Michigan or Alabama vs Florida State. For Nebraska football fans, the Huskers' game against the Arkansas State Redwolves might as well be billed as a title fight. Cornhusker fans love their college football and the season opener always carries a special level of excitement, even if the opponent isn't a traditional powerhouse.
That level of excitement has gone up a notch in recent years, now that wins are coming at a premium. There seems to be an extra level of anxiety in 2017 thanks in no small part because the Huskers have themselves a true passing offense and a quarterback who can run it for the first time in years.
Fans want to see whether Tanner Lee is the real deal and whether this is the year Mike Riley and company begin their march back into the college football elite. If they are going to do that march, the Nebraska football team is going to have to dispatch the likes of Arkansas State.
In order to do that, the Cornhuskers will need to pay special attention to a couple of Redwolves players who could make life very difficult come Saturday.
Justice Hansen
Justice Hansen isn't your stereotypical Sun Belt conference quarterback. The junior is a transfer from the Oklahoma Sooners who in many ways, has a similar profile to Tanner Lee. Hansen is big (6-4, 207) and has a strong arm. The really bad news is that not only can he throw the ball (2,719 yards, 19 TDs, 7 INTs) but he can also run a little bit (131 yards and one touchdown.) If the Nebraska football team wants to put the Redwolves away early, they are going to have to find a way to make sure Hansen is handled.
Warren Wand
Arkansas State has a potent offense that can hurt you in a couple of different ways. The Redwolves are similar to what the Huskers are likely to do this year in that they won't have one back be the featured runner, but will spread the carries out a bit. Despite this, the man who looks to get the most touches on Saturday is Warren Wand.
Last season, Wand ran for 879 yards and seven touchdowns. He also caught 24 passes out fo the backfield for 279 yards and three touchdowns. Wand is small (just 5-5, 179) but that means he can get himself lost behind the offensive line and then pop up in space.
Blake Mack
The Nebraska football team is facing an Arkansas State squad that likes to spread the ball around, but the revamped secondary is especially going to have to pay attention to Blake Mack.
Mack led the team a year ago in yards (652) and yards per catch (19.2). His 34 receptions had him second on the team but he'll be the go-to guy this time around. His speed is something the Nebraska football team is going to have problems with.
