Nebraska was close to beating a ranked team on the road. Until they didn’t. Ryan Day’s 4th-ranked Buckeyes remained perfect against the Cornhuskers in Columbus. But that doesn’t mean Matt Rhule’s squad didn’t improve against in the Horseshoe. They exceeded expectations. Let’s break down which Huskers players stood out against Ohio State.
Which Huskers Stood Out Versus Ohio State?
Jimari Butler
Edge rusher, Jimari Butler had three tackles for loss and beat backup left tackle Zen Michalski to sack senior quarterback Will Howard early in the first quarter. Linebacker MJ Sherman also performed well, he gave the Blackshirts its first taste of momentum when he stuffed Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson on 4th and one in the first quarter. He was also effective in stopping junior Quinshon Judkins. The only low point was Nebraska’s secondary. Cornerback Malcolm Hartzog got beat by sophomore wideout Carnell Tate on a 40-yard reception. But he was able to make up for it with his interception in the second half. Issac Gifford made the only glaring mistake in his inability to cover Buckeyes star freshman Jeremiah Smith. Can John Butler’s unit improve in their coverage skills against UCLA? The Bruins’ experience at the wide receiver spot should give the Huskers a cause for pause. However, there’s an expectation that Nebraska’s secondary will find a way to disrupt quarterback Ethan Garbers. It should be noted that the Cornhuskers didn’t give up very many explosive plays versus the Buckeyes.
John Hohl
Nebraska’s special teams unit under Ed Foley’s leadership has been disastrous. However, backup kicker John Hohl changed this narrative in Columbus. The Huskers made all three of their field goal attempts versus Ohio State. Hohl was also able to split the uprights from 54 yards out. It’s pretty impressive, considering he only made 1 out of 5 field goal attempts before coming to the Horseshoe. Before this record-setting day, he had several kicks blocked against Purdue. Now, Foley can breathe easier knowing that NU’s kicking issues are fixed. On the other hand, sophomore Tristan Alvano should still be worried. Hohl’s performance against the Buckeyes cost him his starring role. While he is still recovering from his injury. Does this doom Hohl’s chances to contribute? Or will Rhule elect to use him as a holder? It will be interesting to see what the coaching staff has to say going into next week.
Dante Dowdell
Nebraska was able to out-gain the Buckeyes on the ground. This was in large part due to Dante Dowdell’s efforts on the ground. He led the Husker rushing attack versus Ohio State with 60 yards and a touchdown. Emmett Johnson was also effective in getting the chains moving for the Cornhuskers. All told he had 30 yards on eight carries. Nebraska’s offensive line should be able to open up bigger holes against UCLA’s defensive line. The Bruins gave up 32 points against Rutgers and senior running back Kyle Monangai rushed for 106 yards and three scores. The Cornhuskers will have to dominate the ground game to find success in the month of November.
Read more about Dowdell and the Huskers backs trip to Bloomington in What Do The Huskers Need To Fix
Dylan Raiola
The freshman quarterback, Dylan Raiola completed 21 out of 32 passes against Ohio State. This led Nebraska’s offense to sustain multiple drives throughout the contest. Another promising sign is that he ran for 54 yards on the ground. This allowed the five-star talent to scramble to confuse the Buckeyes secondary on multiple instances at the start of the game. But it wasn’t enough. Raiola wasn’t immune from making rookie mistakes. In the second half, he missed Jahmal Banks and Jacory Barney Jr in the endzone. And with a minute left to go in the game, Buckeye senior defensive back Jordan Hancock intercepted a pass that he intended for Isaiah Neyor. Will he learn from these mistakes against UCLA? Or will Marcus Satterfield’s scheme fail to work against the Bruins’ defense? Efficient play calling is a legitimate concern that the Huskers have to address next week. Right now, Nebraska has the 93rd total offense in the country.
