Huskers Begin Week Two of Practice

Lincoln? Field conditions kept the Nebraska football team inside the HawksChampionshipCenter Thursday, where the Huskers looked crisp in full pads following Wednesday’s off day.

The Huskers spent a good portion of practice executing second and third-down plays as if they were game situations. Head coach Bill Callahan commented on the confidence these situations give the offense in game and time management.

“The big thing is tempo,” Callahan said. “When you go in and out and when you go off and on the field in the line, off and on the line of scrimmage, you’ve really got to get your tempo established. We had great tempo, and then that period hit, and now you’ve got to incorporate sideline substitutions, in everything including the kicking game, which we did. We had three phases implemented into that team period to give the players the feeling of the game and what it’s going to feel like, as far as changes in tempo and changes in offense and defense.”

Callahan also commented on the departure of sophomore I-back Leon Jackson and also noted the excitement surrounding incoming freshman Ricky Thenarse, who will be tried at the corner position.

“It’s unfortunate that Leon (Jackson) left Nebraska,” Callahan said. “It just didn’t happen to work out for him, and we certainly wish him the best. (Incoming freshman) Ricky Thenarse has been cleared. He should be in town either tomorrow or the next day, so that’s exciting news. I think we’ve got to start at corner. There’s no question in my mind, you’ve got to look at guys that have back-end skills at the corner spot. Guys that can run and cover and change. Ricky’s an athletic player. He’s got very good speed.”

Junior college transfer running back Kenny Wilson also addressed the media on the advantages of coming in to play with senior quarterback Zac Taylor, who he played with at ButlerCountyCommunity College in El Dorado, Kan.

“He’s a great quarterback,” Wilson said. “That’s one of the things that is really going to be helpful this year. He’s really helped me out with the plays already. Butler was fast, but this is so much faster. You’ve got guys going fast and hard every single day. I’ve had to get used to the tempo but I’m adjusted now. They expect me to come in and perform.”

Coach Randy Jordan has a talented pool of running backs to choose from, creating a lot of competition in camp that challenges both returning players and newcomers to step up for the starting position.

“Competition is a great thing because they know that they’ve got to come out and compete,” Jordan said. “I think it’s a great thing for our backs. When (sophomore I-back) Cody (Glenn) does something good, I see (sophomore I-back) Marlon (Lucky) over there, saying ?Hey, put me in Coach.’ So I’m just lucky that I get to coach guys who want to compete like that.”

The Huskers return to the practice field Friday afternoon before their first two-a-day practices begin on Saturday morning.