2021 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team explained
The 2021 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska as a member of the West Division of the Big Ten Conference during the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was led by fourth-year head coach Scott Frost and played its games at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.[1] The 2021 Nebraska Cornhuskers were the first team in Division I history to lose nine games by single digits.
Offseason
2021 NFL Draft
The following players declared for the 2021 NFL draft:
Name | Number | Position | Height | Weight | Class | Hometown |
---|
| - 7
| CB | 5'10" | 195 | Senior | |
| - 71
| OL | 6'6" | 330 | Senior | |
| - 76
| OT | 6'5" | 300 | Senior | |
| - 26
| RB | 5'11" | 220 | Senior | Waycross, GA |
| - 86
| TE | 6'4" | 260 | Senior | Lone Tree, CO | |
Transfers
Outgoing
Name | Number | Position | Height | Weight | Class | Hometown | Destination |
---|
David Alston | - 45
| LB | 6'4" | 235 | Junior | | Montana State |
Matthew Anderson | - 72
| OL | 6'6" | 255 | Sophomore | | Louisiana-Lafayette |
Jared Bubak | - 80
| TE | 6'5" | 245 | Graduate | | Central Missouri |
Niko Cooper | - 32
| LB | 6'5" | 225 | Junior | | Western Kentucky |
Ronald Delancy III | - 0
| CB | 5'11" | 160 | Freshman | | Toledo |
Will Farniok | - 68
| OL | 6'3" | 295 | Junior | | Tulsa |
Marcus Fleming | - 6
| WR | 5'10" | 160 | Freshman | | Maryland |
Jimmy Fritzsche | - 78
| OL | 6'7" | 290 | Sophomore | | TBD |
Jamin Graham | - 89
| DL | 6'4" | 265 | Sophomore | | Jacksonville State |
Keem Green | - 4
| DL | 6'4" | 320 | Senior | | South Carolina |
Demariyon Houston | - 10
| WR | 6'0" | 180 | Sophomore | | Missouri |
Austin Jablonski | - 47
| WR | 6'2" | 215 | Sophomore | | Concordia (NE) |
| - 7
| QB | 6'2" | 200 | Sophomore | | Louisville Cardinals football team | Rice |
Caden McCormack | - 59
| LB | 6'0" | 235 | Sophomore | | Nebraska–Kearney |
Jamie Nance | - 3
| WR | 6'0" | 180 | Sophomore | | Utah State |
Ryan Novosel | - 32
| K | 6'0" | 160 | Freshman | | Georgetown |
Kurt Rafdal | - 82
| TE | 6'7" | 245 | Senior | | Boise State |
| - 1
| WR | 5'10" | 185 | Junior | | Kentucky |
Ronald Thompkins | - 25
| RB | 5'11" | 195 | Sophomore | | Retired |
| - 81
| WR | 6'1" | 210 | Senior | | Kansas State |
Boe Wilson | - 56
| OL | 6'3" | 300 | Graduate | | Western Kentucky |
Branson Yager | N/A | OL | 6'8" | 330 | Freshman | | TBD | |
Incoming
Recruits
The Cornhuskers signed a total of 20 scholarship recruits and 20 walk-ons during national signing period.[2]
Walk-on recruits
Preseason
Award watch lists
Preseason Big Ten Media poll and awards
Below are the results of the preseason Big Ten media poll with total points received next to each school and first-place votes in parentheses. For the 2021 poll, Ohio State was voted as the favorite to win both the East Division and the Big Ten Championship Game. This is the 11th iteration of the preseason media poll conducted by Cleveland.com, which polls at least one credentialed media member for each Big Ten team. Only three times in the last 11 years has the media accurately predicted the Big Ten champion.[8]
