Scouting the Cornhuskers

This Season
The Cornhuskers are 4-1 with victories over Souther Miss (49-20), Arkansas State (42-13), Idaho State (73-7), and Wisconsin (30-27). Nebraska has only one loss, UCLA 36-30. Last week Nebraska had a big comeback victory against Wisconsin overcoming a 27-10 deficit. Nebraska average 44 points/game with 305 rushing yards/game and 215 passing yards/game. The defense allows teams to score 20 points/game, rush for 152 yards/game, and pass for 188 yards/game.

Offense
At QB Taylor Martinez who has 4,779 career passing yards and 2,137 career rushing yards. He is known for his ability to run, and he worked on his passing game this past summer. So far this season his numbers have improved, while he completed 56% last season, at this point he is completing 67%. In 13 games last year he threw for 2,089 passing yards, and in five games he already has over half that yardage with 1,059 yards. He also has thrown for 11 touchdowns, while he threw for a total of 13 touchdowns for all 13 games last season. At running back is Rex Burkhead, who missed playing time in 2.5 games this season due to injury. In his first game back from the injury he ran for 119 yards against Idaho State. In the Wisconsin game he ran for 86 yards, making his total 273 yards this season with three touchdowns. In Burkhead's absence Ameer Abdullah has 486 yards with five touchdowns. Abdullah also returns punts and kicks and had a 83-yard kickoff return last weekend. At receiver are Kenny Bell, Quincy Enunwa, and Jamal Turner. Bell leads with 330 yards and four touchdowns. Nebraska may not want to depend on field goals, because Brett Maher is only 7/12, missing one under 39 yards, two under 49 yards, and two under 59 yards.

Defense
The veteran on the D-line is Cameron Meredith, who has started 28 straight games. He has been limited to two tackles in the last two games, but was credited for limiting the Wisconsin running game. Leading the team in tackles and sacks is linebacker Will Compton with 44 tackles and three sacks. This team does not intercept the ball often, with only three interceptions as a team. At safety is P.J. Smith who had two pass break-ups last week against Wisconsin.