Nebraska Cornhuskers’ offensive line ready for challenges

Barney Cotton will be happy to see someone other than Ndamukong Suh lining up against his offensive line.

It makes it hard for him to see how much his group has improved.

"We need to go play someone and see where we are at," Cotton said.

Suh and the rest of the Nebraska Cornhuskers' front four have given the offensive line everything it can handle this fall camp. Cotton relishes the opportunity for his group to face such competition in practice.

"Our offensive ones throughout training camps only practice against the defensive ones," Cotton said. "That helps us a bunch."

Nebraska's offensive line will be anchored by senior center Jacob Hickman. Last year, Hickman started 13 games for the Huskers, and has started 23 games in his entire career. To put that in perspective, Kansas only has 26 career starts returning as a team.

Hickman has worked at both guard and center, giving him added versatility. He is also on the Rimington watch list, which is comprised of the nation's best offensive lineman.

Hickman has a fan in offensive coordinator Shawn Watson.

"Jacob Hickman is one of the best centers in the Big 12," Watson said. "He's a heck of a football player."

Although he garners national attention, Hickman would rather talk about the other key players on Nebraska's offensive line.

"(Marcel) Jones has done a really good job. Keith (Williams) and (Mike) Smith have both been playing there for a long time," Hickman said.

Maybe it's superstition, or maybe he's just modest, but Hickman isn't about to declare anyone, including himself, a starter.

"I've seen so many changes in my career, though, and I've played all over the field. By the end of camp and through the first couple of games, it's always different than what you expect from the start."

Cotton is happy with the depth of his offensive line.

"We got a rotation with three tackles and a possibility of four guards and two centers can play," Cotton said.

He has depth on both sides of the line. Even with Williams out of practice on Monday, Cotton wasn't concerned as senior Andy Christensen stepped in for his injured teammate.

"Andy has the ability to play both sides," Cotton said. "We've got to have guards that can play more than one side.

"You've got to play the cards that are dealt to you," Cotton continued. "Whatever happens come game day, you got to go play."

On Saturday, Nebraska takes on Florida Atlantic. Cotton said his team has to be prepared for guys that might be undersized but make up for it with speed.

"They'll throw a four-man front at you," Cotton said. "They've also got an odd package. When you've got to prepare against both, you've got more to prepare for."

Hickman said Nebraska's line will attempt to dictate the pace of play. He said Nebraska will look to beat its opponents inside the box.

"It's really still an old style, ball-possession game – we had 80 plays a game a lot of times last year, like the old Nebraska used to have," Hickman said. "Real different scheme but still the same mentality: We want to have the ball in our hands, and if they give us the wrong look, we'll take advantage."

Jones said Nebraska will look to restore some of the swagger that previous Husker teams were built on.

"We know we're going to run the ball no matter what," Jones said. "We're trying to restore order and bring back tradition, and we've got to pound the rock."