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. 25 Anthony West: Started at field cornerback to begin the year, then was replaced by Alfonzo Dennard. Since Dennard struggled with a shoulder injury, though, West was counted upon throughout the year - and rarely let NU down. He earned a Blackshirt, covered Kansas State’s Brandon Banks on some key pass patterns, and filled in where necessary. Quiet guy who’s quietly had a fine career at NU.

No. 24 Rickey Thenarse: Got hurt just in time, so to speak, to earn a fifth year of eligibility. Thenarse tore his ACL in the Lafayette game on a special teams play, but should be back for action in 2010. He was always encouraging of his teammates for the rest of the year, and is one of those players who, given his background, feels fairly blessed to be in Lincoln. Now that NU’s secondary is so good, Bo Pelini can have some fun with an athlete like Thenarse and put him situations that allow for success. He’ll fight for the free safety job, as well.

No. 23 Pierre Allen: A steady, solid year - 51 tackles, 5 sacks, 12 tackles for loss - played through more pain than Allen - who didn’t talk to the media but once during the year - obviously let on. He was a key member of NU’s front four for a second consecutive year, and one of Carl Pelini’s favorite players for picking up defensive concepts so quickly. Played brilliantly vs. Virginia Tech in containing Tyrod Taylor and did the same in the Big 12 Championship game vs. Texas. Allen will get a long look at Big 12 Conference honors in 2010.

No. 22 Ricky Henry: He had his dumb penalties - a key holding call at Virginia Tech, a personal foul vs. Texas Tech, a couple cut block penalties throughout the year - but Henry exceeded expectations in other ways, rarely missing the play and often serving as NU’s most dominant run blocker on pulling plays. Intense as the day is long - but not out of control as some thought he’d be - Henry is one of the anchors of the 2010 line.

No. 21 LaTravis Washington: What were we thinking here? Who knows. Well, we thought Shawn Watson might use Washington as a Wildcat quarterback - still think he should have - but Washington was nothing more than a mop-up late in a handful of games.

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Players of the game and grades from NU's 33-0 win over Arizona in the Holiday Bowl.

OFFENSIVE MVP: Niles Paul. He ran, he caught passes and he had two excellent returns. Paul is officially a triple threat for Nebraska in 2010, and he had a strong conclusion to the season.

DEFENSIVE MVP: Pierre Allen. His best game of the year with two sacks, Allen seemed to dominate his man all night long. Like Paul, he positioned himself for a big 2010.

GRADES

QUARTERBACK: B+ Zac Lee had a highly productive night, and even completed some passes on third down to keep drives moving. He ran the ball with toughness, if not elusiveness, and had a nose for the goal line and first down marker. Slowly, Lee is earning the trust of his teammates. He seeemed more at ease Wednesday night than he had all season. Cody Green? Not so much. He looked jittery and lost. That should not have been the case with a month to prepare.

RUNNING BACK: B+ Roy Helu bruised his knee and sat out most of the game. The kid just can't stay healthy, can he? It's one thing or another. Fortunately, Rex Burkhead flashed some big-time skill in the Wildcat offense. He made some nice pass blocks and one good reception, as well.

OFFENSIVE LINE: A- Aside from the dumb penalties from left tackle Mike Smith, this was the O-line's best game by far. They opened hefty holes for Burkhead and Lee, protected Lee when he dropped back to pass, and generally controlled the line of scrimmage all night. When NU needed a yard on several third-and-short situations, the line delivered. Good work, Barney's Boys.

WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS: B Mike McNeill and Niles Paul had pretty good nights; the rest of the units didn't do a lot. Chris Brooks had a false start. Curenski Gilleylen stepped on banana peels. I don't recall Brandon Kinnie or Menelik Holt doing much. Good to see McNeill making plays again, though.

DEFENSIVE LINE: A A few holes here and there from the reserves late in the game, but Carl Pelini's unit otherwise ran the show just fine, controlling the line of scrimmage and never letting Nick Foles get outside the pocket.

LINEBACKER: A Just the one, Phillip Dillard, played much, and he led the team in tackles and attitude, once again, all night long.

