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Nebraska Football: Five things to watch vs Akron Zips

By Leigh Oleszczak

LINCOLN, NE - APRIL 21: Stadium signage before the Spring game at Memorial Stadium on April 21, 2018 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE - APRIL 21: Stadium signage before the Spring game at Memorial Stadium on April 21, 2018 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /
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Nebraska Cornhuskers wide receiver JD Spielman (10)  (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Nebraska Cornhuskers wide receiver JD Spielman (10)  (Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH VS AKRON

 NUMBER 4 – HOW DOES SPECIAL TEAMS LOOK?

Husker fans got used to seeing Drew Brown out there attempting field goals for Nebraska, but he graduated last year. Barrett Pickering is the lucky guy who won the kicking job for Big Red and any time you have a true freshman in those type of situations can be nerve-wracking, both for the kicker and the fans.

Honestly, my biggest hope for Saturday regarding special teams is that Nebraska doesn’t have to rely on field goals, and especially none in critical moments. Extra points will be good enough practice for Pickering for now please.

No in all honesty though, Pickering provides a great amount of potential at the kicker spot. The program has had some great kickers come through Lincoln over the years and until we’re shown otherwise, let’s give Pickering a chance to put himself in that category as well.

The biggest name to watch on special teams is JD Spielman, who hopefully will have another fun season as the team’s main kick returner. He had one touchdown via the kick return last year and put up another 669 yards there. He’s dangerous to kick to and surely opponents know that, but for Nebraska’s sake, I hope Akron doesn’t.

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