Huskers Open 2007 Fall Camp

Lincoln ? Practicing in helmets, shorts and temperatures that reached the mid-90s, the Husker football team opened fall camp Monday afternoon on the Ed and Joyanne Gass practice fields, the first step toward preparing for the 2007 season.

“It was great,” defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove said of the 2 1/2 hour workout. “It’s good to be back on the field and there was a lot of energy. It was hot out here and the kids had to fight through it.”

The 2007 Huskers welcome a talented group of freshman to this year’s team, all of whom got their first taste of football at the collegiate level Monday afternoon. Cosgrove’s defense also welcomes back a strong corps of linebackers that includes four seniors in Lance Brandenburgh, Corey McKeon, Bo Ruud and Steve Octavien.

“We’re trying to take the next step,” Cosgrove added. “Our installation will be very heavy. Everything we did in the spring, we will probably get all that into about three or four days. We’re trying to accelerate the learning curve on these kids and try to pick up right where we left off. We had a lot of young guys out here (today) that got a lot of repetitions. We have some good, young talent.”

On the offensive side of the ball, junior running backs Marlon Lucky and Cody Glenn look to replace Brandon Jackson as leaders in the Husker backfield. The duo combined for 14 touchdowns in 2006 and will be key parts for the 2007 Husker offense.

“This season’s not just important for me, it’s important for the whole team,” Lucky said. “We have so much talent and depth everywhere that we have to take it to the top. And that’s what we’re working on.”
The Huskers return to the practice field Tuesday afternoon for a 3 p.m. workout.