SECONDARY: A+ Simply awesome. From Matt O'Hanlon's interception to the well-timed hits to the blanket coverage all night, this is good as defensive back play can get. Take a bow, back seven and Marvin Sanders.

SPECIAL TEAMS: A+ Just the one decent kickoff return from Arizona's Bug Wright. Otherwise - the Huskers rocked and rolled in this phase of the game, too. Alex Henery nailed his field goals, punt and kick coverage was solid, and Paul had two excellent returns.

COACHING/GAME MANAGEMENT: A Superb plan from offensive coordinator Shawn Watson, who balanced run and pass and sprinkled in the Wildcat. This is the guy we saw in 2008, and, don't kid yourself - he needed a good night. That whole offense did.

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The Play You Didn’t See: Matt O’Hanlon picked off Nick Foles on the third play of the game - Foles made an awful pass - and returned it to the sweet spot for NU’s offense and an early, quick touchdown. Just Matty being Matty - at least over the last half of the season.

Dillard Down the Field: NU linebacker Phillip Dillard probably earned himself a few slots in the NFL Draft when he aptly covered Arizona running back Nic Grigsby on a seam route down the field, breaking up what was probably Nick Foles best pass of the first half.

Sack Party 1: Pierre Allen puts a nasty move on Arizona’s right tackle and hammers Foles, stripping him of the ball for a nine-yard loss. He and best friend Barry Turner engage in a celebratory dance.

Sack Party 2: Allen, Turner and Ndamukong Suh all converge on Foles for the second sack of the game one drive after the first one.

The Shutout Preserver: Bo Pelini calls a casino blitz with all the fixins, and backup safety P.J. Smith delivers on fourth down, batting down the Foles pass.

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And so. The road from here, after a sudden head-on collision in the final moments of Nebraska’s 16-15 loss to Virginia Tech.

First, a week of warmth and good tidings, as the Cornhuskers welcome a Sun Belt also-ran (Louisiana-Lafayette) to Lincoln for the 300th consecutive sellout. Hangover or not, NU’s walking out of Memorial Stadium on Saturday night a winner.

Then, a bye week.

Then, what I’d call the biggest game of the season for Nebraska’s psyche: A night war in Columbia, on ESPN, for Big 12 North supremacy and a couple of recruits that both Missouri and the Huskers are after for their 2010 class.

That’s 16 days, between now and then. Enough time to heal, physically and mentally. Enough time to forge an identity that wins conferences games on the road.

Know this: Tech was only a small part of this season’s test. It could have been a springboard. But it won’t be. Now, Nebraska has to avoid it becoming a stumbling block.

Head coach Bo Pelini has experience here. As interim coach in 2003, he dusted off the Huskers after Frank Solich’s firing and won the Alamo Bowl. As defensive coordinator at LSU, he rebounded from a crushing 50-48 loss to rival Arkansas to craft an excellent plan for the SEC Championship game, beating Tennessee 17-10. And as head coach last year, he sifted through the rubble of 52-17 and 62-28 and built a stronger, smarter team after both games.

In Bo we trust – to adjust.

On with the review.

Five Players We Loved

Kicker Alex Henery: Better known as “A Money” inside of 50 yards. Pretty sweet rugby-style punter, too.

Running back Roy Helu: Nebraska put the load on his shoulders and he bore it with toughness and agility. Good on-field attitude, too.

Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh: Of course he’d like to Tech’s last offensive play back. He’ll probably wonder himself what he was doing, NU’s best pass rusher, just standing there, watching VT quarterback Tyrod Taylor buy time. Otherwise, Suh was awesome on Saturday. His only weakness, really, is sometimes trying to do too much on one play.

Defensive ends Barry Turner and Pierre Allen: Well-prepared, they were, to corral Tyrod Taylor. Allen and Turner refused to be turned by blocking tackles, were rarely pinned on outside plays, and consistently remained stout on inside runs. Good effort.

Three Concerns We Still Have

Meltdown penalties: When it rains, it pours with NU’s offensive line and tight ends. They played a mostly clean game – until that disaster in the third quarter, which was one of the subtle turning points.

