DE Cameron Meredith, 6-4, 260, So.

Big fan of the kid who wears Trev Alberts’ old number. Meredith has the frame, smarts and speed to be a great end at NU, a prototypical NFL base end with enough speed to cause pain for top-flight offensive tackles. After spending a year working a rotation with Pierre Allen and Barry Turner, Meredith should easily get the start - probably at rush end - where Husker fans will get to see his talents on a down-by-down basis.

Good leverage, surprisingly quick in pursuit and decent at playing the run, Meredith will benefit, like Turner did, from having the impressive inside push of guy like Jared Crick. Because Meredith is strong enough to force his way across the face of a tackle, he may not always have to play outside contain like Turner appeared to do last year. As Meredith develops more pass-rushing moves, he’ll become a more dangerous weapon for defensive coordinator Carl Pelini. This is a future all-conference player waiting to happen - and all-conference in the Big 12 is NFL-worthy.

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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. 45 Cameron Meredith - Exceeded expectations in 2009, figuring heavily in a six-man platoon along the defensive line. Meredith didn’t skip a beat when he entered games for Barry Turner or Pierre Allen, and flashed considerable potential for years to come. A great initial push, good closing speed and a willing, nasty attitude at the point of attack make Meredith a force to be reckoned with in 2010. He’ll enter our spring list in the top 20.

No. 44 Taylor Martinez - We didn’t think T Magic would play in 2009, but we wanted to keep an eye on his development. And, apparently, coaches and teammates like the athleticism and sheer speed that Martinez showed off during his time on the scout team. He’ll get his crack at quarterback this spring - we said he deserved as much last summer - and if he doesn’t win the starting or backup role there, he’ll play some Wildcat or receiver.

No. 43 Adi Kunalic - Changed his number to 1, and did one thing exceedingly well - boot kickoffs. That is, until his kick in the Big 12 Championship. The question in 2010: Does he red shirt so he can kick field goals for a season? It may depend on Kunalic’s aspirations - and whether Nebraska wants to use the scholarship in 2011 for someone else.

No. 42 P.J. Smith - Larry Asante capable backup at strong safety, Smith was inserted with confidence by the Husker coaches whenever Asante got hurt - or needed a message sent because he blew an assignment. Smith is smart, confident and more instinctive than Asante. He’s the starter at strong next year - for three years to come.

No. 41 Mike Caputo - Filled in capably for starting center Jacob Hickman throughout 2009, and will take the job in 2010 without a second’s hesitation. In some ways, we prefer Caputo - a squat, burly strongman - to Hickman, and predict he’ll be in the running for all-conference honors by next year.

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The defining image of Nebraska's 2009 defense, if you want to get right down to it, isn't brute, spectacular play of Ndamukong Suh.

He's the best player in college football, deserving of the Heisman. But his interception for a touchdown in last year's Colorado game – and subsequent violent celebration – was the image of 2008. Suh elevated his game in 2009, but that alone didn't make NU's defense one of the most potent in the nation.

Rather, I think of the Oklahoma game. A crucial fourth down as the Cornhuskers clung to a 10-3 lead. OU quarterback Landry Jones tried to sneak a quick out pass to Ryan Broyles, but Broyles was swamped with Nebraska defenders. So Jones searched the middle of the field.

Jared Crick tipped his subsequent pass. Phillip Dillard grabbed it for NU's fourth interception of the game. And then Dillard, as he arrived on the sidelines, received a massive bear hug from Carl Pelini.

That hug, nine months ago, would have seemed inconceivable.

Dillard was overweight heading into 2009 spring camp, his diet consisting in part, he admitted later, of rocky road ice cream. And Dillard was mad about his non-existent playing time in the Gator Bowl. That first day of spring ball, he was fourth in the middle linebacker line. Fourth.

I won't lie: It seemed like a stunt. And it seemed like a stunt in fall camp, when Dillard, having lost the necessary weight, languished on the depth chart. Even more so when he didn't play in the season's first two games despite reports of significant progress.

Then, suddenly, Dillard was switched to weakside linebacker for the Virginia Tech game. Early in the Missouri game, Pelini inserted him as the dime linebacker in a 27-12 win. After Will Compton blew an early assignment in the Texas Tech game, Dillard spelled him again, and never relinquished the job again.

And so that night vs. Oklahoma – Dillard's home state team. The program his half-brother he attends. The program Dillard himself spurned. Early in the game, a sack. Another excellent play on a screen pass. Finally – the interception. And the bear hug.

