On behalf of the entire HuskerOnline staff, we want to wish everybody happy holidays and a Merry Christmas.
As we start to move forward into 2018, here is HOL's Christmas wishlist.
A pass rusher in the 2018 recruiting class
Of all the ugly numbers Nebraska's defense put up in 2017, the one that jumps the most may be the overall lack of quarterback sacks. NU finished 114th nationally in 2017 with just 14 sacks in 12 games, which tied for dead last in all of Power Five football.
The Huskers desperately need to find a pass rusher for 2018. Ben Stille led NU with 3.5 sacks this past season, which is the lowest number in quite some time to lead NU in that category. Think about this, in 2009 Jared Crick recorded five sacks in one game against an Art Briles Baylor team.
This was a trend all three years under head coach Mike Riley. Ross Dzuris led Nebraska in 2016 with just 5.5 sacks, while Freedom Akinmoladum led the Huskers with 4.5 in 2015. It was quite a drop-off from the production the Huskers got the previous three years from players like Randy Gregory (7 sacks in 2014 and 10.5 sacks in 2013) and Eric Martin (8.5 sacks in 2012).
When push comes to shove, Nebraska has not been able to get to quarterbacks consistently with a four-man rush. That has to change going forward.
A strong finish to this 2018 recruiting class
Nebraska entered Fall Camp in 2017 at just 78 players on scholarship. Some of this was attrition, and some losing two players to academics before the season even started. Another factor was NU held back from signing an additional player or two late when looking back they probably should have.
They had so many scholarships to hand out to walk-ons in August that Mike Riley and his staff didn't even announce all the players they put on. It's always nice to be able to reward guys for hard work, but it's not ideal to have that many scholarship where they put three or four guys on in August that didn't play a significant role this season.
As we sit here on Dec. 25, Scott Frost has 78 players on scholarship when you count the 12 players he signed this past week. Big Ten rules let you take another 10, so ideally Frost and his staff need to close out strong with at least 10 more signees in February. That number could and should probably grow to 12 based on attrition and players leaving early for the NFL.
Stanley Morgan back for his senior season
We've already seen two wide receivers in the Big Ten declare early for the NFL Draft - Maryland's D.J. Moore and Indiana's Simmie Cobbs Jr. A total of six underclassmen wide-outs have already announced for the 2018 NFL Draft.
The question now going forward is will Nebraska's Stanley Morgan Jr. join the likes of Moore and Cobbs and enter the draft. Morgan Jr. set a school record in 2017 with 986 yards receiving on 61 catches. On paper, he probably did enough to come out, but the question we don't know is what would another season like 2017 do to help his draft stock?
If you are Frost, Morgan is easily the most important player on the returning roster they need to convince to come back in 2018. The Huskers just don't have the depth at receiver, and if he came back, they would have the Big Ten's No. 1 receiver to build things around.
Postseason basketball for Tim Miles
Let's assume Nebraska beats Stetson on Friday and is at 10-5 going into the meat of Big Ten Conference play. The Huskers have 16 league games remaining. If they could go 9-7 or even 8-8 over that stretch, you have to think they'll be right in the conversation for the NCAA tournament.
I like the make-up of Tim Miles' team this year. I don't think finishing at, or just above .500 is unrealistic. This team needs post-season basketball. Even if they didn't get an NCAA at-large bid with 17-19 wins, you would think they'd be in the NIT. I'm not one of those that believe it's NCAA or bust for Miles this year. If they show promise, compete and at least make the NIT that would be a significant step forward from where they were. This team is also leaps and bounds better than a year ago.
A sold-out spring game
If there ever was a season the spring game would be a sellout, it's going to be 2018.
In fact, I'll call my shot right now. I think the annual Red-White game will sell-out.
The excitement around this football program is not slowing down anytime soon, and I think between Frost and seeing the quarterback battle, there is as much intrigue around this year's spring game than ever before.
Scott Frost takes Nebraska to a bowl game in 2018
Finally, my last Christmas wish for 2018 is Frost taking Nebraska back to a bowl game. This should be a given every year at Nebraska, as only Alabama has been to more bowl games in history than the Huskers.
However, with the schedule NU faces, it's going to take some work to get bowl eligible with road games at Ohio State, Michigan, Iowa, Northwestern and Wisconsin. Michigan State will be the best team that comes to Lincoln, so in reality, all seven home games are winnable in 2018.
