The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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126 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2023 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BY CLAYTON SAYFIE Nebraska's 2022 season was a disaster from the get-go. The Cornhuskers blew a second-half lead to lose to Northwestern in Ireland to open the campaign in August, and ath- letics director Trev Alberts wound up fir- ing head coach Scott Frost just two weeks later, following an embarrassing 45-42 home setback to Georgia Southern, giv- ing up 642 total yards. Interim head coach Mickey Joseph took over and helped the team win three Big Ten games, but it was another lost season for a storied program starving for suc- cess. The Cornhuskers haven't made a bowl game since 2016 and have posted a conference record better than .500 just five times since joining the Big Ten in 2011. Enter head coach Matt Rhule, who knows a thing or two about turnarounds. The former Penn State player took over a Baylor program on life support in 2017. The Bears had just dealt with a wide- ranging sexual assault scandal that ended the tenure of head coach Art Briles, the school's athletics director and its presi- dent. The Bears went 1-11 his first year but quickly improved to 7-6 in 2018 and 11-3 with a Sugar Bowl appearance in 2019. While things didn't work out in his two-plus seasons with the NFL's Caro- lina Panthers — they went 11-27 under his watch — he has a proven track record in college. Rhule plucked defensive coordinator and associate head coach Tony White from Syracuse. White has implemented a 3-3-5 base defense, and reviews were positive in the spring, after the team fin- ished ranked 100th nationally in total de- fense last season. Nebraska brings back seven starters on that side of the ball, including all five in the secondary. Junior Nick Henrich, who totaled 37 tackles in five games before going down with a season-ending injury last year, and senior Luke Reimer (a team-best 86 stops) lead a strong linebacker corps, al- though standout freshman Ernest Haus- mann transferred to Michigan. Reimer was named preseason second-team All- Big Ten by Athlon Sports. Senior cornerback Quinton Newsome landed on the third team, after topping the Blackshirts with 10 pass breakups, along with 4 tackles for loss and 2 sacks in 2022. Nebraska has upgraded at quarter- back, bringing in former Georgia Tech standout Jeff Sims. Last year's starter, Casey Thompson, bolted for FAU after spring practice, which indicated Sims had gained the edge in the competition. A junior, Sims passed for 4,464 yards and 30 touchdowns and rushed for 1,152 yards and 11 scores in 25 games over three sea- sons with the Yellow Jackets. Senior running back Anthony Grant led the team with 915 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns last season, and three start- ers return on the offensive line. Junior Ben Scott, an Arizona State transfer, is set to step in at center. He was ranked the No. 51 interior offensive lineman to transfer this offseason, per On3. Senior wideout Billy Kemp IV was an- other important transfer portal pickup. The 5-foot-9, 180-pound dynamic play- maker finished fourth on Virginia's ca- reer receptions list (192) and 10th in ca- reer receiving yards (1,774). Nebraska lost 1,000-yard receiver Trey Palmer, who scored 9 touchdowns last season, to the NFL, so Kemp's addition was significant. He was a third-team All-ACC selection in 2021 and will also provide help in the return game. Notes Nebraska averaged just 22.6 points per game last season, ranking 102nd in the country … The Corn- huskers' defense slotted 108th against the rush and 68th versus the pass … Nebraska had a minus-3 turnover margin in 2022, one of six Big Ten teams with a negative mark. ❑ Matt Rhule Has Injected Life Back Into Nebraska 2023 SCHEDULE Date Opponent 2022 Result Aug. 31 at Minnesota L, 20-13 Sept. 9 at Colorado — Sept. 16 Northern Illinois — Sept. 23 Louisiana Tech — Sept. 30 Michigan L, 34-3 Oct. 6 at Illinois L, 26-9 Oct. 21 Northwestern L, 31-28 Oct. 28 Purdue L, 43-37 Nov. 4 at Michigan State — Nov. 11 Maryland — Nov. 18 at Wisconsin L, 15-14 Nov. 24 Iowa W, 24-17 PLAYERS TO WATCH Offense: Anthony Grant, Sr., RB — His 915 rushing yards ranked ninth in the Big Ten last fall. He was tabbed as preseason fourth-team All-Big Ten by Athlon Sports. Defense: Luke Reimer, Sr., LB — His 8.6 tackles per game ranked sixth in the Big Ten in 2022. The 6-foot-1, 225-pounder was named honor- able mention All-Big Ten each of the last two seasons. GAME 5 • NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS • SEPT. 30 QUICK FACTS All-Time Series: Michigan leads 7-4-1 First Meeting: U-M 31, Nebraska 0 (Oct. 21, 1905, in Ann Arbor, Mich.) Last Meeting: U-M 34, Nebraska 3 (Nov. 12, 2022, in Ann Arbor, Mich.) Head Coach: Matt Rhule, 0-0 (1st year) at Ne- braska, 47-43 overall (8th year) 2022 In Review: 4-8, 3-6 Big Ten (6th, West) Final 2022 Ranking: Unranked Returning Starters: 15 (5 offense, 7 defense, 3 specialists) Last Bowl Appearance: 2016 (Music City Bowl vs. Tennessee, L 38-24) RETURNING LEADERS Passing: Chubba Purdy (147 yards) Rushing: Anthony Grant (915 yards, 6 TD) Receiving: Marcus Washington (471 yards, 1 TD) Tackles: Luke Reimer (86) Sacks: Quinton Newsome, Ty Robinson (2) Interceptions: Malcolm Hartzog (3) Senior cornerback Quinton Newsome has started 24 consecutive games. He earned an honorable mention All-Big Ten nod from the conference coaches in 2022. PHOTO COURTESY NEBRASKA COMMUNICATIONS