In the summer and fall, Husker Locker created its “50 Huskers to Know” list for the 2009 season. We now review our list by examining production, injuries and depth chart position.

We’ll present these in five-player increments. Here we go!

No. 50 Lester Ward and Austin Jones: Both backs were leapfrogged by true freshmen Rex Burkhead and Traye Robinson during the season; Ward appeared to be the No. 4 back based on his late appearance in the Holiday Bowl, while Jones slightly more time in midseason against Texas Tech and Iowa State. With the recruitment of Braylon Heard, Jones’ playing time seems limited in 2010. Ward actually looks like a capable running back; it’s the other stuff - pass-blocking, play recognition - holding him back.

No. 49 Brandon Kinnie: We predicted a slow start for Kinnie despite the hype and noise. His season was indeed quiet - 15 catches for 141 yards - but Kinnie seemed to emerge as the No. 2 receiver toward the end of the season. His ball skills aren’t in question - Kinnie knows how to catch and run - and he possesses a positive, infectious attitude. We forsee a leap forward for Kinnie in 2010, presuming health and continued development.

No. 48 PJ Mangieri: The freshman walk-on became NU’s starting long snapper and, after a poor performance at Missouri - along with a severe tongue-lashing from head coach Bo Pelini - Mangieri settled into a successful season. And, given Nebraska’s frequent punts and field goal attempts, he got plenty of work. The Huskers have a keeper in this kid for the next three years.

No. 47 Alonzo Whaley: We also predicted a muted impact from Whaley, who struggled during 2009 spring ball to pick up defensive concepts and get on the field. That proved true during the season, as Whaley, a red shirt freshman, rarely saw the field on defense. He didn’t play a significant role on special teams, either. Whaley better catch up in preparation - before he gets left behind.

No. 46 Derek Meyer: The fifth-year transfer from Kansas State got a scholarship in his senior year, and served as an important backup at both guard positions, especially for Keith Williams, who missed chunks of the first two games. Meyer, a solid pass-blocker, helped NU protect Zac Lee while the Huskers were still running the spread passing offense; his playing time dropped off a bit as the year wore on, but Meyer played a role on special teams and was well-liked among his peers. A success story - any way you slice it.

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Barney Cotton smiled and stared. It was the kind of stare you'd like your offensive line coach to have, especially when his unit is under siege after so-so-performances for, well, most of October.

“I don't read the paper and I certainly don't look at the Internet,” Cotton said when asked about the critics of his coaching and his line's play.

From his point of view, there's enough on his plate now, trying to get Nebraska's pipeline somehow flowing smoothly again before Oklahoma, the nation's No. 3 rushing defense, rolls into town for a Saturday night tilt.

The Huskers have rushed for 341 yards on 96 totes – that's 3.5 yards per carry, a full yard under their season average – in their last three games. Not one of those opponents – Texas Tech, Iowa State and Baylor – are juggernauts against the run. OU is. Necessity is the mother of invention, right? Cotton's banking on his unit discovering its full potential this week in practice.

What's been the issue? Recently, Cotton said, it's been a matter of “hats on hats.” In the last three weeks, he said, “we haven't necessarily targeted the right guys” on running plays.

“If we don't put a hat on the right linebacker or a hat on the right two linebackers, the play's not going to go very far,” Cotton said. “We've got to make sure we're putting hat on the right guys on every play. Every play.”

Communication and consistency is, in part, coaching. And Cotton shoulders that responsibility.

“We have high standards,” he said. “We want to make sure we're doing the right thing. Offensive line certainly is a focal point.”

The players know it, too. This is Nebraska. The county seat, if you will, of historically good run blocking, of mashing at the point of attack, walling off defenders, and dominating defensive assignments.

Effort and attitude are part of it. After the Tech game, head coach Bo Pelini preached that message to the line: Don't take crap from any opponent. The message has been the same in the last two weeks.

Senior guard Derek Meyer, who's been rotating in at the left spot during the last two weeks to occasionally give Keith Williams a breather, has noticed an intensity building as the offense has struggled.

Not that it wasn't tense before – NU's coaches aren't balata balls, that's for sure – but “since we've fallen into a little slump on offense, they're kinda getting after us a little more,” Meyer said. “But it's something we need and something we expect from them.”

Cotton's not making excuses.

Inexperience? “We're all veterans after eight games,” he said. “We need to go out and put our best product on the field.”

Injuries? “If you go out there to play, you go out there to play,” Cotton said. “Injuries or being beat up is absolutely no factor.”