Not Enough Niles: if he’s a playmaker in practice, then you have to give him designed touches in the game. One poorly-thrown screen pass is not enough. Why is Zac Lee looking for Mike McNeill in double coverage 30 yards down the field and not Paul? Why is Menelik Holt the guy running corner routes in the end zone, and not Paul?

Look: Jeremy Maclin wasn’t 6-foot-4 either. But Missouri moved him around, got him snaps, cleared out the middle of the field and let him catch a short slant, that kind of stuff. And if Paul’s just another receiver at NU, then put him where belongs, in the slot, and stick Chris Brooks on the outside in four-wide situations. Shawn Watson has to do something to direct Lee’s attention in Paul’s direction, or isolate Paul in the open field.

Straight coverage: If Taylor had been any kind of passer, Saturday’s game might have been much different. Tech’s receivers routinely had a step on NU’s defensive backs; Taylor just couldn’t hit them. Nebraska’s corners were fairly aggressive, it seemed; they were lucky they didn’t get burned more.

Reviewing the Five Keys

Violent Dance: Nebraska didn’t handle Jason Worilds very well. He had five QB hurries, flushed Lee several more times, and drew a holding penalty on that botched third-quarter drive. He’s a player. Marcel Jones and D.J. Jones are, too, but they’re not of Worilds’ caliber yet.

The Specials: Nebraska played Tech to a draw, or maybe even had a small edge. Tech’s big kickoff returned was offset by Paul’s punt return. Adi Kunalic consistently pounded the ball for touchbacks. Henery was money on punts.

Hustle and Flow: The linebackers held up. Frankly, they seemed better when they know the opponent is going to run the ball. Will Compton, Phillip Dillard and Sean Fisher consistently pursued well, lined up correctly and wrapped when tackling.

Lane and Lee: NU’s quarterback didn’t look rattled in the first half, and indeed made a few savvy scrambles and throws. But after that penalty debacle in the third quarter, Lee wasn’t the same guy. What happened? We’ll have to ask Tuesday. Lee wasn’t available after the game. (Note to coaches: Isn’t part of growing up as a QB facing the music right afterward?)

Big-Game Coaching: In our estimation, Pelini and Watson were up to the challenge. We could argue the Cover 2 call, or a few of Watson’s play selections. You could analyze it until you’re blue in the face, frankly, but the coaching staff was up to the moment. You couldn’t necessarily say that about last year’s game in Lincoln.

Three Questions We Still Have

Who is this team in the red zone? Right now, Nebraska seems like a bunch that’s not sure how to score a touchdown. The Huskers nibbled around the edges but never pushed over that one score they really needed.

Can Nebraska close when it counts? The Huskers spit the bit a little. Oh, they played hard, but they didn’t seize victory. Virginia Tech was tired and ready to fall. NU kept the Hokies in the game with mental mistakes, dropped passes and penalties.

How soon is that Missouri game again? Soon enough.

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The topic is Barry Turner’s country Tennessee accent, and Turner, like he often can, is cracking up a couple reporters with an example.

“I was going through McDonald’s one morning and I said, “‘Can I get a sausage biscuit?’" Turner said. "I say sausage and (my teammates) are laughing at me – country, down south.”

The way Turner, a native of Antioch, Tenn., says “sausage,” it sounds like “Sawshige.” Of course, they make some pretty good spicy country patties in Tennessee.

The Volunteer State raises some pretty good defensive ends, too. Turner, after breaking his leg in the second game of 2008, is hoping to combine his explosive first step with an on-field emotion that belies his easygoing nature for the consistent season NU fans have been waiting for since Turner’s true freshman campaign in 2005, when his six sacks helped him make many Freshman All-America teams.

Since then, there have been intermittent flashes of brilliance. Turner basically saved NU in the 2006 Texas A&M game with a blocked field goal. In a difficult 2007 season, Turner started all but one game, had a career-high 29 tackles, and played well in early season games vs. Ball State, Wake Forest and Iowa State. Then, like too many Husker defenders, he faltered in a crucial stretch of losses to Missouri, Oklahoma State, A&M, Texas and Kansas.

