The 50 Huskers to Know returns for the 2011 spring season! We count down the players you absolutely have to watch heading into spring football, culminating with No. 1 during NU's spring break.

The spring list, remember, is about players who are currently in the program, with an emphasis on redshirt freshmen and sophomores who might not have played much yet; in the fall, you'll see a list with more projected starters and incoming contributing recruits.

Not included on this list is wide receiver Khiry Cooper, who spends the spring with the Husker baseball team.

No. 15 Safety Austin Cassidy

This son of former NU director of football operations Tim Cassidy, this walk-on earned a scholarship right before the 2010 season and earned a starting safety job halfway through the same year. His interception return for a touchdown in the Iowa State game gave the Huskers a third-quarter lead. Toward the end of last year, he struggled just a little in losses to Oklahoma and Washington, but Cassidy is a sure tackler, knows where to be on a given play keeps most plays in front of him.

He's in the midst of a pretty stiff position battle with a variety of players, but we think he'll get the nod this spring and probably in the fall. He can be a factor on special teams, too. One of the team's better students, Cassidy will be a leader for this team in 2011.

See all 50 Huskers!

No. 50, No. 49, No. 48, No. 47, No. 46, No. 45, No. 44, No. 43, No. 42, No. 41, No. 40, No. 39, No. 38, No. 37, No. 36, No. 35, No. 34, No. 33, No. 32, No. 31, No. 30, No. 29, No. 28, No. 27, No. 26, No. 25, No. 24, No. 23, No. 22, No. 21, No. 20, No. 19, No. 18, No. 17, No. 16, No. 15

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