NU ran 27 plays. Yant is averaging 7.4 yards per rush attempt this year, nearly 3 yards more than any other back. Johnson has come on strong, but is it not possible to find opportunities for both? Nebraska wasn’t in a position where it had to abandon the run, especially not with a halftime lead against an average run defense.
This isn’t the first time Yant has been planted on the sideline for a mistake, and he’s not the only one in that position. What keeps Zavier Betts off the field? What keeps Alante Brown off the field? What happened to Oliver Martin? Some players can play with no fear of failure. Others, it seems, cannot.
Martin—one of two Husker receivers with a 100-yard receiving game this season—has five catches in the last four games. Samori Touré didn’t get his first catch Saturday until the game’s final six minutes after just one catch against Minnesota. Take away Yant’s 100-yard game against Northwestern and he has 21 total touches in the other eight. Stepp has 15 total touches since his 100-yard performance against Fordham. Betts’ 19 yards per touch this season is the best clip among Huskers with at least five touches; eight skill guys have more touches on offense than he does.
If guys are hurt to the point they’re unavailable, it would benefit Frost to be more forthcoming. In lieu of that, it looks like they’re just not being put on the field. Perhaps that’s a misrepresentation of the situation, but it’s one Frost could easily fix. If it is about consistency, then there are different standards different players are being held to.