Spring Game position breakdown 2010

OFFENSE

QUARTERBACK

Saturday could be a coming-out party for signal callers Ron Kellogg III, Taylor Martinez, Kody Spano and Latravis Washington. How the day goes could help determine who fills out the fall depth chart behind injured senior Zac Lee and sophomore Cody Green. Kellogg, Martinez and Spano have all yet to see the field during the regular season and will have an opportunity to run the offense in a game situation. Green, who started two games as a true freshman in 2009, will be seeking to stake a challenge to Lee's starting job.

RUNNING BACK

With three players vying for the starting job, the Cornhusker backfield will be a busy place Saturday. Veteran Roy Helu Jr. is hoping to hang on to his starting job as sophomore challengers Rex Burkhead and Dontrayevous Robinson look to gain more carries. All three saw significant playing time last season, although Helu Jr. and Burkhead were limited at times by injuries. Also aiming to make an impression will be Austin Jones, Collins Okafor and Lester Ward, who played limited roles in 2009.

WIDE RECEIVER

On a Nebraska offense that was less than efficient in 2009, the wide receiving core was nearly one-dimensional. Niles Paul was the main target outside for Husker quarterbacks, and his teammates on the opposite side of the formation were inconsistent. Brandon Kinnie has emerged this spring and is said to be on equal ground with Paul at this point. Expect to see a lot of Mike McNeill - who moved over from tight end – as well as Curenski Gilleylen and Antonio Bell, one of the stars of last year's spring game.

TIGHT END

Mike McNeill's move to wide receiver opens a good deal of playing time for a host of candidates. Kyler Reed has been the only Huskers tight end who's avoided injury this spring, and he provides speed and is a solid pass-catching threat. Ben Cotton saw significant playing time last year thanks to his blocking, and Dreu Young is looking to put his injury problems behind him.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Avoiding injuries will be the goal for a much deeper version of the Husker offensive line. With four scholarship redshirt freshmen and junior college transfer Jermarcus "Yoshi" Hardrick contending for playing time, coach Barney Cotton's unit looks to have more options than the injury-riddled 2009 season. Still, coach Bo Pelini said Smith will miss the spring game with an injury while Hardrick is considered doubtful. Look for veterans Ricky Henry, D.J. Jones, Marcel Jones and Keith Williams to push to reclaim their spots in the line's rotation.

DEFENSE

DEFENSIVE LINE

The backbone of Nebraska's defense last year, the line still has plenty of playmakers. The Huskers return starters Jared Crick, a first-team All Big 12 Conference performer and end Pierre Allen. NU will have the ability to keep its linemen fresh with the depth that has emerged this spring. Cameron Meredith was a reliable backup last year, and on the inside there's Terrence Moore, Baker Steinkuhler and redshirt freshman Thaddeus Randle.