The 10-3 win is better remembered for Matt O'Hanlon's three-interception redemption. But Dillard, the ultimate lost cause, was located by Pelini, and embraced. And Dillard hugged him back. A pigskin prodigal son story, if there ever was one.

That was Nebraska's defense in 2009. A leap in skill, conditioning, speed, smarts – and faith. Bo and Carl Pelini trusted an oft-burned secondary to change its ways; after a massive meltdown vs. Virginia Tech, it did just that. They asked for Barry Turner to get bigger and transform his game into that of a burly, physical end, and he did it. They asked Jared Crick to fill Ty Steinkuhler's shoes, and Crick busted the seams. They asked cornerback Dejon Gomes to learn on the fly and save Nebraska's hide with timely plays in several games, and the junior-college transfer did the trick.

Talent + teaching = development. The Brothers Pelini worked that formula like a M.I.T professor.

Their summary statement was a resounding performance in the Big 12 title game, well beyond any effort that I could have imagined. NU's defense was jaw-droppingly excellent. Its secondary was in lockdown mode. Dillard pursued and tackled with energy. And Suh, well, you saw the performance. Amazing.

Here's the highlights – and the few lowlights – of the 2009 season defense.

Player of the Year: Ndamukong Suh. He's the defensive player of the decade at Nebraska. Best defender ever? Let the debate begin. And he hasn't reached his ceiling as a player yet. Wait until Suh learns some NFL tricks – especially a more effective rip move.

Most Improved: Phillip Dillard. Transformed himself from a Cosgrove casualty into a guy who will get a strong look from the NFL. Always played with heart, passion and toughness; in 2009, Dillard played faster and smarter, too.

Newcomer of the Year: Dejon Gomes. Other than Suh, he's my favorite player on the defense. Doesn't say much. Doesn't strut or draw penalties. Just covers his tail off. He really knows how to strip the ball, too – his interception in the Texas game was as much a fumble recovery as it was a pick.

Freshman of the Year: Cameron Meredith. Compton probably played more, but, with Meredith, there was no dropoff when he subbed for Barry Turner at defensive end. Size, speed, and a little nasty. Get used to his name and face. In two years..

Best Game: Texas. In a hostile atmosphere, NU did everything but send UT quarterback Colt McCoy back to high school. Nine sacks, three picks, too many hurries to count. It was a defensive coordinator's dream.

Worst Game: Texas Tech. The Brothers Pelini gambled early on some blitzes, and got burned by quarterback Steven Sheffield. Mike Leach had Nebraska off balance all day. If you need any evidence of Leach's game-planning prowess, here you go.

Best Single Performance: Ndamukong Suh, Texas. Suh's play at Missouri and O'Hanlon's work vs. Oklahoma are the runners up. But nothing beats Suh in Dallas. Fathers will tell their kids about it one day.

Biggest Plus in 2010: Secondary. The best in the nation – yes, even with new safeties. Expect nickel corner Eric Hagg to move O'Hanlon's spot, while P.J. Smith transitions to Larry Asante's role more smoothly than you might imagine.

Biggest Question Mark: Defensive Line Depth. Meredith and Pierre Allen need backups to emerge at the end spots. Carl Pelini must decide if Terrence Moore can handle the nose, or Baker Steinkuhler, who's a little too lanky for the position, mans it instead.

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After the Red's 31-17 win over the White, here's seven Huskers who impressed us on the red team:

Ben Cotton, tight end: Cotton had an adventuresome day. He missed an assignment on the Red’s first drive that led to a three-and-out and had a false start penalty. But Cotton also proved to be an excellent pass catcher, hauling in four passes for yards and a touchdown. This kid has so much all-around potential it’s scary. And NU’s got him for four years.

"Ben made several good catches," offensive coordinator Shawn Watson said. "He executed a route to detail and caught a touchdown pass."

Zac Lee, quarterback: He didn’t get much help from his offensive line for the first quarter or so, but once he got a little time, he made a few nifty plays, including a sweet little jump pass on a screen to Quentin Castille. His best throw of the day was his first touchdown, a 21-yarder to Marcus Mendoza in which he floated a ball over the head of Will Compton, who was sleeping in two-deep coverage. Lee wasn’t eye-popping. But he was solid.

Alfonzo Dennard, cornerback: Dennard looks like one of NU’s two kickoff returners, and he did a better-than average job at cornerback. Dennard had especially good coverage on Antonio Bell a couple times. And Bell’s going to be a stud. He also had a nice tackle on Stephen Osbourne in the second half.

