Husker O-line: Another Rhule Rebuild?

First-year head coach Matt Rhule must turn around a line that struggled last season.

When your team wins only four games in a season, there are usually some glaring reasons why.

Some of the blame for last year's 4-8 record can be placed on Nebraska's offensive line. Here's how as a unit they were ranked by cfbstats.com (out of 130 teams) at the end of last year.

1. Total Offense: #102 (344.9 yards per game)
2. Scoring Offense: #102 (22.8 points per game)
3. Rushing Offense: #100 (123.33 ypg)
4. Sacks Given Up: #90 (2.75 spg for minus 247 yards)
5. Passing Offense #82 (220.8 ypg)

Calling Mr. Obvious: The success (or lack thereof) of this season's offense hinges on the O-line's development. If the Huskers don't improve dramatically in '23, Nebraska will have a tough time winning games.

So what is head coach Matt Rhule's plan to improve the line play? It's pretty much the same as his approach to the running backs: Stick (mostly) with the players on last year's roster.

Good news/bad news

Good news: Most of the players returning this year have been starters at Nebraska in the past. That also could be the bad news: Some of the same players who struggled last year are coming back this fall.

The same guy (Donovan Raiola) who coached them last year will be leading them again. Some might say that's the definition of insanity: Doing the same thing and expecting different results.

Clearly, Coach Rhule sees things the rest of us don't. (Maybe that's why he gets paid the big bucks?) So why is Rhule excited about the O-line this fall?

Here are a few reasons:

1. Teddy Prochazka 6-10, 320 LT (SO) Elkhorn, NE
2. Nouredin Nouili 6-4, 315 LG (JR) Norris, NE/Colorado State
3. Ben Scott 6-5, 300 C (JR) Transfer from Arizona State
4. Turner Corcoran 6-6, 300 RG (JR) Lawrence, KS
5. Bryce Benhart 6-9, 315 RT (JR) Lakeville, MN
6. Ethan Piper 6-2, 295 (JR) Norfolk, NE
7. Justin Evans-Jenkins 6-1, (RFR) 290 East Orange, NJ
8. Henry Lutovsky 6-6, 310 (SO) Crawfordsville, IA
9. Hunter Anthony 6-6, 325 (SR) Tuttle, OK/Oklahoma State 

Who might be the impact players on the O-line this fall? For starters, LT Teddy Prochazka is coming back. He's an area code who has great potential. But for two straight years, he's had to battle season-ending injuries. If he can stay healthy this fall, look for him to be a difference maker. Next to him at LG will likely be Nouredin Nouili who was ruled ineligible last season.

Center Ben Scott came in via the portal in the offseason to replace last year's starter, Trent Hixson. Scott is expected to be a great addition to the Husker line.

At the RG spot, Turner Corcoran will likely play next to Scott and rounding out the projected O-line starters will be Bryce Benhart at RT. Rhule thinks Benhart has NFL potential. Ben may have that kind of talent, but last season he struggled. If he improves his play, the line could make a big leap forward this fall.

How ’Bout Them Huskers

In this week's podcast, Will and I review the Huskers who were drafted in this year's MLB draft: Brice Matthews, Max Anderson and Emmett Olson. The last time the Huskers had that many players chosen in first two days of the draft was in 2005. We also evaluate the Husker O-line room.