NEWS & NOTES: May 29

The Big 12 North figures to provide a great deal of intrigue in 2002, since the Nebraska Cornhuskers are looking at a transition year. This is due to the graduation loss of Heisman Trophy-winning QB Eric Crouch, combined with the decision of destructive run-blocking OG Toniu Fonoti to leave early for the NFL. All told, the 'Huskers need to replace six starters on offense (including LT Dave Volk, RG Jon Rutherford, TE Tracey Wistrom and wing-back John Gibson).

Nebraska's defense has some question marks, especially in the secondary.

Third-year sophomore QB Jamaal Lord (6-foot-2, 215 pounds) figures to be saddled with the huge burden of replacing Crouch. Lord has seen limited playing time in 12 games the past two years as Crouch's backup.

Lefty Mike Stuntz is in the mix for backup QB duty after shifting from wing-back in the spring. But keep a close eye on highly regarded freshman signal caller Curt Dukes (6-0, 205). Dukes participated in spring practice after graduating early from the prep ranks in Stony Point, N.C., where he carried a 4.0 GPA and excelled as a hurdler on the track team. It wouldn't come as a huge surprise if Dukes pushed his way onto the field this season. Incidentally, he'll be wearing Crouch's No. 7.

Nebraska's defense also has some question marks, especially in the secondary where the 'Huskers must replace big-play cornerback and punt-return dynamo Keyuo Craver. Also lost to graduation were RCB Erwin Swiney and rover Dion Booker. Meanwhile, junior LCB Willie Amos, a projected starter, went down with a knee injury in the spring that makes his status questionable. Sophomore Lornell McPherson and junior Pat Ricketts are penciled in as the season-opening cornerbacks. But a top recruit, Fabian Washington (6-0, 175) of Bradenton, Fla., could be heavily in the mix.

The 'Huskers open the season early, hosting Arizona State on Aug. 24 in the Black Coaches Association Football Classic. Included in the 13-game, regular-season schedule are challenging road battles against Penn State, Iowa State, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M and Kansas State. Nebraska's 21-game home winning streak -- the longest in the nation -- will be on the line when Texas (Nov. 2) and Colorado (Nov. 29) visit Lincoln. Considering what a huge part of the college football landscape the Cornhuskers have been through the years, it's no surprise that Nebraska has appeared in an NCAA-record 33 straight bowl games. The last time the 'Huskers were out of the bowl mix was in 1968 when they finished with an overall record of 6-4 (3-4 in the Big Eight).

GEORGIA EYES SEC EAST BIG BOYS
If the Georgia Bulldogs want to challenge Florida and Tennessee for the top spot in the incredibly tough SEC East -- which includes Lou Holtz's South Carolina Gamecocks -- coach Mark Richt and his staff need junior RB Musa Smith to remain at full strength the entire way and the revamped defense to come together in a hurry.

After working his way back to 100 percent from the groin/hip flexor injury that bothered him last year, Smith was held out of contact work in the spring. Another key performer on offense will be junior TE Ben Watson, who transferred to Georgia three years ago from Duke. With Randy McMichael moving on to the Miami Dolphins, poised sophomore QB David Greene will be looking Watson's way often this season. Considered one of the strongest players on the team, Watson has the frame (6-3, 251 pounds) and athleticism to be quite a factor. Keep in mind, he started three games last year when the Bulldogs went to a double tight-end set.

Defensively, there are plenty of questions to be answered with the loss of defensive ends Charles Grant and Josh Mallard, linebackers Will Witherspoon and Adrian Hollingshed, and defensive backs Tim Wansley, Jermaine Phillips and Terreal Bierria. Blue-chip sophomore David Pollack has been shifted from DT to DE, where he should be a real force getting after the QB. Highly regarded junior Johnathan Sullivan is the key performer along the interior at DT. While there's pressure on Pollack, Grant lacked game-to-game consistency even as he flashed the potential to dominate last season.

Senior OLB Boss Bailey has a chance to garner All-American recognition. In the middle, many tend to forget that underrated senior Tony Gilbert has led the Bulldogs in tackles each of the past two seasons. Junior Decory Bryant steps in for Wansley at cornerback, where he'll work opposite junior Bruce Thornton, a converted RB who struggled in coverage last season. Opposing offenses went after Thornton, usually staying away from Wansley's side of the field. Sean Jones, a converted quarterback, is now the rover, with Kentrell Curry at free safety.

COLORADO FEATURES CROWDED, TALENTED BACKFIELD
Back in the Big 12, Colorado must replace a pair of outstanding performers on the offensive line (OG Andre Gurode, OT Victor Rogers) and make up for the graduation loss of super blue-chip TE Daniel Graham. Fortunately for the Buffaloes, veteran standout Wayne Lucier returns to anchor the move-'em-out gang, while fellow senior Justin Bates was one of the most underrated OTs in the nation last season. Junior OG Marwan Hage also possesses plenty of experience; he earned a starting job as a freshman in 2000.

Lucier, Bates and Hage will be clearing the way for what shapes up as the top stable of running backs in the country. The Buffs return three top backs. Chris Brown and Bobby Purify combined for just under 2,000 yards rushing last season and scored 21 TDs. Talented sophomore Marcus Houston (6-2, 205) carried the ball just 39 times due to a groin injury that severely cut into his playing time.

In the spring, Houston was reportedly back at 100 percent and appears ready to put on a show -- that is provided coach Gary Barnett and his offensive staff can find a way to keep everyone in the crowded backfield happy. When heralded RB recruit Brian Calhoun (5-11, 190) reports to practice in August, Colorado will have four backs. At the prep level in Wisconsin, Calhoun showcased his sub-4.3 speed by rushing for nearly 5,000 yards and scoring 82 TDs. Calhoun also excelled as an electrifying punt/kickoff returner. And don't forget, senior FB Brandon Drumm, is one of the best lead blockers in the nation.

On defense, the spring buzz centered on the potential displayed by DE Gabe Nyenhuis (6-4, 260), who came to the Buffs from Garden City Community College. Nyenhuis showed good initial quickness and natural instincts as a pass-rusher. Because of his quick development, senior Tyler Brayton (6-6, 265) was shifted inside to DT to make up for the graduation loss of Justin Bannan. Brayton has the explosiveness and wing span to cause a disturbance in the middle. Meanwhile, junior Sean Tufts is emerging as one of the elite linebackers in college football, while steady senior Drew Wahlroos was the team's third-leading tackler (72) in 2001.

The primary concern on defense is how well the secondary will hold up, given the loss of SS Michael Lewis to the NFL. His replacement has yet to be determined, although senior Rod Sneed has the inside track. Of the deep-patrol returnees, senior CB Donald Strickland has the most experience and figures to be the key performer. He was very limited in the spring (no contact) after recovering from shoulder surgery. Five true freshmen are being counted on to provide a major upgrade in the secondary, led by Brian Iwoh (6-1, 205) and Sammy Joseph (6-1 -181).