Returning: Andrew Green, Jr. (starter), Ciante Evans, Jr.; Stanley Jean-Baptiste, Jr.; Josh Mitchell, So.; Dijon Washington, So.; Antonio Bell, Sr.; Jase Dean, Sr., Corey Cooper, So.

Incoming: Mohamaed Seisay (enrolled for Spring semester)

Alfonzo Dennard is off the the NFL, leaving Nebraska with huge question marks at cornerback. This will be a position to keep an eye on this spring, along with the safeties. After the jump, the CN team looks at cornerbacks.

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Returning: Daimion Stafford, Sr. (starter), P.J. Smith, Sr. (spot starter), Courtney Osborne, Jr. (starter 2010), Harvey Jackson, So.

Incoming: Alonzo Moore (LOI), Leroy Alexander (LOI)

Bo Pelini said on signing day that Moore and Alexander would initially start out in the defensive backfield. Let's assume safety for sake of argument. Are these guys who can help fix a secondary which didn't perform up to Pelini standards last season? In any event, Nebraska needs to find a replacement for Austin Cassidy. After the jump, the CN team talks safeties.

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One of the biggest impacts of conference realignment on Nebraska's roster was at the linebacker position. As the Big XII went spread-happy in recent years, Nebraska only needed one or maybe two linebackers on the field at any time. In the Big Ten, three linebackers is more the norm. So Nebraska has had to turn up the emphasis on recruiting linebackers...and with Lavonte David headed towards NFL glory, there's an immediate hole that needs filling.

Returning: Will Compton, Sr. (starter), Sean Fisher, Sr., Alonzo Whaley, Sr., Trevor Roach, So., David Santos, RFr.; Max Pirman, RFr.

Incoming: Zaire Anderson (verbal), Michael Rose (verbal), Jared Afalava (verbal)

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Looking at the interior defensive line, Nebraska only really loses Terrence Moore. We kind of forgot about Jared Crick, as he got hurt early in the season and really wasn't much of a factor this season. I guess that's the downside of returning for your senior season; we can only speculate as to whether the injury will hurt Crick's NFL prospects.

Returning: Baker Steinkuhler, Sr. (starter); Chase Rome, So. (starter); Thaddeus Randle, Jr.; Jay Guy, So.; Todd Peat, RFr. ; Kevin Williams RFr; Justin Jackson, Sr.

Incoming: None.

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Our position-by-position look at Nebraska football's 2012 roster switches to defense. We start up front with the defensive ends.

Returning: Jason Ankrah, Jr. (starter), Cameron Meredith, Sr. (stater) Eric Martin, Sr., Josh Williams, Sr., Joseph Carter, Sr.; Tobi Okuyemi, So.; Walker Ashburn So., Donovan Vestal, So.
Incoming: Greg McMullen, Avery Moss

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Suffice it to say Barney Cotton has faced a lot of criticism in recent years for the performance of the offensive line. Some of that has been depth, some of that, a lack of emphasis. So this season, John Garrison was promoted to a full-time offensive line assistant coach while Brendan Stai became an intern helping with the line as well. And we saw some improvement, especially earlier in the season. But at times, the line disintegrated (hello second half, Capital One Bowl). So the line was better...but not good enough.

Returning: Spencer Long (RG Starter), Jr.; Andrew Rodriquez (LG Starter), Jr.; Seung Hoon Choi (OG Spot Starter), Sr.; Tyler Moore (OT Spot Starter), So.; Jeremiah Sirles (2010 Starter-OT), Jr; Cole Pensick, Jr.; Brent Qvale, Jr.; Brandon Thompson, Sr.; Mark Pelini, So.; Jake Cotton, So.; Ryan Klachko, RFr.; Givens Mordi Price, RFr; Ryne Reeves, RFr; Zach Sterup, RFr; Nick Ash, Jr.; Mike Moudy, So.

Incoming: Paul Thurston, HS Verbal

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Ah, the tight end. Seemingly for the last thirty years or so, Nebraska usually has had a pretty good tight end. Think Junior Miller or Johnny Mitchell, for example. But what about guys like Matt Herian, Tracey Wistrom, Jamie Williams all were guys who made plays at key times. Tight ends have always been underappreciated unless you happen to have a pretty good one. If you play fantasy football, you know what I mean. If you get one of the top two or three in the league, you know you've got a distinct advantage. Otherwise, you'd just as soon play another wide receiver.

And that's the key to the tight end. There are certain fundamentals that a tight end has to do, in terms of blocking. But if they can do that, and then go out into a pass pattern, they can become a weapon. And if you forget about them in the passing game, they can really make you pay.

Returning:
Ben Cotton (starter), Sr.; Kyler Reed, Sr.; Jake Long, Jr.;

Incoming:
Sam Cotton, HS Verbal

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Going into 2011, we weren't sure what to expect at receiver. It looked like Brandon Kinnie was going to lead this group, and we were hopeful that a freshman would jump up and make us forget Niles Paul. (It seemed that half the time, we wanted to forget Niles Paul, only to have Paul then make a play to make us forgive him for a moment.) Last summer, we were sure that freshman was going to be Jamal Turner...but it turned out to be Kenny Bell.

So who's on the list for 2012?

Returning: Kenny Bell (starter), So.; Quincy Enunwa (starter), Jr.; Tim Marlowe, Sr.; Jamal Turner, So.; Khiry Cooper, Sr.; Taariq Allen, RFr; K.C. Hyland, Sr.; Steven Osborne, Sr.

Incoming: Jordan Westerkamp, HS Verbal Reaffirmed

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