Putting a close on 2023: Nebraska's MVPs and Week 14 picks

The 2023 football season came to a close last week for Nebraska.

We put a final wrap on 2023, looking at some key moments and players and giving some quick picks for championship weekend.

Join HuskerOnline today and get your first month of a premium subscription for just $1!

2023 Nebraska football: Final season award winners

Offensive MVP: OL Bryce Benhart

This was difficult because you will generally give the offensive MVP to a skill player. The problem is nobody in the skill department was a high-level contributor over 12 games.

Our pick was between offensive linemen Bryce Benhart and Ben Scott. Both had solid seasons. We gave the nod to Benhart, who finished as the Huskers’ highest-graded offensive starter on PFF, and he was the most consistent player for the Big Red all season.

Offensive surprise player: WR Jaylen Lloyd

On this very week a year ago, wide receiver Jaylen Lloyd got his offer from Nebraska. There’s no way anybody could’ve predicted Lloyd’s name would be mentioned in the same sentence as potential Heisman Trophy finalist Marvin Harrison Jr. this season.

Lloyd and Harrison Jr. were the only two receivers in the Big Ten this season with three 50+ yard receptions. Before Matt Rhule offered Lloyd, he planned on taking a track scholarship.

Best offensive moment: Chubba Purdy’s first quarter at Wisconsin

There weren’t a lot of great moments for this Nebraska offense that led the nation with 31 turnovers in 2023.

For us, the best moment was Chubba Purdy’s first quarter at Wisconsin. Purdy had a 55-yard touchdown run and a 58-yard touchdown pass to Lloyd in the game’s first 10 minutes. The Huskers jumped up 14-0, only to fall in overtime 24-17. It was the best the offense looked all season.

Defensive MVP: DL Ty Robinson & Nash Hutmacher

Our 2023 defensive MVP was a tie between linemen Ty Robinson and Nash Hutmacher. Both probably played as second to third-team All-Conference level players, but because of NU’s 5-7 record, neither received recognition for their work this season.

Robinson and Hutmacher each blocked a field goal against Iowa. Hutmacher finished with 8.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and four hurries, while Robinson had four tackles for loss, one sack and 11 quarterback hurries.

Defensive surprise player: DB Tommi Hill

A year ago, Tommi Hill’s future in the Nebraska football program looked in doubt. He moved from cornerback to receiver in 2022 after hitting rock bottom against Georgia Southern and Oklahoma.

Hill started the 2023 season out at cornerback but temporarily moved to wide-out again after a string of injuries. Tony White eventually moved Hill back to DB, as he led the Huskers with four interceptions and nine pass breakups. Hill’s 13 passes defended were more than any Big Ten defensive back in league games.

Biggest defensive moment: Goal line stand at Illinois

If Nebraka would’ve gotten over the hump and qualified for a bowl game, we’d probably talk about this moment for a long time. Instead, NU finished 5-7 this season, and it will be forgotten in history.

The Blackshirts stopped Illinois on back-to-back plays inside the 1-yard line. That goal line stand set the tone for the remainder of the game and helped lead the Huskers to victory in Champaign.

HuskerOnline Championship Week Score Predictions

Final Regular season HuskerOnline pick standings

Sean Callahan can be reached at [email protected] and is heard daily at 6:45 am and 5:05 pm on Big Red Radio 1110 KFAB in Omaha during the football season. He can also be seen on KETV Channel 7 in Omaha during the fall, and each week, he appears on Nebraska Public Media’s Big Red Wrap-Up Tuesdays at 7 pm.

Never miss breaking news or another HuskerOnline article again. Click HERE to sign up for HuskerOnline’s Daily and Breaking News Newsletters.