Marcus Mendoza, wide receiver: A little guy like that, not afraid to go over the middle? We’ll take it. Mendoza made one terrific catch in the first half and nearly made another, had Lee thrown a better ball. We’ll like this kid out of the slot a couple times a game. Lee does, too, apparently.

Cameron Meredith, defensive end: Not a lot of tackles, but some serious push on the pass rush. Meredith is more physical than I expected he’d be.

"He's had a good spring," defensive ends coach John Papuchis said. "He's giving great effort."

P.J. Smith, safety: Smith was much like Will Compton on the white team. He made a few mistakes, but he was active and around the ball a lot. Five tackles in the game.

Collins Okafor, running back: Okafor reportedly has work to do to move up the depth chart. But he looked very good on Saturday, especially on a 33-yard touchdown run. Okafor has natural running talent. He changes direction and accelerates well. He has to improve vision, though.

"He did a really nice job," Watson said

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Two weeks from the magic hour of spring football in Lincoln, and we’re unveiling ten priorities for the Nebraska bunch during those three developmental weeks. Today, part one of the list. Enjoy, argue and check out all of our spring football coverage.

Fully imprinting the culture: Explained in an earlier piece, head coach Bo Pelini earned the trust of his team over the last calendar year, and they clearly invested in what Pelini calls “the process” en route to a 9-4 season. But Pelini has been clear: Nebraska isn’t anywhere near where he wants it to be. So, the second spring will be a time to integrate redshirt talent with teaching and further discover who sinks, and who swims, in the Pelini administration. Bo can be as bold as he wants to be.

Develop the investment – and protect it at all costs: Might we suggest a papaya-colored jersey for Zac Lee, Cody Green and Kody Spano? Maybe Pelini can commission Dr. Manhattan to watch over his quarterbacks?

In all seriousness: The work offensive coordinator Shawn Watson does with those three this spring could be worth one or two wins next fall. And their health could be worth even more. Fortunately for Nebraska fans, Watson adeptly tailors his system to the talent, and NU defenders probably won’t lay a finger on the QBs.

Weapons, weapons, weapons: Nate Swift, Todd Peterson and, yes, Marlon Lucky were big pieces of the Husker offense for the last, oh, 25 games or so. Old, reliable jets they were – not supersonic and luxurious, but consistent, safe and usually landing on time.

The only proven returning offensive commodities are running back Roy Helu, Jr. and tight end Mike McNeill. Quentin Castille, based on his Gator Bowl performance, might get a complimentary key fob to the club entrance. The rest of the skill players – including Menelik Holt, Niles Paul, Marcus Mendoza, Curenski Gilleylen, Chris Brooks and Antonio Bell – have to show they’re ready to do more than guard the proverbial Taco Bell.

Holt, particularly, seems to have the physical gifts and desire. He spent a good half-hour after each practice honing his timing with Lee. They’d run a series of routes and finish with the jump ball to the corner of the end zone. Know this: Lee has a stronger arm than any Nebraska quarterback since Bill Callahan took over. “Go long” is something Holt, or Paul, or someone, is going to have to be able to do.

Commence (and preferably complete) the punting competition: Dan Titchener has graduated, leaving redshirt freshman Brett Maher, junior kicker Alex Henery and sophomore Jonathan Damkroger to vie for the starting job. Maher reportedly had a fine season with the scout team, and we’ll see if that translates over to spring practice. NU could stand to become a better net punting bunch after finishing 106th last year. You don’t have to be a “good” punting team to win a lot of games – Oklahoma was 85th – but four or five yards on every punt can help bridge the talent gap. Sam Koch’s punting, for example, was a huge part of the 2005 season, especially early in the year, when Zac Taylor was still getting his footing.

Finding depth at defensive end: We’re intrigued to see what happens at this spot. Nebraska returns Pierre Allen, who should slide over to Zach Potter’s old base spot, and Barry Turner, who resumes his role as a pass-rusher. But who backs these guys up? Reserves Clayton Sievers and Shukree Barfield both graduated. And it’s a position where formerly touted recruits – sophomore William Yancy, and seniors Nick Covey and David Harvey – have yet to become consistent contributors.

One presumes that 2008 recruits Cameron Meredith and Josh Williams will get first crack at the nut – Meredith would have played last year if not for an injured shoulder - but the aforementioned players, and maybe a couple of walk-ons, will get a roll of the dice, too. Ends coach John Papuchis should have a busy spring.

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