NU Depth Chart Released

Coaching staff has released the chart for this saturday's game, and there are a couple of surprises.

On defense:
Juco transfer Armando Murillo starts in front of returning starter Andre Jones at right corner, with Zac Bowman listed as #2 at the left corner position behind Courtney Grixby. The question is whether or not Bowman, who is recovering from a knee injury will actually play this week. If he does, it might mean he overtakes Grixby later into the season as he recovers. Jones and Grixby are listed as the top kickoff returners, with Grixby listed as #1 on punts.

Frosh Thomas Grove of Arlington, NE is listed at #2 WLB behind Steve Octavian - I don't think anyone expected that one. Another heralded frosh, Blake Lawrence, is sharing time at #2 SAM LB with junior Tyler Wortman behind co #1s Bo Ruud and Lance Brandenburgh. As expected, the juco juniors Kevin Dixon and Shurkee Barfield, along with senior Brandon Johnson are backing up a defensive tackle.

The situation with the safeties (Green & Asante, with Thenarse & Wilson at #2)and the ends (Potter & Turner, with Allen and Sievers backing up) are as expected, but it appears that the kicking duties are going to be decided later, as both frosh Adi Kunalic and redshirt frosh Alex Henery are listed as co #1s. Titchener returns at punter.

On Offense:
One surprise is H-back/TE has RS frosh Dreu Young of Cozad, NE listed as the #3 behind JB Phillppis and Josh Mueller of Columbus. The line situation is about as expected as far as starters, although the status of starting RG Matt Slauson is probably a game time decision. Mike Huff of Ralston is listed as co #1 there. The interesting items here are the backups, with 3 RS frosh listed at the two tackle spots (Mike Smith on the left and DJ Jones of Omaha on the right) and Keith Williams behind the Huff/Slauson combo at RG. Senior Jordon Picou is #2 at LG and sophmore Jacob Hickman is at #2 center.

At the skill spots, the wideout situation is pretty much pat from last year with the exception of Mo Purify being suspended for the opener and Menelik Holt listed behind Nate Swift and Todd Peterson of Grand Island at the X spot. At Y, frosh Niles Paul of Omaha is listed behind Terrence Nunn, Franz Hardy and Dan Erickson, also of Omaha. At RB, Cody Glenn isn't listed apparently due to the still troublesome hamstring injury but there is some news at the position. Quentin Castille and Roy Helu are listed ahead of Major Culbert at RB, which is certainly an interesting turn of events for the former safety. Andy Sand has apparently won the starting FB job over Thomas Lawson, although it's likely both will see action. We all should know who the starting QB is by now unless you live under a rock in Siberia - or Serbia for that matter.

The last remaining surprise is the absence of a couple of prominent names from fall camp, notably frosh corners Prince Amukamara and Anthony Blue, and also frosh RB Marcus Mendoza. Does this absence forbode a possible redshirt season for one or all? Another notable name missing is LB Nick Covey. I guess we'll have to stay tuned to find out what is going on with these players.