Nebraska's defensive line was a question mark as it was, and the question became even bigger with the news that projected starting tackle Kevin Williams will miss the season with a knee injury.
Williams (6-foot-2, 280 pounds), a sophomore, would've lined up next to senior Thad Randle in the starting lineup. The candidates to start alongside Randle (6-1, 290) now include sophomore Aaron Curry (6-1, 280), redshirt freshman Vincent Valentine (6-3, 325) and true freshmen Maliek Collins (6-2, 300) and Kevin Maurice (6-3, 280). Fifth-year senior Brodrick Nickens (6-5, 310), a walk-on, also is in the mix. He was moved from the offensive line in the spring and has played in just three games in his four years on campus.
Curry played in four games last season as a true freshman.
Williams missed his freshman season in 2011 with a knee injury and played in five games last fall.
"This is the second time he's had a knee injury," coach Bo Pelini told reporters. "I just feel for the kid. He's obviously heartbroken. He was playing good football."
Mike Huguenin can be reached at mike.huguenin@nfl.com. You also can follow him on Twitter @MikeHuguenin.