The Nebraska football team is ranked in the preseason and is ready to kick off the 2009 season as it opens up against Florida Atlantic Saturday at 6 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.
Florida Atlantic features a fast receiving corps, led by Cortez Grant, and has a trio of tight ends in Jason Harmon, Jamari Grant and Rob Housler that will help to open the passing game for quarterback Rusty Smith. This should create some challenges for the Nebraska defense.
Defensively, Florida Atlantic has some good speed in the secondary, but had to make a lot of replacements up front in the offseason. The Owls' entire linebacker unit is new, and some key injuries are going to make Florida Atlantic's defense a little suspect heading into the game.
The Nebraska football team will have some of its own challenges as well, as they'll need to replace Joe Ganz at quarterback. Junior Zac Lee has established himself as the starter, and he'll have some help in the backfield with junior Roy Helu and freshman Rex Burkhead.
The Husker defense looks to be solid, led by defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and ends Barry Turner and Pierre Allen. Defensive coordinator Carl Pelini announced the starting linebacker unit, which will include Sean Fisher at the BUCK, Will Compton at the MIKE and either Mathew may or Blake Lawrence at the WILL.
The Huskers will kick off the 2009 season with their 298th consecutive sellout, but good tickets are still available for Saturday's opener with Florida Atlantic right now at Ticket Express -- where no Husker football game is ever sold out.
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