East |
1 | Ohio State | 238 (34) |
2 | Penn State | 192 |
3 | Indiana | 169 |
4 | Michigan | 144 |
5 | Maryland | 79 |
6 | Rutgers | 77.5 |
7 | Michigan State | 52.5 | |
West |
1 | Wisconsin | 233 (29) |
2 | Iowa | 202 (5) |
3 | Northwestern | 160 |
4 | Minnesota | 146 |
5 | Nebraska | 91.5 |
6 | Purdue | 72.5 |
7 | Illinois | 47 | |
Media poll (Big Ten Championship) |
1 | Ohio State over Wisconsin | 28 |
2 | Ohio State over Iowa | 5 |
3 | Wisconsin over Ohio State | 1 | |
Below are the results of the annual Preseason Big Ten Player of the Year awards conducted by Cleveland.com.[9] [10]
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year |
1 | | WR | Ohio State | 58 (11) |
2 | | QB | Indiana | 44.5 (8) |
3 | | RB | Minnesota | 36 (4) |
4 | | C | Iowa | 13 (1) |
5 | | WR | Ohio State | 12 (1) |
6 | | WR | Purdue | 10 (1) |
7 | | QB | Ohio State | 6 (2) |
7 | | WR | Penn State | 6 (1) |
7 | | QB | Wisconsin | 6 (1) |
10 | | RB | Iowa | 5 (1) |
11 | | WR | Indiana | 4 (1) |
12 | | QB | Minnesota | 3.5 (1) | |
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year |
1 | | S | Northwestern | 49 (11) |
2 | | DE | Purdue | 33 (8) |
3 | | DT | Ohio State | 30.5 (5) |
4 | Micah McFadden | LB | Indiana | 28 (6) |
5 | | LB | Rutgers | 18 (3) |
6 | | DE | Michigan | 11 |
7 | | LB | Wisconsin | 7 |
7 | Tiawan Mullen | CB | Indiana | 7 (1) |
9 | | DE | Ohio State | 3.5 |
10 | | S | Penn State | 3 |
10 | | CB | Ohio State | 3 |
12 | | DE | Minnesota | 2 |
12 | Chris Bergin | LB | Northwestern | 2 |
12 | | CB | Nebraska | 2 |
12 | Jake Hansen | LB | Illinois | 2 |
16 | | S/LB | Nebraska | 1 |
16 | Tyshon Fogg | LB | Rutgers | 1 |
16 | Owen Carney | LB | Illinois | 1 | |
Schedule
The Big Ten released a revised conference schedule on February 5, 2021 to correct home/away matchups that were altered from the 2020 COVID-stricken season.[11]
Personnel
Roster
- Due to COVID-19, the NCAA granted an extra year of eligibility to student-athletes who competed during the 2020-21 season where it would not count against a student's years of eligibility.[12] As a result, all returning players are listed as the same class as 2020.[13]
Depth chart
Game summaries
at Illinois
See also: 2021 Illinois Fighting Illini football team.
Statistics | NEB | ILL |
---|
First downs | 19 | 18 |
Total yards | 392 | 326 |
Rushes/yards | 39–160 | 48–167 |
Passing yards | 232 | 159 |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 16–32–0 | 15–19–0 |
Time of possession | 25:05 | 34:55 |
|
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|
Nebraska | Passing | | 16/32, 232 yards, 1 TD |
Rushing | Adrian Martinez | 17 carries, 111 yards, 1 TD |
Receiving | Oliver Martin | 6 receptions, 103 yards, 1 TD |
Illinois | Passing | | 12/15, 124 yards, 2 TD |
Rushing | Mike Epstein | 16 carries, 75 yards, TD |
Receiving | Deuce Spann | 1 reception, 45 yards | |
vs Fordham
See also: 2021 Fordham Rams football team.
