As we get closer to football season, I am going to go through every position group on our beloved Cornhusker squad and give a season preview to check out. Our first positional preview is going to be the Offensive Line unit. Overall, I feel good about this group. Two guys are 100% starters, two are probable, and I think one position is still open. Offensive Line coach Donovan Raiola has done a great job, and the unit took a big step forward in 2023 with the return of key players in 2024. Crazy to think how BIG of a leap this unit took, with how bad they played in 2022.
Ultimately, we need to score more touchdowns. That isn’t ALL on the O-Line, but a portion of the blame goes there. Touchdowns win games. It’s football 101. How many of those 13-10 type of losses would have been different in the last 5 years if we scored an extra TD or two? I will provide a more detailed breakdown closer to the season, but I expect a bit more outside zone (OZ) this year or even some S.F. 49ers-style wide zone (WZ) based on comments by offensive staff members and Rhule himself. Expect variety in the run scheme again this season. The counter was one of the best plays last season—remember the Purdue game, it was beautiful. The duo gap scheme look wasn’t bad, and the inside zone (IZ) or split zone (SZ) were effective, but we have to do a better job overall of reaching the mike linebacker and second level, as seen even in the spring game. As a high school football coach, getting good blocks to that second level can be the difference in a 1-yard gain and a 25-yard gain.
Here are some things I thought were good last season: Red zone scoring was solid, ranking 46th in yards per attempt for rushing isn’t bad, and we were 28th in penalties per game. I believe we will focus on running the ball, and if we protect Raiola well, he will shine as a true freshman. My ONLY concern for Raiola this season is the big boys up front not protecting him and getting him hit too much in games. My worry isn’t if Dylan can lead us by making plays and dictating a game; more so, if we can allow him to do that by helping him. Help Dylan help you. We need to improve our third-down conversion rate—we were in the middle of the pack at 37%, but we need to reach the mid-to-high 40s to excel. Much of this improvement hinges on protecting our quarterbacks better from edge pressure. We ranked 92nd in sacks per game, particularly from the tackles, and were 115th in scoring touchdowns. Yes, we had some horrific QB play last season, but let’s not act like our protection was ALWAYS perfect either.
Teddy Prochazka, with 381 snaps graded at 66.9 (PFF), is expected to start at left tackle, pending his ability to stay healthy—a critical factor given his size and powerful playing style, which has been enhanced by shedding 15 pounds to improve agility and pass blocking. Imagine how nice it will be if we can have a stable anchor at left tackle? Justin Evans-Jenkins, who played 387 snaps at 61.3 across all 12 games, has shown strong performances particularly in the run game, making him a probable starter but not yet confirmed. Both guard spots could be up for grabs this fall. Ben Scott, back in Lincoln with 743 snaps graded at 63.8, brings much-needed stability at center, though his aggressive play style sometimes leads to penalties; he’s poised for a standout season and potential Big Ten honors. Micah Mazzccua, a new addition from Florida with experience starting 11 games at Baylor and rated the second-highest guard in the Big 12, has one year left and is expected to make an immediate impact, despite some challenges made during Spring practice. I believe Mazzccua comes in with a chip on his shoulder this fall and breaks into the starting lineup. Bryce Benhart, our top-rated offensive lineman at 70.3, rounds out our projected starters and is poised to contend for Big Ten honors, solidifying a strong offensive line core. Benhart is our best and my personal favorite player on this O-Line unit. Turner Corcoran is returning after an injury but struggled at tackle, prompting consideration for a shift to the guard position. Henry Lutovsky possesses all the necessary tools but hasn’t been able to put it all together, but I trust him if he needs to get some snaps this season due to injuries. Grant Brix, highly rated as the #2 offensive lineman in the nation from Iowa, brings excitement about his potential impact and could see playing time if injuries occur, making him a dark horse to watch this season and compete for a starting role in 2025.
Overall, this is the first time in a while I can say I feel the Offensive Line unit is the unit I am looking forward to the most this season. That is truly a testament to how great of a job Coach Raiola is doing with his player development. If this group can stay healthy and perform at the level we expect, this improved 2024 offense could win some games and it ALL starts UP FRONT.
