Nebraska Spring Look Back: Offensive line
Nebraska recently wrapped up its second spring under head coach Matt Rhule, and there was plenty to discuss.
Today, we continue our annual spring positional recaps by looking at the offensive line. As usual, the Huskers will only go as far as the big men up front take them.
Nebraska Spring Look Back series: QB | RB | WR | TE
WHAT WE LEARNED: The o-line is as cohesive as it’s been in years
After a run of player and position coach volatility over the past decade, Nebraska’s offensive line is as cohesive as it has been in a long time.
For starters, o-line coach Donovan Raiola returns for his third season in Lincoln, making him the longest-tenured member of NU’s staff. Watching his unit practice and speak to the media this spring, Raiola’s influence was undeniable.
Secondly, the Huskers return six players with starting experience up front. Right tackle Bryce Benhart (41 career starts) and left tackle Teddy Prochazka (11) are back, as is swing tackle/guard Turner Corcoran (31). Also returning is center Ben Scott, who started 11 games last season after posting 28 over three years at Arizona State.
Guard is the least experienced on the line and maybe the biggest question mark following the spring. But Justin Evans (12 appearances and five starts in 2023) and Henry Lutovsky (26 career games and four starts) return. NU also added veteran Florida/Baylor transfer Micah Mazzccua, who boasts 31 games and 21 starts.
In other words, experience and chemistry should not be issues for Nebraska’s offensive line in 2024.
BIGGEST SPRING CONCERN: Can Micah Mazzccua stay on track?
When Mazzccua announced his transfer from Flordia in January, many viewed him as an obvious plug-and-play starter this season. Looking at his credentials, it’s easy to see why.
The 6-foot-5, 325-pound senior from Philadelphia started 11 of 12 games and played 743 snaps last season for the Gators. That was after making 10 starts over 20 appearances at Baylor from 2020-22.
However, Mazzccua’s lone season as a Husker got off to a rocky start this winter. Head coach Matt Rhule, who has known Mazzccua since he was 16, didn’t mince words when relaying his message about commitment and buy-in to reporters.
The good news was that, by all accounts, Mazzccua answered Rhule’s challenge. He had a strong showing in last month’s spring game and appeared back on track to push for a starting job this fall. However, the Huskers need him to stay on that track through the summer.
SPRING SURPRISE: Walk-on Grant Seagren’s rapid rise
Given the returning experience on Nebraska’s offensive line, Rhule’s unprompted praise of a young walk-on last fall was certainly notable.
Grant Seagren, a former tight end/defensive lineman from Oakland-Craig, immediately caught Rhule’s attention. “I didn’t know him and saw his film and was like, ‘Man, he’s going to be a really good get for us,’” Rhule said last August. “I think he’ll play for us. He’ll play for the Huskers.”
Seagren added roughly 35 pounds during his first year in Lincoln and now measures 6-6 and nearly 300. He’s still likely a year or two away from cracking the o-line rotation, but his rapid development makes him one of the unit’s most intriguing walk-ons.
LOOKING AHEAD: Questions remain despite returning experience
For the most part, Nebraska seems to have a pretty good feel for the top of its 2024 offensive line depth chart. But plenty of work remains going into the summer.
Maybe the most pressing question facing the Huskers’ o-line is their depth at tackle. It remains unclear who would be after Benhart, Prochazka, and Corcoran. Lutovsky worked at both guard and tackle this spring, and Tyler Knaak played in nine games in 2023. The drop-off in experience beyond that is significant.
Mazzccua’s development will go a long way in deciding what happens at guard. Evans, Lutovsky, and a handful of redshirt freshmen will continue to push for time at both the left and right guard spots.
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The post Nebraska Spring Look Back: Offensive line appeared first on On3.
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