Statistics | FORD | NEB |
---|
First downs | 12 | 34 |
Total yards | 292 | 633 |
Rushes/yards | 28–129 | 65–329 |
Passing yards | 163 | 304 |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 18–30–3 | 21–30–0 |
Time of possession | 23:39 | 35:21 |
|
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|
Fordham | Passing | | 17/29, 165 yards, TD, 3 INT |
Rushing | Trey Wilson III | 13 carries, 75 yards |
Receiving | | 5 receptions, 69 yards |
Nebraska | Passing | Adrian Martinez | 17/23, 254 yards, 1 TD |
Rushing | Markese Stepp | 18 carries, 101 yards |
Receiving | | 8 receptions, 133 yards | |
vs Buffalo
See also: 2021 Buffalo Bulls football team.
Statistics | BUFF | NEB |
---|
First downs | 19 | 19 |
Total yards | 359 | 516 |
Rushes/yards | 33–135 | 41–220 |
Passing yards | 224 | 296 |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 27–50–1 | 14–20–0 |
Time of possession | 32:00 | 28:00 |
|
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|
Buffalo | Passing | | 27/50, 224 yards, INT |
Rushing | Kevin Marks Jr. | 21 carries, 85 yards |
Receiving | Quian Williams | 8 receptions, 93 yards |
Nebraska | Passing | Adrian Martinez | 13/19, 242 yards, 2 TD |
Rushing | Adrian Martinez | 9 carries, 112 yards |
Receiving | Samori Toure | 2 receptions, 136 yards, 2 TD | |
at No. 3 Oklahoma
See also: 2021 Oklahoma Sooners football team.
Statistics | NEB | OKLA |
---|
First downs | 18 | 21 |
Total yards | 384 | 408 |
Rushes/yards | 38–95 | 35–194 |
Passing yards | 289 | 214 |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 19–25–1 | 24–34–0 |
Time of possession | 29:10 | 30:50 |
|
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|
Nebraska | Passing | Adrian Martinez | 19/25, 289 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
Rushing | Rahmir Johnson | 11 carries, 42 yards |
Receiving | Zavier Betts | 6 receptions, 31 yards |
Oklahoma | Passing | | 24/34, 214 yards, TD |
Rushing | | 15 carries, 84 yards |
Receiving | | 6 receptions, 61 yards | |
at No. 20 Michigan State
See also: 2021 Michigan State Spartans football team.
Statistics | NEB | MSU |
---|
First downs | 26 | 12 |
Total yards | 442 | 254 |
Rushes/yards | 50–194 | 30–71 |
Passing yards | 248 | 183 |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 25–36–1 | 14–23–1 |
Time of possession | 37:28 | 22:32 |
|
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|
Nebraska | Passing | Adrian Martinez | 24/34, 244 yards, INT |
Rushing | Rahmir Johnson | 19 carries, 76 yards |
Receiving | Zavier Betts | 5 receptions, 62 yards |
Michigan State | Passing | | 14/23, 183 yards, TD, INT |
Rushing | | 19 carries, 61 yards |
Receiving | | 6 receptions, 70 yards | |
vs Northwestern
See also: 2021 Northwestern Wildcats football team.
Statistics | NW | NEB |
---|
First downs | 17 | 28 |
Total yards | 293 | 657 |
Rushes/yards | 26–37 | 53–427 |
Passing yards | 256 | 230 |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 25–40–0 | 15–21–0 |
Time of possession | 25:55 | 34:05 |
|
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|
Northwestern | Passing | | 29/35, 256 yards, TD |
Rushing | | 7 carries, 31 yards |
Receiving | Stephon Robinson Jr. | 8 receptions, 116 yards, TD |
Nebraska | Passing | Adrian Martinez | 11/17, 202 yards, 1 TD |
Rushing | Jaquez Yant | 13 carries, 127 yards |
Receiving | Samori Toure | 2 receptions, 108 yards, 1 TD | |
vs No. 9 Michigan
See also: 2021 Michigan Wolverines football team.
