Big Ten Football: Each team’s most important newcomer for 2020
By Dante Pryor
Scott Frost and the Nebraska Cornhuskers are coming off of another losing season. Their 5-7 finish marked their third consecutive losing season. There were some that thought year two was the big turnaround for the Huskers, but soon realized there was more work than initially thought.
Where the Huskers need the most help is on the defensive side of the ball. There was reason to be optimistic, however. Nebraska’s defense improved from the 2018 season. They gave up nearly four fewer points and 44 fewer yards per game.
They did this with a veteran front seven. Unfortunately for the Huskers, they lose five players from last year’s front seven. Losing that much means they need both talent and depth. In classic Nebraska fashion, they turned to the JUCO ranks.
They plucked the JUCO ranks for two players, Jordon Riley and Niko Cooper. While both young men will play, Riley’s size — 6-5, 330 pounds — makes him a more versatile player in Nebraska’s three-man front.
His size and strength make him an ideal 3-4 defensive end. His ability to play over the guard or center makes him versatile enough to play inside on pass downs in a four-man nickel or dime package. Look for Riley to have an instant impact on an improving Husker defense.