Huskers Begin Fall Drills

Lincoln -- Year five of the Frank Solich era began Saturday, as the Husker football team began fall practice. Today's workout, which went for an hour and 45 minutes on the grass practice fields, capped a busy day for the Husker football players who reported Friday. Saturday started with the team's annual performance testing inside Cook Pavilion, while meetings were scheduled prior to and following today's first workout.

Nebraska Head Coach Frank Solich said the players were upbeat in their first workout of the fall campaign.

"Practice was enthusiastic," Solich said. "Their attitude was great and the energy level was very high throughout, which is to be expected on the first day. The thing about football is that the energy level needs to stay high during practices and that is a challenge for players and coaches at all levels. Overall, I was pleased with today's practice."

The Huskers were able to break into three stations, allowing the 105 players in camp to get maximum reps. Solich noted that as camp progressed in the coming weeks, the team may go into only two group stations until the full squad reports later this month.

The Husker head coach was also impressed with how the players performed in the afternoon heat, as temperatures approached triple digits.

"The practice tested them with the heat and humidity, but they seemed to hold up." Solich said. "The good thing is the off-season conditioning has allowed the players to get used to the heat before today."

"We understand where they are at and will give them breaks and slow down the pace," Solich said. "Eventually, they have to get to a point where they can play four quarters of football in this weather, but we don't want to do that all in one day. One of the things the coaches and training staff have stressed is that they have to drink a lot of fluids, not only on the practice field, but also the rest of the day as well."

The Husker head coach also was impressed by the team's performance during testing, which was highlighted by three position records. Linebacker Chad Sievers set a pair of marks, breaking the team's 10-yard dash position record with a time of 1.53 seconds, while his 754 points also set a position best. Rover Lannie Hopkins also established a position high with his 694 points in the 10-yard dash, as the 211-pound sophomore was clocked at 1.54 seconds.

"I was pleased with the overall testing," Solich said. "As a whole, the team has come into camp in very good shape."

Redshirt freshman I-back Marques Simmons paced the team with a blistering 1.51 second time in the 10-yard dash, while two of the top seven times were posted by linebackers, with Sievers, whose 1.53 time was second only to Simmons, and junior Demorrio Williams, who was clocked at 1.57 seconds.

"To have linebackers with that kind of speed is impressive," Director of Athletic Performance Boyd Epley said.

The Huskers will begin the first of six consecutive days of twice daily drills Sunday morning at 8:30 a.m. Players will be available to the media following the morning practice, while Coach Solich will address the media following the second workout, which is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. Sunday's two workouts will mark the only time the Huskers practice on Sunday during fall camp.

Performance Testing Results

Top Five Performance Index (does not include 40-yard dash)
Chris Kelsay	RE	2193
Dharran Diedrick	IB	2170
Trevor Johnson	RE	2070
Chad Sievers	LB	2060
Curt Tomasevicz	LB	1970
Top Three Vertical Jump Scores
Curt Tomasevicz	LB	37"
Chris Kelsay	RE	35.5"
Jammal Lord	QB	35"
Shane Siegel	DB	35"
Dharran Diedrick	IB	35"
Top Three Vertical Jump Points
Curt Tomasevicz	LB	685
Chris Kelsay	RE	663
Dahrran Diedrick	IB	619
Top 10-yard Dash Times
Marques Simmons	IB	1.51 sec.
Chad Sievers	LB	1.53 sec.
Lannie Hopkins	DB	1.54 sec.
Dahrran Diedrick	IB	1.55 sec.
Jammal Lord	QB	1.56 sec.
Josh Davis	IB	1.56 sec.
Demorrio Williams	LB	1.57 sec.
Top Five 10-yard Dash Points
Chris Kelsay	RE	754
Chad Sievers	LB	754
Dahrran Diedrick	IB	713
Trevor Johnson	RE	694
Lannie Hopkins	DB	694
Top Five R/L Agility Run
Dahrran Diedrick	IB	4.06 sec.
Kellen Huston	DB	4.09 sec.
Aaron Terpening	DB	4.13 sec.
Rodney Burgess	DB	4.13 sec.
Mike McLaughlin	WR	4.13 sec.
Top Three R/L Agility Run Points
Dahrran Diedrick	IB	838
Trevor Johnson	RE	821
Jon Clanton	DL	793
Position Records Set
10-yard Dash
Chad Sievers	LB	1.53 sec.
10-yard Dash Points
Chad Sievers	LB	754 points (1.53 sec. At 223 lbs.)
10-yard Dash Points
Lannie Hopkins	DB	694 points (1.54 seconds at 211 lbs. improved his own record)