As the countdown to the beginning of Nebraska’s preseason camp continues, the Journal Star is counting down its annual list of the 30 Most Intriguing Huskers.
The list, as always, is not about the 30 best players or the 30 most important players, but is based instead purely on intrigue. We’ll cover breakout candidates, new faces, old heads and more. The list tends to skew toward youth and inexperience because, well, those types of players are intriguing. But there are more than a few regulars, too.
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No. 8: Ty Robinson, DL, rfr.
Nebraska is expecting to be strong along the defensive line, and Robinson’s emergence might be one of the single biggest reasons why.
The former four-star recruit, who got his toes wet as a true freshman and then played extensively in every game in 2020, has turned himself into one of the more promising young defensive linemen in the Big Ten.
If a breakout year is on tap for Robinson, he’ll become a much more familiar name around the conference.
At 6-foot-6 and 310 pounds, Robinson has come a long way in filling out his massive frame. That, combined with two years now of learning under defensive line coach Tony Tuioti, leads many to believe that he can be a disruptive force up front for the Blackshirts.
He won’t be counted on to do it alone, considering Nebraska returns virtually all of its production up front and is getting one more year from the group’s leader, super senior Ben Stille. Robinson, Stille, Casey Rogers and Deontre Thomas form the nucleus of defensive ends, though defensive coordinator Erik Chinander also has the option of kicking any of those players inside and using his outside linebackers more like ends, too.
"What we have to prove is that we're still a dominant defense," Robinson said this spring. "I feel like this year in the Big Ten we've set our goals up pretty high for what we want. But I feel like this next season, and what we've seen so far, that we're going to be a pretty dominant defense in the Big Ten. So that's what we've got to prove; we've got to show everyone that we're different from last year."
One way or another, Nebraska taking the next step on defense is going to include Robinson being on the field a lot. He can play on the end or hold the fort in the middle. The next step is about causing more havoc. Robinson finished with 17 tackles (two for loss) and no sacks last fall. If he can push the pocket and disrupt the quarterback regularly, No. 99 could be in for a big jump.
— Parker Gabriel
A look at the 2021 Nebraska football schedule
Week 0: at Illinois
Nebraska's Travis Vokolek (left) tries to pull in a pass with Illinois' Tony Adams (6) defending on Nov. 21, 2020, at Memorial Stadium.
When: Aug. 28, NoonÂ
Where: Champaign, Ill.
Illinois in 2020: 2-6
Last time the Huskers and Illini played: Illinois 41, Nebraska 23 (2020)
All-time series: Nebraska leads, 11-4
Week 1: vs. Fordham
Fordham's Chase Edmonds during a 2017 game in Bronx, NY. Edmonds is now a member of the NFL's Arizona Cardinals.
When: Sept. 4, 11 a.m.Â
Where: Memorial Stadium
Fordham in 2020: 2-1 (shortened by COVID-19)
Last time the Huskers and Rams met: No previous matchups
Week 2: vs. Buffalo
Buffalo running back Ron Cook Jr. (2) is tackled by Ball State's Tye Evans during the second half of the Mid-American Conference championship NCAA college football game, Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 in Detroit.
When: Sept. 11, 2:30 p.m.Â
Where: Memorial Stadium
Buffalo in 2020: 6-1 (5-0 in MAC)
Last time the Huskers and Bulls met: No previous matchups
Week 3: at Oklahoma
Nebraska and Oklahoma last met on the gridiron in the 2010 Big 12 championship game in Texas.
When: Sept. 18, 11 a.m.Â
Where: Norman, Oklahoma
Oklahoma in 2020: 9-2 (6-2 Big 12)
Last time Huskers and Sooners played: Oklahoma 23, Nebraska 20 (Dec. 5, 2010, Big 12 Championship)
All-time series: Oklahoma, 45-38-3
Week 4: at Michigan State
Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez runs downfield in a Nov. 30, 2018, game at Memorial Stadium.
When: Sept. 25
Where: East Lansing, Michigan
Michigan State in 2020: 2-5
The last time the Huskers and Spartans played: Nebraska 9, Michigan State 6 (Nov. 17, 2018)
All-time series: Nebraska leads, 9-2
Week 5: Northwestern
Nebraska's Ty Robinson (99) and Garrett Nelson (right) attempt to tackle Northwestern's Drake Anderson on Nov. 7, 2020, in Evanston, Ill.
When: Oct. 2, 6:30 p.m.Â
Where: Memorial Stadium
Northwestern in 2020: 7-2, Big Ten runner-up
The last time the Huskers and Wildcats met: Northwestern 21, Nebraska 13 (Nov. 7, 2020)
All-time series: Nebraska leads, 8-6
Week 6: Michigan
Nebraska fans greet the team as they arrive at Michigan Stadium for their game against the Wolverines on Sept. 22, 2018, in Ann Harbor, Mich.
When: Oct. 9Â
Where: Memorial Stadium
Michigan in 2020: 2-4
The last time the Huskers and Wolverines played: Michigan 56, Nebraska 10 (Sept. 22, 2018)
All-time series: Michigan leads, 5-4
Week 7: at Minnesota
Nebraska's Ben Stille pressures Minnesota quarterback Tanner Morgan in the first quarter of a Dec. 12, 2020, game at Memorial Stadium.Â
When: Oct. 16Â
Where: Minneapolis
Minnesota in 2020: 3-4Â
The last time the Huskers and Gophers played: Minnesota 24, Nebraska 17 (Dec. 12, 2020)
All-time series: Minnesota, 34-25-2
Week 9; Purdue
Nebraska wide receiver Wyatt Liewer scores a touchdown against Purdue on Dec. 5, 2020, in West Lafayette, Ind.
When: Oct. 30Â
Where: Memorial Stadium
Purdue in 2020: 2-4
The last time the Huskers and Boilermakers met: Nebraska 37, Purdue 27 (Dec. 5, 2020)
All-time series: Nebraska leads, 5-4
Week 10: Ohio State
Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez (2) runs the ball against Ohio State last month at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. The Nebraska quarterback said the Huskers know they have to make individual sacrifices to make the season work amid pandemic.
When: Nov. 6Â
Where: Memorial Stadium
Ohio State in 2020: 7-1 (national runner-up)
The last time the Huskers and Buckeyes met: Ohio State 52, Nebraska 17 (Oct. 24, 2020)
All-time series: Ohio State leads, 8-1
Week 12: at Wisconsin
Nebraska running back Dedrick Mills (26) carries the ball against Wisconsin's Matt Henningsen (92), Michael Balistreri (57) and Reggie Pearson (2) during first-half action Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
When: Nov. 20Â
Where: Madison, WisconsinÂ
Wisconsin in 2020: 4-3
The last time the Huskers and Badgers met: Wisconsin 37, Nebraska 21 (Nov. 16, 2019)
All-time series: Wisconsin leads, 10-4
Week 13: Iowa
Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez and the Husker offensive line push toward the goal line on Martinez's 1-yard touchdown run against Iowa on Nov. 27, 2020, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.
When: Nov. 26, 12:30 p.m.Â
Where: Memorial Stadium
Iowa in 2020: 6-2
The last time the Huskers and Hawkeyes met: Iowa 26, Nebraska 20 (Nov. 27, 2020)
All-time series: Nebraska leads, 29-19-3
Episode 74 The Showdown: Questions after the 2023 signing day
