Ryan Connelly
Connelly is mentioned here because of Adrian Martinez. He’s a great linebacker too, but this game will put Connelly in the spotlight. I love Connelly’s game and I think he might be one of the most underrated linebackers in the country. This Saturday night he’ll be tasked with chasing Martinez around and keeping the young quarterback in check. Any big plays Nebraska connects on will have to go over Connelly’s head.
He played incredibly against Iowa and along with T.J. Edwards the middle of the field is becoming off limits for opposing teams. Anything that crosses the middle of the field or stretches to the sidelines gets swept up by Connelly and his All-American neighbor.
Scott Frost is one of the brightest minds in college football so if anybody can scheme Connelly out of the mix, it’s him. At the same time, Connelly is as much of a scheme buster as any linebacker out there. It’ll be a constant battle between Connelly and Frost, and Connelly and Martinez. If the Huskers want to play behind the linebackers, that’s a different story. But anything in front of Connelly is going to be difficult for Nebraska to gain yards on.
The more you hear Connelly’s name on Saturday night, the more dangerous it gets for Nebraska.