Redshirt season opened Tanner Farmers eyes

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When Nebraska signed Tanner Farmer last March, it looked like it might be getting a rare instant-impact freshman lineman. Earning a starting position among a veteran-laden group would be difficult, but Farmer was the No. 82 player in the recruiting class and the No. 4 guard. At the very least, there was talk he could contribute in a reserve role.

Farmer quickly realized he wasn't ready. Though he's one of the strongest players on the team, Farmer understandably had problems blocking Maliek Collins and Vincent Valentine in fall practice.

Farmer's father recommended that he redshirt. The son didn't object.

"In high school I didn't have problems with moving guys," Farmer said. "Then I come out here and these guys are as big as I am, some of them even bigger. They don't move. It was a very big eye-opener and I had to work on my technique more instead of just relying on my strength."

Being on the scout team allowed Farmer to go up against Nebraska's top defense every day in practice, something he feels his career needed. He discovered the flaws in his game and worked hard to correct them.

He also realized his strength alone wouldn't get him by. Though he says he did 38 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press this winter - a number that would have led all offensive linemen at the NFL Combine - the more experienced defensive tackles gave him problems.

"It's not how big and strong you are," Farmer said. "It's how hard you're going to work on technique and the little things. The little things are a lot bigger than you would think, and I have to work on those."

What are those little things? Farmer mentioned several - his punch in pass protection and getting that timing down, keeping good angles with his feet and minding the width of his steps in run blocking.

Joining Farmer in the 2014 class were Nick Gates and Jerald Foster, two more four-star linemen who also redshirted. The day they signed, Nebraska fans began envisioning the trio forming the next pipeline, returning the line to the glory days.

Those moments might be coming, but they're not here yet. Offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf complimented all three redshirt freshmen, but also made it clear they have a ways to go.

"I don't think all three of them would start right away, but they'll play some for us," Langsdorf said. "We like to have those young guys play early, because when they're older you have a deep team. So I think that's a really good thing to give them some experience when you can and then grow from there.

"I think they've all taken turns looking good at times, and then having some rough days too. There's got to be a little more consistency out of all three of them to be a starter, but it wouldn't that surprising to have one of them in there with that starting group."

Outside of tackle Alex Lewis, no starting positions on the line have been determined yet. It appears Dylan Utter and Chongo Kondolo have the early lead on the guard spots, but there is a lot of time between now and the start of the season.

Farmer will undoubtedly continue to build his strength, but he knows now that if he wants to see snaps in the fall, he's got to improve his technique too. That redshirt season taught him valuable lessons, and he's grateful for that.

"People would be surprised how much we have to learn and how much we have to do on offensive line," Farmer said. "They think we just see a big guy across from us and keep him from the quarterback or drive him back. But there is a lot to learn."

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