Nebraska football position grades vs. USC | Sports

The DN’s football coverage is presented by Celerion.

Quarterback: C

Even with a new offensive coordinator, struggles continued for freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola.

Raiola threw the ball 38 times but only tallied 191 yards and one touchdown with a 71% completion rate. That’s not a terrible mark, but his two interceptions in critical moments of the game really hurt Nebraska, with the second one ending the game.

The Huskers could not push the ball downfield, with only two of Raiola’s completions going for over 20 yards. The true freshman did a nice job of checking the ball down in the flat when no one was open, but he couldn’t connect on the big plays to turn the momentum around.

Raiola was questionable coming into the game, so it’s hard to know how much his back injury compromised him on Saturday. However, he is starting to become a liability for the offense. At times he looks overwhelmed, like a deer in the headlights.

Running Backs: A-

While the score wasn’t what the team wanted, the running backs were a huge bright spot.

This was one of the best performances of the season for the tailbacks, with sophomore Emmett Johnson having a career day. He led the team with 10 carries for 55 yards while also making a huge impact in the receiving game, hauling in seven receptions for 36 yards along with his first career receiving touchdown. Dowdell also had a nice performance, recording eight carries for 52 yards, including a 20-yard run.

Even with the running backs posting solid outings, new offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen didn’t lean on the run game. Raiola threw 38 passes compared to just 18 rushing attempts from the RBs. That’s not an indictment on the running backs, however.

Receivers: C-

A story that has been all season continued, as the receivers struggled to get separation downfield.

Senior Jahmal Banks had a bounce-back game, recording five catches for 55 yards. Sophomore Janiran Bonner had a breakthrough afternoon in Holgorsen calling the plays, finishing with three catches for 21 yards, including a key third and 10 conversion that led to the Huskers’ first touchdown.

While Banks and Bonner were very active, freshman standout Jacory Barney Jr. struggled to make an impact, mustering just two catches for nine yards. He was targeted downfield late in the game with Nebraska needing a touchdown but was unable to haul it in.

The perimeter blocking looked a little better, but the difference in the game was USC’s wide receivers making plays 1-on-1 and the Huskers’ receivers failing to do so.

Offensive Line: B

The offensive line continues to take a lot of pressure, but the pass protection was solid on Saturday.

Raiola was sacked two times, but he had time to go through his progressions for the most part. The run blocking helps this grade, as the ground attack continues to look better. It still has a ways to go, but the offensive line has definitely improved in that area from the beginning of the season.

It wasn’t a great day in the trenches, but it was serviceable enough for Nebraska to get the win. Other facets of the team just didn’t follow suit.

Defensive Line: C+

The defensive line for a second week in a row looked very ordinary against the Trojans, a matchup that Nebraska should have been able to win in the trenches.

The veteran defensive line made plays at times in the game. Seniors Ty Robinson and Nash Hutmacher along with junior Jimari Butler all recorded a tackle for loss, but it wasn’t consistent enough production to get the Huskers off the field in critical moments. The line also got pushed around, allowing senior running back Woody Marks to rush for 146 yards with an average of 7.7 yards a carry.

This group is considered the strength of the team, and they are going to have to step up in a big way if Nebraska has any shot of winning one more to clinch a bowl game.

Linebackers: C

The tackling has been subpar many times this season, and it came back to bite them once again.

USC was running the ball all over the Huskers. Not only was the traditional run game finding success, but Nebraska had no answer to the option run game. A big part of that was a lack of gang tackling, but also just poor contact in general. The linebackers also struggled to fill gaps.

Senior John Bullock had a nice game with seven tackles in the game, but no one else was notably productive. Junior Stefon Thompson had a bad unnecessary roughness penalty in the first quarter that eventually led to a Trojan touchdown.

This group didn’t play well, but they weren’t the main culprit for the loss.

Secondary: D+

One guy I want to take away from this harsh grade is junior corner Ceyair Wright, who had a career day against his former team. He had a pick-six to give Nebraska an early 7-0 lead and also blocked a field goal. However, the rest of the group leaves a lot to be desired.

Nebraska gave up 259 yards and three touchdowns through the air. Senior Tommi Hill, who was touted as a potential first-round pick heading into the season, didn’t look great against USC. On the Trojans’ first touchdown drive of the game, Hill had back-to-back plays that were inexcusable. He misjudged a deep pass, allowing the ball to sail over his head for a huge completion. He then made a poor effort on a tackle by the endzone, allowing USC to tie the game 7-7.

Junior Malcolm Hartzog was picked on all afternoon USC head coach Lincoln Riley made a point of emphasis to target the small defensive back, and the taller Trojan receivers had a field day on Hartzog. Hartzog had multiple times where he was inches away from making a big play, but his height played against him.

This group has struggled all season, but Saturday was the icing on the cake in a game the Huskers really needed to win.

Special Teams: A-

Special teams have really turned it around since the beginning of the season. 

As mentioned earlier, Wright made a huge play blocking USC’s field goal attempt in the fourth quarter, which would have pushed the lead to four points. Freshman kicker John Hohl made both of his field goal attempts, and senior punter Brian Buschini punted five times for an average of 46 yards. 

Nebraska is still struggling to return punts and kicks, but the field goal and punt operations are both running very smoothly, which is a positive. 

sports@dailynebraskan.com