Armstrong, Fellow Seniors Share a Goal to Be Great

Huskers Start 2016 Talk     Read Riley’s Comments

I-Back Terrell Newby          O-Lineman Dylan Utter

WR Brandon Reilly             Defensive End Ross Dzuris

WR Jordan Westerkamp    LB Josh Banderas

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After seven Nebraska seniors stepped up to the podium Wednesday to share their thoughts about the Huskers’ upcoming spring football practices, the attending media turned off their television cameras and tape recorders. Preparing to leave Memorial Stadium’s sixth-floor press box after wrapping up 2016’s first football press conference, something was missing ... the media didn't hear from their consistently most popular player – Tommy Armstrong Jr.

Nebraska’s senior-to-be captain and expected-to-be fourth-year quarterback starter, Armstrong’s interview status was “possible” depending on when his playbook proficiency test ended with Husker offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf. By the time Armstrong (pictured above) reached the press conference, it was all but over. Willing to accommodate anyone still in the room, a few media members started surrounding Armstrong away from the podium. Suddenly, a couple TV cameras reopened for business, and tape recorders were extended and ready to roll once again.

Omaha KETV Sports Director Andy Kendeigh was the first to ask Armstrong why he called together a group of fellow seniors days after Nebraska’s 37-29 win over UCLA in the Foster Farms Bowl in Santa Clara. The meeting sparked the Huskers’ 2016 offseason winter conditioning program, which seniors called the best they'd experienced since arriving at Nebraska. “We have a lot of guys on our offense returning but not very many from the offensive line,” Armstrong said, adding that the collective focus was aimed at veterans "who know what we need to do – hold ourselves and all the younger guys accountable."

Westerkamp, Reilly, Moore Agree: In the End, the Game is All that Matters

Armstrong started the line of communication and inspiration with teammate/roommate Jordan Westerkamp (pictured above) and fellow wide receivers Brandon Reilly and Alonzo Moore. “I told them that the game is all that matters, and we want to be prepared this year better than ever,” Armstrong said. “This whole offseason, we’ve made sure we worked our butts off in the weight room. We’ve studied with the coaches and know everything we need to do. Coaches test us every week on every aspect of the game.”

Saying he is “in awe” of playing for second-year head coach Mike Riley and learning from Langsdorf, his position coach, Armstrong encouraged his fellow seniors to “push all of us to our limits on every little thing that we do,” he said. “The details matter the most. We all know exactly what needs to happen. We know what the splits are and who needs to block who. The testing and the film-work are the priorities that we all need to work on.”

That’s why sit-down discussions are held every Monday, Wednesday and Friday to sharpen Nebraska’s mindset. “One little thing can cause a big problem,” Armstrong said. “As a group, we have to know where we’re going with the ball, who has to be where and what formations we’re in.” One reporter asked Armstrong how good Nebraska can be if the Huskers achieve those fundamental goals. “We can be great,” Armstrong said. “Like I told a bunch of guys, the sky can be the limit for this football team. We have a lot of talent and we have to show it.”

Last year showed the Huskers that “we can’t take plays off,” Armstrong said. “We have to make sure to be smart with the ball and whenever we do that, we’re capable of winning games.”

Finger Armstrong Points Substantially His Own, Aimed Primarily at Himself

Serious-minded Husker fans understand the scar tissue. “Every guy knows that this team lost seven games,” Armstrong said. “We’re capable of winning games. We lost a lot of games by less than a touchdown. We had to prove a point – something we have to do every single week this season. We have competitors. They’re guys who stepped up in the bowl game.”

Armstrong envisions great things and refuses to worry about the overall lack of experience in this year’s offensive line. “We have plenty of guys who can be leaders in the offensive line,” he said, quickly mentioning four – Nick Gates, Dylan Utter (pictured above), Jerald Foster and David Knevel. Riley said the Huskers want Utter “to have knowledge of the big picture” and said Knevel is “an outstanding prospect with athletic ability, size and all the stuff that goes with that.”

Armstrong is confident enough to challenge the Huskers’ senior class on offense. “I reached out to those guys,” he said. “It wasn’t just to receivers. It was running backs, fullbacks, tight ends… this is our last year. We want to have the right mindset, going through our last off-season. We can’t let anything slide. We just have to make sure we’re focused each and every day and each and every week this entire off-season.

“We have the right mindset in the weight room for running and conditioning,” Armstrong said. “We had competitive drills after workouts when people were tired. It shows the competitive nature of this football team, and I think that’s going to drive us a long way.”

With a Year under Riley’s Staff, