Huskers Begin to Wind Down Week Three

As week three of fall camp began to wind down the Nebraska football team beat the heat with a full-pad two and one-half hour practice inside Memorial Stadium Thursday afternoon that included scrimmage work for the fourth straight day following Sunday’s off-day.

 

Nebraska’s solid running back corps stole the show once again as a group of talented youngsters and newcomers battle it out for the top spot before the season opener against Louisiana Tech on Sept. 3.

 

“The big thing is, they’re talented, but their unproven,” running backs coach Randy Jordan said. “I told them, talent minus the ability to come to work every day goes down the drain. So every day they have to come out and prove themselves. Last year we had a guy that proved himself in Cory Ross. I said ?Last time I checked, I don’t think you guys have had over 1,000 yards since you’ve been here.’ But they really want to do well and they want to do well collectively, as a team. That’s the thing that I’m really proud of.”

 

Junior running back Kenny Wilson, a former ButlerCountyCommunity College standout, rattled off one of the more impressive runs of fall practice in which he broke a number of tackles.

 

“If Coz (Coach Cosgrove) says eight (broken tackles) then I say 10. There’s some discrepancy with that but I think it was 10,” Jordan said. “I go for the higher number. He broke a lot of tackles and it was a great effort on his part and also for the offensive line. It was a sight to see. He really did a good job on that particular play.”

 

Wilson’s play was so impressive that it even earned him a spot in “Jordan’s Vault,” a tradition started by Coach Jordan when he feels a play is worthy to earn necessary recognition.

 

“I can count on my fingers and toes how many guys have made that ball so it was a good run by Kenny,” Jordan said.

 

Coach Jordan also noted that due to the increased number of quality backs on this year’s team, his players should not hesitate to re-hydrate if they are tired as temperatures rose into the 90s during Thursday’s practice.

 

The Huskers will practice in full pads again Friday. The staff and players will be awaiting the arrival of junior linebacker Steve Octavian, who is still on schedule to return after having his appendix removed.

 

“We expect to have him back full go on Monday,” Defensive Coordinator Kevin Cosgrove said. “It’s amazing that they can do these things. I’ll watch him and see how he’s moving and how he reacts (when he comes back).”