Statistics | MICH | NEB |
---|
First downs | 26 | 19 |
Total yards | 459 | 431 |
Rushes/yards | 42–204 | 32–140 |
Passing yards | 255 | 291 |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 22–39–1 | 18–28–1 |
Time of possession | 34:24 | 25:36 |
|
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|
Michigan | Passing | | 22/38, 255 yards, 3 TD |
Rushing | | 21 carries, 123 yards, 2 TD |
Receiving | | 6 receptions, 64 yards |
Nebraska | Passing | Adrian Martinez | 18/28, 291 yards, 3 TD |
Rushing | Rahmir Johnson | 17 carries, 67 yards |
Receiving | Rahmir Johnson | 6 receptions, 105 yards, 1 TD | |
at Minnesota
See also: 2021 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team.
Statistics | NEB | MINN |
---|
First downs | 19 | 22 |
Total yards | 377 | 396 |
Rushes/yards | 31–136 | 43–182 |
Passing yards | 241 | 214 |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 18–33–0 | 21–25–2 |
Time of possession | 21:59 | 38:01 |
|
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|
Nebraska | Passing | Adrian Martinez | 18/33, 241 yards, 1 TD |
Rushing | Rahmir Johnson | 11 carries, 83 yards, 2 TD |
Receiving | | 5 receptions, 121 yards, 1 TD |
Minnesota | Passing | | 20/24, 209 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
Rushing | Bryce Williams | 17 carries, 127 yards, TD |
Receiving | Chris Autman-Bell | 11 receptions, 103 yards, TD | |
vs Purdue
See also: 2021 Purdue Boilermakers football team.
Statistics | PUR | NEB |
---|
First downs | 23 | 19 |
Total yards | 349 | 399 |
Rushes/yards | 41–116 | 29–130 |
Passing yards | 233 | 269 |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 34–45–0 | 14–29–4 |
Time of possession | 38:38 | 21:22 |
|
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|
Purdue | Passing | | 34/45, 233 yards, 2 TD |
Rushing | King Doerue | 17 carries, 74 yards |
Receiving | | 9 receptions, 74 yards |
Nebraska | Passing | Adrian Martinez | 14/29, 269 yards, 2 TD, 4 INT |
Rushing | Jaquez Yant | 6 carries, 60 yards |
Receiving | Omar Manning | 4 receptions, 75 yards, 1 TD | |
vs No. 5 Ohio State
See also: 2021 Ohio State Buckeyes football team.
Statistics | OSU | NEB |
---|
First downs | 25 | 18 |
Total yards | 495 | 361 |
Rushes/yards | 30–90 | 34–113 |
Passing yards | 405 | 248 |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 36–54–2 | 16–31–1 |
Time of possession | 33:52 | 26:08 |
|
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|
Ohio State | Passing | | 36/54, 405 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
Rushing | | 21 carries, 92 yards |
Receiving | | 15 receptions, 240 yards, TD |
Nebraska | Passing | Adrian Martinez | 16/31, 248 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
Rushing | Rahmir Johnson | 16 carries, 62 yards |
Receiving | Samori Toure | 4 receptions, 150 yards, 1 TD | |
at No. 15 Wisconsin
See also: 2021 Wisconsin Badgers football team.
Statistics | NEB | WISC |
---|
First downs | 22 | 15 |
Total yards | 452 | 397 |
Rushes/yards | 35–101 | 31–252 |
Passing yards | 351 | 145 |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 23–35–2 | 12–18–0 |
Time of possession | 33:17 | 26:43 |
|
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|
Nebraska | Passing | Adrian Martinez | 23/35, 351 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT |
Rushing | Brody Belt | 7 carries, 31 yards |
Receiving | Austin Allen | 7 receptions, 143 yards |
Wisconsin | Passing | | 12/18, 145 yards, TD |
Rushing | | 22 carries, 228 yards, 3 TD |
Receiving | | 8 receptions, 92 yards | |
vs No. 17 Iowa
See also: 2021 Iowa Hawkeyes football team.