That's an o-line coach being an o-line coach. Don't kid yourself: Nebraska's never had a moment during this 2009 season where it rolled out its five starters at full speed. Williams missed action early. Center Jacob Hickman has a bum ankle. Other guys have been dinged up here and there, and depth, beyond Meyer and backup center Mike Caputo, hasn't been ideal.

But there isn't much Cotton and Co. can do about that except execute better, persevere and find some way to crack open OU's defense. Against a defense of that caliber, the little mistakes the Huskers' offensive line has been committing could look like giant gaffes.

“Our time to wait is over,” Meyer said. “We need to do it right now.”

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Driving home Saturday night from Nebraska’s blowout 49-3 win over Florida Atlantic, I couldn’t help but think of another blowout win to kick off a season: NU’s 52-7 romp over Nevada in 2007.

In both, the opponents’ reputations far exceeded their actual gameplans and execution. And both teams wilted in the second half against bigger, stronger NU.

Nevada just stunk on offense, and admitted as much after the game. Florida Atlantic was more of a quandary.

The Owls were supposed to be athletic and exciting; instead, their quarterbacks, Rusty Smith and Jeff VanCamp, played hot potato with the football, firing wild darts before their receivers even had time to look for the ball. Nary a trick play, or even a trick formation, from FAU. Smith looked jittery, nervous and slow. His backup was mysteriously inserted in the second quarter and just as mysteriously removed. Apparently FAU coach Howard Schnellenberger likes Smith to see a drive from the sidelines.

At any rate, it was hard to get a read on Nebraska Saturday night. That’s part of the trouble with “directional” – or in the case of FAU, “oceanic” – opponents. Expect a better, stiffer test from FAU’s Sun Belt counterpart, Arkansas State.

On with the review:

Five Players We Loved

Junior running back Roy Helu: A big back who still knows how to pick his way through holes and burst out the other end pulling away from defenders. If he can stay healthy, Helu’s big ride in 2009 is just beginning.

Senior left guard Derek Meyer: The native Husker with a great story just moved to left guard a few weeks ago after working at right guard and right tackle for spring ball. Meyer wasn’t perfect, but he held up well, especially in pass protection. NU lacks great depth along the line, but Meyer was blue collar as advertised.

Redshirt freshman linebacker Will Compton: He played nearly every defensive snap in the first three quarters, and fit right in. Compton had a busy night around the ball. He’ll only get smarter and better.

Sophomore wide receiver Curenski Gilleylen: Two of his three catches were adventures, frankly – but he caught them. Gilleylen’s best play of the night, though, was a bone-crushing block to help spring Menelik Holt on his 28-yard touchdown catch-and-gallop.

Senior defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh: Quick tackle for loss on the first drive, and he later saved a first down by peeling back on a screen pass and taking down FAU fullback Willie Rose one yard short.

Special Mention - true freshman linebacker Eric Martin: His energy and enthusiasm on the game’s opening kickoff is precisely what that unit needs.

Three Concerns We Still Have

Again With The Penalties: Nine more to open the season, for 86 yards. Two personal fouls, two holding calls, a couple false starts. Sloppy.

Not Enough Niles: Offensive coordinator Shawn Watson and wide receivers coach Ted Gilmore spent fall camp talking up the junior from Omaha. Well, fine: If he made plays in the practice, give him a chance to make them in the games. A reverse. A go route. Something. Gilleylen and Holt got most of the choice looks.

Blocked Punt: Not the best thing to see two weeks before Virginia Tech.

Reviewing the Five Keys

KIDS: Watson tried to go right at FAU, but Helu found the corners of the defense an easier go. And if Roy can make it work, so be it.

Truthfully, NU nicely blended some running staples of the West Coast Offense with some new counters, sweeps and even a veer play. The Huskers ran two options near the goal line. Neither worked very well, but Cody Green did score a 1-yard touchdown on his effort.

36 inches: FAU’s quarterbacks spent the entire night avoiding Suh and the rest of NU’s front four, and got nothing in return for their cowardice. You get out what you put in, and the Owls didn’t physically or strategically challenge Nebraska’s defense.

Attack Zac, Zac Attack: Once again, FAU was pretty tame in its blitzing of Lee. When the Owls did take a chance, Lee burned them with the touchdown pass to Gilleylen and a nice scramble for a first down. Lee wasn’t counted upon to win the game, but he held up nicely anyway.

