2016 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team

Transfers

Coaching departures

2016 recruiting class

Position key

Back	B		Center	C		Cornerback	CB		Defensive back	DB
Defensive end	DE		Defensive lineman	DL		Defensive tackle	DT		End	E
Fullback	FB		Guard	G		Halfback	HB		Kicker	K
Kickoff returner	KR		Offensive tackle	OT		Offensive lineman	OL		Linebacker	LB
Long snapper	LS		Punter	P		Punt returner	PR		Quarterback	QB
Running back	RB		Safety	S		Tight end	TE		Wide receiver	WR

Nebraska Football 2016 Recruiting Class^[10]

More information Name, Hometown ...

College recruiting information

Name	Hometown	School	Height	Weight	40‡	Commit date
Quayshon Alexander LB	Wayne, NJ	De Paul Catholic	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	230 lb (100 kg)	–	Jun 19, 2015
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    (80)
Dicaprio Bootle CB	Miami, FL	Miami Killian HS	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	–	Jun 16, 2015
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    (75)
Bryan Brokop OT	New Lenox, IL	Lincoln Way West	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	273 lb (124 kg)	–	Sep 27, 2014
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    (79)
Tre Bryant RB	Saint Louis, MO	Christian Brothers College HS	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	198 lb (90 kg)	4.53	Nov 8, 2015
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    (75)
Tony Butler CB	Lakewood, OH	St. Edward	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	195 lb (88 kg)	–	Jan 20, 2016
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    (79)
Marquel Dismuke S	Calabasas, CA	Calabasas	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	180 lb (82 kg)	–	Jun 15, 2015
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    (83)
JoJo Domann DB	Colorado Springs, CO	Pine Creek	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	–	Jun 26, 2015
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    (77)
David Engelhaupt TE	Norfolk, NE	Norfolk Catholic	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	235 lb (107 kg)	–	Feb 2, 2016
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    (N/A)
Matt Farniok OT	Sioux Falls, SD	Washington	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	297 lb (135 kg)	–	Jan 27, 2016
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    (81)
Lamar Jackson DB	Elk Grove, CA	Franklin	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	205.5 lb (93.2 kg)	–	Feb 2, 2016
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    (84)
Pernell Jefferson LB	New Orleans, LA	Warren Easton	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	235 lb (107 kg)	–	Jan 23, 2016
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    (74)
Caleb Lightbourn P/PK	Camas, WA	Camas	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	214 lb (97 kg)	–	Nov 28, 2015
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    (74)
Collin Miller LB	Fishers, IN	Hamilton Southeastern	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	225 lb (102 kg)	–	Jan 24, 2016
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    (72)
Patrick O'Brien QB	San Juan Capistrano, CA	San Juan Hills	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	225 lb (102 kg)	–	May 1, 2015
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    (79)
John Raridon OG	West Des Moines, IA	Valley	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	258 lb (117 kg)	–	Sep 28, 2015
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    (83)
Greg Simmons LB	Fort Pierce, FL	Fort Pierce	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	225 lb (102 kg)	–	Jun 25, 2015
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    (79)
JD Spielman WR	Eden Prairie, MN	Eden Prairie	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	–	Aug 15, 2015
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    (78)
Ben Stille DL	Ashland, NE	Ashland-Greenwood	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	235 lb (107 kg)	–	Jun 13, 2015
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    (76)
Jack Stoll TE	Aurora, CO	Regis Jesuit	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	225 lb (102 kg)	–	Jun 24, 2015
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    (79)
Boe Wilson OG	Lee's Summit, MO	Lee's Summit	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	290 lb (130 kg)	–	Jul 6, 2015
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    (78)
Overall recruit ranking:   Scout: 28    Rivals: 25    247Sports: 24    ESPN: 26
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "2016 Team Ranking". Rivals. Retrieved February 3, 2016.

Close

Returning starters

Spring practice

72,992 fans attended the Nebraska spring game, continuing the streak of 60,000+ in attendance for Nebraska spring games since 2008. Unlike previous spring games, the teams did not trade the ball but Team Red was the offense and Team White was the defense for the entire game. Additionally, the scrimmage used a unique scoring system that allowed the defense (White) to score and rewarded plays that would otherwise be non-scoring in a normal football game. At the end of the game, Kyle Kasun intercepted the ball as the time expired, allowing the white team to win. The final score was White 46–41. Tommy Armstrong Jr., Ryker Fyfe and Patrick O'Brien all played at quarterback for team Red.

