Murillo Gives NU Options
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March 21, 2007 by
While most Husker fans are wondering what Nebraska will look like at quarterback or perhaps even along the defensive line, there's one area where fans can expect nothing but improvement - cornerback.
With two returning starters, you'd expect that at a bare minimum the cornerback position won't look worse. But with several new options, the Huskers can be much better. First, Zack Bowman (a starter in 2005) returns from injury. Then the Huskers add four defensive backs from the recruiting class of 2006 who will participate in their first spring practices NU (though none will be practicing at cornerback going into spring ball). But the most intriguing addition to the cornerback ranks is junior college transfer Armando Murillo, who joined the Huskers midyear. Murillo, like Bowman and Andre Jones, was a top cornerback prospect from the junior college ranks. He was offered a scholarship to Oklahoma but wisely chose Nebraska instead.
Many Husker fans cringe at the thought of Cortney Grixby starting at cornerback for another year. Without Murillo, that would mean that Bowman would have to be 100% healthy (which isn't the case so far) or else it would mean throwing in an underclassman. But Murillo could start opposite Jones and the Huskers still wouldn't need Grixby as more than a nickelback. If Bowman is healthy, then you might have a three-man competition between Jones, Bowman, and Murillo for two starting spots. The "loser" might then become the nickelback and top reserve. Or if Jones, Bowman, and Grixby (or an underclassman) win the top three spots then Murillo could redshirt and avoid the steep learning curve that afflicted Jones and Bowman when they were pressed into immediate duty. The Huskers would even have the option of having one of its corners contributing at safety.
Any way you look at it, Murillo's presence gives the Huskers much better options at cornerback than they've had in years. How much better was the Husker defense with Keyou Craver on one side and DeJuan Groce on the other? And with Bowman, Jones, and Grixby all set to graduate after the 2007 season, Murillo will also give Nebraska a veteran option for 2008.
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Tyler Mar 21 07
The benefits of two healthy and highly-skilled CBs could be huge. When the opposition needed yards, they threw at will last year to Grixby's side. Perhaps this year, he can be used to spell Bowman and Murillo and for the pre-game jump onto the team. That was the only highlight I think he had last year.
Shut down corners lead to more predictable play-calling by the opposition which should give us more us up from #56 to something much more respectable. I can't wait to see the D next year.