Ben Scott set for second year of anchoring Huskers’ offensive line

INDIANAPOLIS — The Hawaii native is loading up for another season of leading Nebraska’s big boys up front, and ready to dominate in the trenches.

Ben Scott is one of the most experienced offensive linemen in the country, and he brings a lot of value to the unit with his versatility. After all, Scott has four seasons worth of starting experience, including time in the Pac-12 and Big Ten. He was a three-year starter at Arizona State. Not to mention Scott started 11 games at center for the Huskers in 2023.

Scott has the skill set and strength to excel along the interior and off the edge, considering he’s a natural at center and tackle. The six-foot-five, 305-pounder takes pride in having good hand placement, and mauling defensive linemen at the point of attack.

“I think I’m very quick to get to my spot, especially being the one snapping the ball, so I get that little jump on them,” Scott said. “I can use that quickness, turn it into power and move guys off the ball.”

Nebraska was second in the Big Ten in rushing offense last season, and there are plenty of veterans returning to the group that paved the way, including Scott, Teddy Prochazka and Bryce Benhart. Scott strongly believes the offensive line can be even better this fall, and that’s a scary thought for opposing Big Ten defenses.

“Over the offseason we’ve been doing a lot of hard workouts, hard conditioning, and trying to be that tough team,” he said. “Being detailed-oriented will help us once camp starts to roll out, and we’ll just keep building off that into the season.”

Scott and his teammates are a close-knit group too, and they do their own research on former greats from the past like Dave Rimington, and Aaron Taylor. The group ran into Will Shields at a senior retreat in Kansas City earlier this year. Scott even looked up to Dominic Raiola as a kid, and admired his toughness. He’s also knowledgeable of the program’s magnificent pipeline from the 1990s, the era of pancakes in Lincoln.

Now Scott is striving to get Nebraska’s offensive line back to being a feared unit. Everything starts up front, and getting a consistent push on the opposition only opens up the offense for a variety of ways to move the ball. Scott emphasized how the Big Ten was more physical than he anticipated at Media Days, which made him step his game up. Knowing what to expect this fall keeps Scott’s head on a swivel, and it’s going to take mental and physical toughness to navigate through the Big Ten gauntlet.

“A lot of low-scoring games from the Big Ten, a lot of hard-nosed, trench-fought wins and losses,” the 23-year old said. “So in the Big Ten the games are won in the trenches, and you gotta put your head down, strap up your helmet and run the ball.”

Scott is eager to open up gaping holes, and feeling positive about where the offensive line stands approaching fall camp. Everything is about to get intense for Scott and his teammates though. However, he could care less about the upcoming grueling practices, just as long as it results in the team being successful on the field.

Scott enjoys matching up against studs on the defensive line like Ty Robinson too, which he feels is going to make him a better blocker. Big Red Nation is anticipating the offensive line to make some noise this fall, and Scott doesn’t want disappoint.

“I think we’re taking it one week at a time, we’re trying to go 1-0 every week, and our end goal is to be playing in January.”