Statistics | IOWA | NEB |
---|
First downs | 19 | 18 |
Total yards | 364 | 327 |
Rushes/yards | 37–186 | 43–129 |
Passing yards | 178 | 198 |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 13–27–0 | 16–22–1 |
Time of possession | 31:53 | 28:07 |
|
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|
Iowa | Passing | | 7/13, 102 yards |
Rushing | | 23 carries, 156 yards |
Receiving | | 3 receptions, 61 yards |
Nebraska | Passing | | 16/22, 198 yards, INT |
Rushing | Logan Smothers | 24 carries, 64 yards, 2 TD |
Receiving | Samori Toure | 6 receptions, 67 yards | |
Big Ten awards
Player of the Week Honors
Weekly AwardsLuke Reimer | Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week | Week 2 | [14] |
JoJo Domann | Big Ten Co-defensive Player of the Week | Week 5 | [15] | |
All-Conference awards
2021 Big Ten Offense All-Conference Teams and Awards[16]
National awards
All-America awards
Associated Press All-America Team |
DB | JoJo Domann | Second Team[17] | |
Players drafted into the NFL
See also: 2021 NFL draft.
Notes and References
- Web site: Nebraska 2021 Football Schedule. Huskers.com. December 18, 2020. December 18, 2020.
- Web site: Huskers Announce December Signing Class. Huskers.com. 3 February 2021.
- Web site: Martinez Named to Unitas Award Watch List. Huskers.com. August 19, 2021. August 19, 2021.
- Web site: Culp Named to Groza Award Watch List. Huskers.com. July 28, 2021. July 28, 2021.
- Web site: Cam Jurgens and Austin Allen make award watch lists. Omaha.com. July 23, 2021. July 23, 2021.
- Web site: Martinez Named to Maxwell Award Watch List. Huskers.com. July 19, 2021. July 19, 2021.
- Web site: Domann Named to Nagurski Trophy Watch List. Huskers.com. July 27, 2021. July 27, 2021.
- Web site: Ohio State voted overwhelming favorite in 2021 Cleveland.com Preseason Big Ten Poll. July 21, 2021. Cleveland.com. Nathan. Baird.
- https://www.cleveland.com/osu/2021/07/ohio-state-footballs-chris-olave-voted-preseason-big-ten-offensive-player-of-the-year-in-clevelandcom-poll.html Ohio State's Chris Olave voted Preseason Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year
- https://www.cleveland.com/osu/2021/07/northwestern-safety-brandon-joseph-voted-preseason-big-ten-defensive-player-of-the-year-in-clevelandcom-poll.html Northwestern safety Brandon Joseph voted Preseason Defensive Player of the Year in Cleveland.com poll.
- https://huskers.com/news/2021/2/5/changes-to-2021-big-ten-football-schedule-announced.aspx Changes to 2021 Big Ten Football Schedule Announced
- Web site: What Does the NCAA Extra Year of Eligibility Mean for Recruiting?. NCSA. 2021-09-01.
- Web site: 2021 Nebraska Fottball Media Guide. 9. 2021-09-01. University of Nebraska Athletics.
- Web site: Big Ten Players of the Week. https://web.archive.org/web/20210913151107/https://bigten.org/news/2021/9/13/big-ten-football-players-of-the-week.aspx. dead. September 13, 2021. Big Ten Conference. September 13, 2021. September 13, 2021.
- Web site: Big Ten Players of the Week. https://web.archive.org/web/20211004150240/https://bigten.org/news/2021/10/4/big-ten-football-players-of-the-week.aspx. dead. October 4, 2021. Big Ten Conference. October 4, 2021. October 4, 2021.
- https://web.archive.org/web/20211201181031/https://bigten.org/documents/2021/12/1//2021_Big_Ten_Football_Honors_FULL.pdf?id=7365 2021 Big Ten All-Conference Teams and Awards
- Web site: AP All-America team: Young and Tide lead with 3 1st teamers. Associated Press. 13 December 2021.