Tag: Marques Buford Jr

Key defenders looking to return in 2025

Two veteran Nebraska football defenders want to return in 2025

At his press conference on Monday, Nebraska football coach Matt Rhule said that defenders Jimari Butler and Marques Buford Jr. want to return next season. Both would be seniors, with Butler returning for a sixth year and Buford returning for a fifth.

Butler has recorded 19 tackles, two sacks, and a fumble recovery in 10 games this season. Buford has started in every game this season, making seven at the quarterback position and three at the safety position. He has 27 tackles, five fumble recoveries, and an interception on the season.

Buford had four tackles on Saturday against the USC Trojans, while Butler had three.

The Huskers’ defensive line will undergo changes next season. Seniors Ty Robinson and Nash Hutmacher will no longer be with the program, Safety DeShon Singleton will no longer be with the program, and rover Isaac Gifford will depart as well. Help will be needed on the back end.

This is undoubtedly notable news for a defense that will undergo an overhaul. It will be interesting to see if they can get that final year.

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Marques Buford Jr. laments defensive play in loss to Illinois

Marques Buford Jr. was not pleased with the defensive effort on Friday night.

Nebraska football corner Marques Buford Jr. lamented the 31-24 overtime loss to Illinois on Friday night and noted that the defense seemed to struggle throughout the game.

This was true, given that Nebraska gave up 166 yards on the ground and 215 yards through the air for a total of 381 yards of offense in a game where the margin for error was razor-thin. Illinois went on a 21-7 scoring run in the second half, and the Huskers could just not put the game away.

Buford had three tackles on the night. In the postgame media session Friday, he did not mince words when talking about the defensive effort.

“They did exactly what we knew they were going to do. That was a good team we just went and played. When you don’t play up to our standard and you don’t play with physicality. We don’t execute how we’re supposed to. Stuff like that happens. Especially when you’re playing in these Big Ten games against other good opponents. We just have to be better.”

The Huskers will certainly have to regroup as they travel to face Purdue on the road this Saturday. Defensive play is undoubtedly an area for concern, and it will be something to watch as the schedule gets tougher.

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Nebraska Football Countdown to Kickoff: No. 3 Marques Buford Jr.

The countdown until August 31 is down to three days.

The countdown until the beginning of the 2024 season for the Nebraska Cornhuskers is down to less than 72 hours.

With three days remaining until the Huskers take the field at Memorial Stdium, Huskers junior defensive back Marques Buford Jr is in the player spotlight.

Buford Jr. is entering his fourth season with the program and enters the season with 27 games played including 13 starts. Last season, Buford was kept to just four games played, missing eight games due to injury.

In 2022, the 5-foot-11, 190-pound defensive back played in 11 of 12 games, recording 59 tackles including 36 solo tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss. He also had two interceptions and five pass deflections.

Now healthy, Buford will be a starter for the Huskers again this fall, starting opposite of Tommi Hill.

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