Young Guns: The youngsters on offense and defense were terrific. Big thumbs up to Compton and Sean Fisher, plus redshirt freshman Cameron Meredith, who played a lot at defensive end, and recovered a fumble. On offense, Cody Green and Rex Burkhead both had their moments.

The Specials: Net wash here. Even with the blocked punt, NU’s net punting average was only one yard worse than FAU’s The Huskers did well on kickoff returns and kickoff coverage. Adi Kunalic booted two touchbacks, and a couple more bombs into the end zone were unwisely returned.

Three Questions We Still Have

Can NU get its goal-line package honed for game two? The Huskers used a couple fourth-down plays for touchdowns, but it shouldn’t have taken that long. Was Watson holding off on his pass packages to pound the ball on the ground? Probably.

How much better is Nebraska’s defense against the spread? We’ll find out when Arky State rolls into Lincoln. FAU’s pro-style attack wasn’t much of a problem.

Does Keith Williams return soon? Nebraska’s most skilled offensive lineman helps especially in the running game.

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It’s one of the odder transitions you’ll ever find Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini make.

Literally seconds after saying he’d kicked junior running back Quentin Castille off the team, Pelini pulled out a white index card and announced the dreams of six in-state Husker walk-ons had come true: They were put scholarship for the 2009 season.

Senior linebacker Colton Koehler, senior wide receiver Wes Cammack, senior offensive linemen Derek Meyer, junior kicker Alex Henery, junior tight end Dreu Young and sophomore center Mike Caputo will be scholarship players this year. All six should play one role or another on this current squad. Henery is considered one of the best kickers in the nation, while Young, Koehler and Caputo played often in 2008. Cammack is one of NU’s best tacklers on special teams.

“This is a great group of guys and it is great to be able to have the ability to recognize their contributions by placing them on scholarship,” Pelini said. “Each of those guys has shown a great commitment to our football program, and they do things the right way on and off the field.”

Pelini said there were more walk-ons who were deserving of scholarships, and he continues to strive toward rewarding them eventually, as well. Sophomore WILL linebacker Mathew May and sophomore nickel back Lance Thorell would have to be, presumably, high on that list.

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The way Derek Meyer figures, it’s about being home. You can tell in the way he includes “my family” in almost half of his answers. In how often he says “it just feels right” and calls Nebraska football “a family.” By the way he looks when he recounts the one time his father wasn’t so eager to walk into Memorial Stadium.

“I’ll never forget that,” Meyer said.

It’s been a “really weird road” that led Meyer, a 6-foot-5, 315-pound senior from Campbell, Neb. – 40 minutes south of Hastings, right off of State Hwy. 4 – to NU, where he has one year, as a walk-on, to make an impact on the offensive line. He committed to Kansas State and Bill Snyder in 2005. Redshirted one season. Watched Snyder retire as KSU hired Ron Prince. Played five games in 2006, got hurt, and quit before the Wildcats’ 2007 season-opener at Auburn.

You think Meyer really wants to talk about life under the notorious HCRP, as Cat fans called him? The guy who took a scalpel to the “Miracle in Manhattan” and cut a couple pounds of flesh off of it in his three years?

“I’d rather not go there,” Meyer said.

Suffice it to say the experience left Meyer pondering his future. Already, he had spent two years at Kansas State, a school he’d grown up rooting against with his parents, who had NU season tickets since 1994.

“Down there, they think they’ve got what we have up here,” Meyer said. The support was pretty good, he said. But it’s not quite the same.

Meyer’s parents supported his sojourn to KSU, of course – in 2005, recruiting chats with Bill Callahan’s crew “just weren’t working the way I felt comfortable with,” Meyer said – but his dad didn’t like it much when he had to don the rival purple for the 2005 game.

“The day after that game, my dad said ‘This is the first time I’ve ever been embarrassed to walk into Memorial Stadium,” Meyer said.

Dad wouldn’t have to do it again. But the K-State experience had been so sour that Meyer wasn’t sure what he wanted to do. Even though he eventually committed to play at San Diego State – with a scholarship – he kept an eye on NU, which was going through its worst season since 1968.

“Things happened quick,” Meyer said.

Callahan was dumped. Bo Pelini was hired.

That, Meyer said, was a sign. He and his dad had watched Pelini operate when they attended the 2003 Alamo Bowl, where Pelini served as interim head coach.

“Just the fire he had, the way players rallied around him, the coaches likewise,” Meyer said. “That was something I wanted to be a part of. He’s gonna get on you, but he’s got your back no matter what.”