In 2008, Turner was supposed to be one of the stars of NU’s defensive resurrection. Then, against San Jose State, the broken leg. Then rehab and a spring camp more about finding confidence. He wears a knee brace in practice now, which is a new experience. Anytime he sheds that, Turner said, “I feel extremely fast.”

Turned looked explosive at times in the Red/White Spring Game, stuffing out Quentin Castille on a running play, and blasting past his blocker to nab one of those phantom sacks on a green-shirted Zac Lee. Other plays, especially toward the sidelines, Turner wasn’t moving as quickly.

But a summer of running and lifting, Turner said, took care of that.

“I’m getting back to my old habits, my old ways, what I’m used to doing,” Turner said. “During the summer I had more time to get used to it, to trust my leg more…guys tell me ‘you look pretty fast, you’ve got good get-off.’”

Defensive coordinator Carl Pelini sees the same.

“The old Barry's back," Pelini said. "He looks like Barry of a year ago, but with better understanding of our defense. Which makes him even faster.”

Once Turner was out for 2008, he duplicated what defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh did when he missed the 2008 spring camp – he stood next to Pelini in practice and learned without doing. That extra time off seemed to help Suh understand the techniques and strategy.

It did the same, Pelini said, for Turner.

“He was basically at my shoulder,” Pelini said. “Almost a student coach last year. And now that’s paying off for him. He has a great grasp of what we’re doing defensively.”

Turner brings an emotional leadership to the defense, too, Pelini said. While NU’s 2008 defense made significant strides, it wasn’t exactly a loud, frothy unit of players. Turner – along with MIKE linebacker Phillip Dillard and strong safety Larry Asante – are a key vocal component that measures the lifeblood of a defense.

In practice, it’s pretty obvious who gets the defensive linemen in stitches – Turner and his best friend, Pierre Allen, who mans the base defensive end position.

In one recent workout, a TV station cameraman was getting stock shots of the defensive line, drinking water during a quick break. Turner and Allen caught the guy’s attention and pulled the camera over to Suh, who was leaning against a concrete pole. Expected by many to be a first-round NFL Draft Pick in 2010, Suh, not one to mug for the camera, turned away right into the wall, essentially, laughing while he did it.

And yet Turner convinced the cameraman, as a joke, to focus in even more on Suh. That might have gone on for minutes if the linemen hadn’t been ordered to work the retractable chute for a drill.

“It’s just natural,” Turner said of his personality. “It’s nothing I have to act to do. It’s just natural. That’s what’s been instilled in me so I hope it rubs off on them. It makes practice go by faster.”

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It was the second straight season that zero Nebraska players were taken on the first day of the NFL Draft and only three were taken overall. It served as a death rattle for the Bill Callahan era.

Will the trend change in future years? We look at the potential Draft prospects of current Huskers:

2010 Draft

Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh: If Suh stays healthy and continues to improve his technique – whether or not his statistics are comparable to 2008 – he’s a sure-fire first-round pick, and possibly a top-ten or top-five pick, depending on team need. At 6-foot-4, 300 pounds, Suh probably isn’t a 3-4 nose guard – those guys are usually squatter and, well, fatter – but he fits into a 4-3 scheme as a 1, 2 or 3 technique, depending on how a defense chooses to play him. He already makes the flashy plays behind the line of scrimmage, and has since his sophomore year.

Defensive end Barry Turner: Teams will look over Turner’s broken leg injury, and since we’re not doctors or insurance specialists, we couldn’t say whether that would prevent Turner from getting selected. As an end, Turner has a good first step and can beat slower linemen to the corner. He’s not as adept at swim and rip moves as he should be. On the flip side, Turner’s received average coaching at best from John Blake. He’s got room to grow.

Center Jacob Hickman: He’ll be helped by his versatility to play either guard spot or center. Hickman, 6-4 and 290, is agile when pulling and skilled at getting to the second level. Probably not the nastiest guy on the planet, but he’s smart, and he knows a number of positions. You could see some team taking him with a late-round pick and developing him as a valuable reserve.

