Photo: Jake Bartecki, News Channel Nebraska

LINCOLN - Freshmen and redshirt freshmen are expected to have a big role on Nebraska’s offensive line in the Pinstripe Bowl on Saturday morning.

Six of the 10 listed offensive linemen are freshmen or redshirt freshmen. They include Gunnar Gottula and Grant Seagren at left tackle, Jason Maciejczak at left guard, Sam Sledge at center, Grant Brix at right guard and Brock Knutson at right tackle.

The six will mix in with seniors Ben Scott and Bryce Benhart,  sophomore guard Justin Evans and junior guard Henry Lutovsky.

Head Coach Matt Rhule said the offensive line is typically a three-year development.

Rhule: “You bring a kid in, you red shirt him. It’s the best thing for him. The next year, year two, you hope they are in the rotation and year three, if they're a really good player, they are starting, right? So, it’s best probably to recruit, develop and grow your own guys at that position. We’ve been here for two years, we’re going into year three. Some of the guys you recruited the first year you hope they can help you this year.”

Among Rhule’s  first-year recruits are Nebraska high school players Gottula, Knutson and Sledge. Gottula is project to start the game.

Rhule credited Offensive Line Coach Donovan Raiola and Offensive Coordinator Dana Holgorsen for offensive line improvement in recent games.

Rhule: “I thought the offensive line, really the last four to five weeks, had a dramatic uptick, played better. … part of it is just development and growth and part of it was settling down what we were doing.”

Rhule said playing time in the bowl remains a matter of winning the game.

Rhule: “We’re not going to pacify somebody. You don’t help somebody by playing them to keep them happy. … But when you have less guys it’s an opportunity for some players to play."

The depth chart is also notable because of the placement of quarterback Heinrich Haarberg as a tight end behind Thomas Fidone and Luke Lindenmeyer.

There are also five freshman or redshirt freshman on the defensive backfield including true freshmen Mario Buford and Caleb Benning.