Meyer’s old offensive line coach at Kansas State, Bob Stanley, was then stationed at Western Michigan. He knew Barney Cotton, who was hired by Pelini to coach Nebraska’s offensive line.

Stanley put in a good word, Cotton asked for film, liked what he saw, and offered Meyer a chance to walk-on.

The biggest catch: Meyer wouldn’t just lose one year of eligibility. Because the transfer was inside the Big 12 Conference, he’d lose two. And, of course, there wasn’t a scholarship available.

Cotton even told Meyer: I understand if you can’t come.

“It would have been nice to have a scholarship and get school paid for, but, you know what? I can deal with it,” Meyer said. “If money was an issue, we would have went elsewhere. It’s just a dream for myself and my family to come play here for the Huskers.”

As for the lost year?

“If I don’t play one snap, it’s gonna be worth having the “N” on the side of my helmet,” Meyer said.

Except that Meyer intends very much to play. That’s part of why he was honored as the offensive scout team player of the year in 2008. Usually that goes to some redshirted skill player who punked the defense for a bunch of touchdowns in scrimmages. Zac Lee, for example, won it in 2007.

Meyer did it by playing wherever the coaches asked him – both guard positions and both tackle spots – and holding his own against Nebraska’s defensive line.

“He’s very hungry,” Cotton said. “You can see it right on his chest: ‘I’ve got one year and I’m going to make the most of it.’”

When the linemen meet in the classroom, Cotton said, they’re asked to take notes. They’re given a pad with which to take them.

“I’m going to have to get him another notebook,” Cotton said. “I’ve never seen a guy take more detailed notes than him. He’s writing everything down that’s on that board. He’s got a one-year window and knows it.”

Said Meyer: “I have to. Last year on scout team, we’re looking over offenses that our opponents were running, so I haven’t had a chance to look our playbook a whole lot. Now that I’m finally eligible and looking at our playbook, I’ve got to keep up with everybody else who’s been here two or three years.”

He’ll be needed, too. With tackle Jaivorio Burkes out of spring, and maybe for good, with an undisclosed medical condition, Meyer is slotted as second-string right tackle, right behind sophomore Marcel Jones. Cotton likes to rotate guys to keep them fresh, so if Meyer can lock in the details of the West Coast Offense, he’ll get his wish “to put Campbell on the map a little bit.”

At the very least, Meyer’s dad doesn’t have to fish out a purple shirt from the bottom drawer when Kansas State visits NU in next fall.

“I told him, ‘Dad, that’ll never happen again,” Meyer said. “You’ll be wearing red.”

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Today, we take a look at the second part of NU’s 10 priorities for spring football. You can read part one here. Enjoy!

Casting calls at linebacker: Time to mix the redshirt freshmen in with the veterans and see which dogs get a spot on the porch. Knowing head coach Bo Pelini and linebackers coach Mike Ekeler, it will be a high-energy, spirited competition.

Last fall, Pelini clearly stated that some of his young pups, including Will Compton, Alonzo Whaley and Sean Fisher, could have helped the Huskers’ depleted linebacker corps. But he stuck to his plan to redshirt them – Fisher, after he sustained an early-season injury – to give the bunch four years to gel together.

Don’t think that means the jobs of Phillip Dillard, Blake Lawrence and LaTravis Washington – who hasn’t played any more at BUCK ‘backer than Fisher – are particularly safe. Dillard has been a leader in the past, but must show he’s fully recovered from a tough ankle injury that managed to keep him out of the Gator Bowl. Lawrence improved at WILL, but must hold off guys like Imperial sophomore Matt May, whose Superman leap in the Kansas State game turned some heads, and potentially Whaley, depending on where coaches put him. And it’s hard to know what Washington can or can’t do. And you can’t forget about walk-ons like Colton Kohler, Thomas Grove and Matt Holt, either.

It wouldn’t be fair to say linebacker play was a weakness of Pelini’s defense last year. Too many injuries and strange developments – like Cody Glenn’s suspension. But it needs to be a steadier force in 2009.

New guys in the offensive line rotation: Offensive line coach Barney Cotton has at least four guys – and maybe more – to help cover the departure of Matt Slauson, Lydon Murtha and possibly one other player who may not see much action in 2009.

The new guys are seniors Derek Meyer and Andy Christensen, junior Ricky Henry and redshirt freshman Brandon Thompson. Meyer, a transfer from Kansas State, won scout team award last fall, while Christensen returns after what can only be called a difficult year in 2008. Henry, tough and hungry, redshirted after transferring from a JUCO and Thompson worked out with the scout bunch after redshirting, as well.