Depth chart

More information FS, OUTSIDE ...

Defense FS Kieron Williams Aaron Williams ⋅ OUTSIDE INSDIE OUTSIDE Dedrick Young Josh Banderas Marcus Newby Michael Rose-Ivey Mohamed Barry Chris Weber Luke Gifford ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ SS Nate Gerry Antonio Reed ⋅ CB Joshua Kalu Lamar Jackson Boaz Joseph DE DT DT DE Freedom Akinmoladun Mick Stoltenberg Kevin Maurice Ross Dzuirs A.J Natter Carlos Davis Khalil Davis Alex Davis Sedrick King ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ CB Chris Jones Eric Lee ⋅ Offense WR Stanley Morgan Jr. De'Mornay Pierson-El ⋅ WR Brandon Reilly Alonzo Moore Bryan Reimers ⋅ LT LG C RG RT Nick Gates Sam Hahn Jerald Foster Dylan Utter Tanner Farmer David Kneval Christian Gaylord Jalin Barnett Michael Decker Corey Whitacker Cole Conrad ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ TE Cethan Carter Sam Cotton Trey Foster WR Jordan Westerkamp Gabe Rahn ⋅ QB Tommy Armstrong Ryker Fyfe ⋅ Key reserves FB Luke Mcnitt FB Harrison Jordan Special teams PK Drew Brown P Caleb Lightbourn KR Tre Bryant PR De'mornay Pierson-el LS Jordan Ober RB Terrell Newby Devine Ozigbo Tre Bryant Mikale Wilbon

Close

Fresno State

Nebraska opened the 2016 season with a non-conference matchup against Fresno State at Memorial Stadium. The game marked the start of the second season for head coach Mike Riley. The game marked the completion of a three-game series with Fresno State. The Huskers defeated Fresno State in Lincoln 42–29 in 2011 before winning on the road in Fresno 55–19 in 2014. These three games are the only meetings between the Huskers and Bulldogs in program history. Before the game, there was a tribute to the late Nebraska punter Sam Foltz, who was killed in a car crash in July. Before their first punt, the Huskers observed a moment of silence for Foltz by sending only 10 players onto the field with no punter waiting for the snap. A delay of game penalty was called on the Huskers, which the Bulldogs declined.

Fresno State Game starters

Wyoming

The 2016 edition of the Nebraska–Wyoming series marked the 8th meeting between the two neighboring state programs. Nebraska entered the game with a perfect 7–0 all-time record against the Wyoming Cowboys. Senior quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. threw three touchdown passes during this matchup, in which he set the record for most career touchdown passes in the Nebraska program history, surpassing Taylor Martinez's previous record of 56. The Cornhuskers defeated the Cowboys 52–17 in front of a crowd of 89,895, the stadium's 349th consecutive sellout.

Wyoming Game starters

Oregon

Nebraska and Oregon played for the 7th time between the two programs on September 17, 2016, at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska. The Ducks went for the two point conversion after every touchdown, only succeeding once, early in the game. Nebraska went on to win the game 35–32, giving Oregon their first loss of the season, and Nebraska their third win to improve their record to 3–0. Nebraska had 428 total offensive yards the whole game, and the Ducks had 482. The Cornhuskers will travel to Eugene, Oregon in the 2017 season to face the Ducks at Autzen Stadium, game 2 of the home-and-home series between the two programs.

Oregon Game starters

Northwestern

Nebraska opened conference play with their first road game of the season in Evanston, Illinois against Northwestern. The Cornhuskers won the contest by a score of 24–13. Early in the game, I-back Terrell Newby fumbled the ball at the sideline near the end zone, resulting in a touchback, giving Northwestern the ball. In the second quarter, Northwestern quarterback Clayton Thorson ran the ball 42 yards for a touchdown. Thorson also had a 24-yard touchdown pass to Austin Carr in the 3rd quarter. Nebraska will play the Wildcats at home in 2017 at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Northwestern Game starters

Illinois

Nebraska played its second conference game at home against the Illinois Fighting Illini on October 1, 2016. Nebraska beat the Illini by a score of 31–16, claiming their 5th win on the season to make the Cornhuskers 5–0.

Illinois Game starters

Indiana