Huskers Return to Work

LINCOLN ? The Nebraska football team returned to practice Monday morning with their second of four two-a-day sessions scheduled for the 2005 fall training camp. NU held its first two and one-half hour session inside Cook Pavillion before returning to the grass practice fields during the afternoon.

The Huskers welcomed a new face to practice in junior Jordan Picou, who was one of the three newcomers being held out of drills with enrollment issues. Picou will undergo a two-day acclimation period before strapping on the pads and mixing it up with his new teammates.

"He’s behind, obviously," Head Coach Bill Callahan said. "Normally, when a new player comes in they are going to be acclimated, which puts them behind. They have to go through the rigors of taking the speed test, and they have a conditioning test they have to pass first before they can get on the field. Secondly, they are going to go through a process of helmet and no pads for two days, then they will be acclimated with shoulder pads and a helmet. Not only the physical aspect, but there’s so much mental (challenge) that is going on right now, it’s going to take some time."

Callahan also addressed freshman Leon Jackson’s decision to switch to the defensive side of the ball after trying his skills at running back early during fall camp.

"That was something that we looked at during the off-season," Callahan said. We have flexibility at that spot to move him there because of our depth at running back. We feel that we have good depth and we wanted to challenge Leon to go to the secondary. He was wide open. He came to me personally and asked about making a switch and going to defense because he felt that he could contribute a little quicker back in the secondary. He feels confident that he can pick up the system and play, so I was all for it. He certainly has the flexibility to come back to running back, and additionally be a return specialist for us."

NU will continue fall camp Tuesday with pre-season practice number 13 of 29 beginning at 2:30 p.m. Offensive Coordinator Jay Norvell and requested players will be available to speak with the media following exercises.

NOTE: Kurt Mann was named to the updated 2005 Dave Rimington Award Watch List, The Sports Group announced Monday. The award is given annually to the nation’s top center and is determined by a consensus of four All-America teams: The Walter Camp Football Foundation, America Football Coaches Association, Football Writers Association of America and The Sporting News. For more information on the updated watch list, visit www.rimingtontrophy.com.