So for me.... why are we not starting true freshman Bryce Benhart and moving Matt Farniok down to guard since we are doing that with Cam Jurgens? Minnesota played 20 true freshman last year, but now are 9-0. I suppose we are going about our foundation a little differently, but I think while we are on the brink of sub .500 again we could be taking our lumps from guys we are going to be relying on in the next few years to get them ready.
The Benhart example is a good one. I get the preference to redshirt a kid, particularly on the o-line or d-line. You'd like to get to a point where it's basically a given that guys like Benhart and Turner Corcoran are redshirting because there's no realistic chance they're beating out the guys in front of them because those guys are essentially Corcoran and Benhart recruits as well, except they have two or three years of experience and S&C on them.
Nebraska's not at that point yet, obviously, so does Frost decide to just throw those guys in there and build behind them? I think they would have went that route with Benhart had he decided to enroll early instead of wrestle his senior year. I think those six extra months with Duval and Austin, combined with the spring reps would have gotten him to the point of being ready to move Farniok to guard and get the transition going. Arriving in the summer didn't afford them that and they seemingly decided to bite the bullet and give him a redshirt, which I can't argue with. Well, I could. I could argue either strategy but can't really fault them for that decision.
I think losing Bland to grades and Gaylord to an injury really killed the plans on the o-line for this season (duh). I don't care how high the staff was/is on Jurgens, they would have rather he sat another year. JMPO, and you probably know better, but I don't think they'd be playing him now if an upperclassman like Raridon or Sichterman could have moved positions and allowed him another developmental year. I think their best options were Jurgens or Will Farniok and they love Jurgens' upside a lot more and figured to hell with it and played the cards they were dealt.
I think they wanted Gaylord to play RT for a year to allow Benhart to sit and also get Farniok a year under his belt at guard before Bryce took over at RT in '20 (unless Corcoran beat him out).
It's hard for me to fault the decisions to redshirt linemen. It'd be my preference too... but skill position players is a whole 'nother animal.
If it's me, I'm playing Rahmir Johnson and Darien Chase. You can count on Held stocking his room and spacing out your backfield wouldn't be a bad thing. Next year you're looking at having four freshmen running backs and it's not out of the realm of possibilities that Held adds another this class since you have to replace Washington. So five guys who are freshmen in eligibility. That's pretty thick.
Same goes with WR. Assuming Betts qualifies, Nebraska is going to have, what, six receivers in the same boat? Maybe seven depending on how they finish off this WR class. Yeah incoming guys also might redshirt and there's always attrition, etc., but still.