Huskers Continue Focus on Baylor

Nebraska continued to prepare for Saturday afternoon’s match-up against Baylor with a two-hour workout in half-pads inside Memorial Stadium on Thursday afternoon.

 

Head Coach Bill Callahan said the Huskers will face a Baylor team that has the “best corps of special teams players” Nebraska has faced this season. Punter Daniel Sepulveda ranks second nationally in punting, averaging nearly 48 yards per punt. Callahan also said the Bears also rush the punter extremely well and have outstanding kickoff and punt coverage units.

 

On Nebraska’s own special teams units, Callahan announced that place-kickers Sandro DeAngelis and David Dyches will both play against Baylor. Callahan indicated DeAngelis would kick shorter range field goals, while Dyches will be Nebraska’s kicker from longer distances, similar to last week at Texas Tech when Dyches connected on a career-long 46-yard field goal.

 

On the injury front, Callahan said sophomore fullback Dane Todd returned to practice on Thursday. Todd was expected to miss two weeks with a foot injury, but after a quicker than expected return will now be a game-time decision.

 

Nebraska will look to make the Bears one-dimensional on Saturday by continuing to dominate opposing rushing attacks. The Huskers lead the nation in rushing defense, allowing an average of 60.3 yards per game, three yards better than second-place Boise State. The Huskers also lead the nation in average yards allowed per rush, holding opponents to just 2.13 yards on 141 rushing attempts this season. Baylor enters Saturday’s contest ranked 110th in the nation in rushing offense, averaging 92.0 yards per game on the ground.

 

Nebraska will finalize its game plan for the Baylor contest with a walk-thru on Friday afternoon at Memorial Stadium. Game time on Saturday is set for 1:05 p.m. with no television coverage planned.