Meyer and Thompson are probably tackles, while Christensen and Henry will fit into the guard rotation. Look for their names this spring.

Steinkuhler for Steinkuhler: Departing senior Ty Steinkuhler was one of the more pleasant surprises of the 2008 season; his terrific play beside nose tackle Ndamukong Suh made teams pay for double-teaming one guy or the other. Might his replacement be younger brother Baker Steinkuhler? Maybe. Baker is bigger and faster than Ty, and although sophomore Jared Crick is a perfectly good option at defensive tackle as well, Baker should figure prominently at the position.

The mental and physical recovery of Anthony Blue: If Nebraska can get this kid back on solid, confident ground, it would be like picking up a blue-chip recruit for 2009. Blue, a 5-10 cornerback who blew out his ACL last spring, is finally back to physical form, if recent reports are correct. Now it’s about trusting the knee in action. If healthy, Blue is the team’s most aggressive, most athletic cornerback. He’s not the biggest – but at cornerback, you don’t have to be. Here’s where a smart coach like Marvin Sanders helps. Sanders is a superior communicator, and getting Blue to buy into the strength of his knee is a big priority, and it helps Pelini moves the pieces around the chess board.

Finding the diamonds: With each spring practice, some Huskers emerge from the fray in a far better position than where they started. Last year, it was Matt O’Hanlon, Roy Helu and Mike McNeill who made big moves, setting themselves up for quite a bit of playing time in 2008. Who will it be in 2009, and how does Pelini and Co. bring them to the forefront? We’re about to find out.

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Welcome! Here at Husker Locker, we'll be counting down the 50 most important players to watch in spring camp. Care to guess our No. 1 choice? The pick just might surprise you - and we won't unveil it until right before spring practice.

For now, we give you the first five on our list. Just as a taste of what's to come. Feel free to debate, argue or even agree. We'd never dissuade that.

One thing to remember: this is the only fraction of this bunch we'll be showing on the regular Husker Locker. The rest of it will be available via Locker Pass - and it's not something you'll want to miss.

Remember that our locker pass is more than just news, insight and gossip. It's merchant discounts, access to special Husker Locker events that others will have to pay for, recruiting reports that go beyond the last thing out of a recruit's mouth, great deals on Husker memorabilia, special interviews and the chance to create your own copy and blogs. We want to invite you to enjoy everything the site has to offer.

In the meantime, we at least invite you to sign up for our regular Husker Locker services!

On with the list!

No. 50 Derek Meyer, OL, 6-5 300, Sr. Nebraska's offensive line already has plenty of experience and talent on it, but Meyer, a walk-on who transferred from Kansas State after one year with Ron Prince, brings experience and flexibility of his own. Offensive line coach Barney Cotton often carved out time to praise Meyer for his work in practice, and Meyer was one of the offensive scout team MVPs. He'll vie for time this spring and in the fall.

No. 49 Dreu Young, TE, 6-4, 245, Jr. The Cozad native may be in line for a scholarship next fall if he can hold off redshirt freshmen Ben Cotton and Kyler Reed this spring. Young is improving as a blocker and serves as a nice target around the goal line. There's always room for a guy like this, but Reed, Cotton and sophomore Ryan Hill will push him.

No. 48 Brett Maher, P, 6-0, 160, RFr. Meet whom many believe will be Nebraska's next punter. Maher, from Kearney, averaged 41 yards per boot in high school and reportedly did a nice job this fall on the scout teams. Maher will get competition from kicker Alex Henery, who may pull double duty, and former UNO punter Jonathan Damkroger. All of them will be looking to improve on a so-so performance from Dan Titchener in 2008. NU was 106th in net punting.

No. 47 Matt Holt, LB, 6-0, 200, So. Holt was the "who's he?" Husker of the year for his performance in the Texas Tech game; he'll have some more company in 2009 - including Matthew May, who you'll see later - in his linebacker role. Holt is active and athletic, and he doesn't fit in at LB, he may see some time in the secondary. Definitely a special teams dynamo.

No. 46 Antonio Bell, WR, 6-2, 180, Fr. Bell was originally a 2008 signee, but wasn't able to enroll at NU until January. There's a good reason Nebraska didn't just redirect Bell to a junior college for a reason; his size and especially speed can make a big impact on a wide receiving corps that needs a consistent No. 3 receiver. Bell will get a look.

What's the early word from Oklahoma?

Check out the full platter of spring football coverage!

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