Strong safety Larry Asante: Depending on whether some NFL team thought they could put 20-30 pounds on Asante, he could play linebacker at the next level. Asante hits hard, and he’s generally decent in run support. Where’s he’s struggled is in the passing game. As a safety, we’d see him as a free agent; Clemson’s Michael Hamlin, a much better college player, lasted until well into the second day in the 2009 Draft.

Wide receiver Menelik Holt: Longshot here, but one never knows. Holt has the speed, and he’s a good enough blocker. Nobody knows if he can catch balls and get open consistently, however. He’ll get only one year to prove it and he’d better have big-time numbers. Otherwise, he’ll be a free agent, if that.

For now, we don’t consider middle linebackers Phillip Dillard and Colton Koehler, free safeties Rickey Thenarse and Matt O’Hanlon or receiver Chris Brooks as likely selections, although they may sign as free agents.

2011

Left guard Keith Williams: At 6-5, 305, Williams has the size and strength to become a very good NFL guard. He needs to get more consistent, and cut out wasteful penalties. He’s quicker than recent draftee Matt Slauson and he’ll get two more years of coaching under Barney Cotton. Too hard to project a specific round right now, but Williams would be in the Draft.

Safety Eric Hagg: Could be a quality safety for some NFL team; his size and anticipatory skills are a good fit. Nebraska coaches finally seem set on putting Hagg at safety and letting him blossom there. Two years of good development puts him right in the crosshairs of being drafted. Sometimes, though, it seems like Hagg isn’t aware of how good he could be.

Running back Roy Helu: We fully expect Helu to play four years at NU, if he stays healthy. As a pure runner, Helu is instinctive, quick and hard to bring down. He’s a decent pass-catcher and should improve his blocking. If you were projecting way out, you could see Helu getting picked in the 3rd-4th rounds, maybe even the first day.

Tight end Mike McNeill: We could definitely see a guy like McNeill taking that Dallas Clark role with the Indianapolis Colts. McNeill is sure-handed and athletic, and pretty fast for a tight end. His best skill is open-field running. In two years, he’s a 4th-6th-round selection, and better if he improves his blocking.

Defensive end Pierre Allen: Very good sophomore campaign could lead to big things in 2009 and 2010. Allen needs to keep grinding away as a pass rusher so that he can fit into a 4-3 system, which requires good pass-rushing skills out of its ends. He’d need to gain 20-30 pounds to play end in a 3-4.

Kicker/punter Alex Henery: If he continues to kick like he did in 2008, he’ll be one of a handful of kickers selected in the Draft. Henery’s punting skills may also help him make a roster. The kid’s a bit of a kicking savant; many of his field goal tries are perfectly shaped into the middle of the goalposts, looking like a Phil Mickelson wedge shot.

Running back Quentin Castille: Credit where it’s due: Castille has lost enough weight to be a viable player in a one-back, one-cut outside zone NFL system. No the lead guy, necessarily, but a bruiser type. He gets downhill quickly, strides nicely for a big guy, and seems more comfortable in the open field than he does traffic. Blocks and catches pretty well. Hasn’t shown himself to be a great short-yardage back, but he could develop into one. Castille isn’t a fullback, and NFL teams will quickly notice that watching him on film. The right team with the right need could draft him.

Cornerback Prince Amukamara: If this kid picks up the red the courtesy phone and figures out the position, he’s as intriguing a prospect as any on NU’s team. Naturally gifted, huge vertical leap, tall and fast, not afraid to tackle. Amukamara’s stumbling block isn’t physical stuff. But can he play, drive after drive, without mental errors?

Cornerback Anthony West: Steadier than Amukamara, not quite as gifted, and not quite as big. Gambled and lost a couple times in 2008. Needs to close better and be more aggressive to the ball, as his allowed touchdown in the Red/White Spring Game showed.

Wide receiver Niles Paul: Needs to play more often, and more consistently. Paul would be a slot receiver in the NFL, so route-running, savvy and elusiveness would be important to develop.

Guard Ricky Henry: Strictly a project right now, but the clay is there to be molded. We’ll see.

Cornerback Dejon Gomes: See Ricky Henry.

Quarterback Zac Lee: Too early to tell. The skillset and height suggests he’ll fit into the Joe Ganz category.

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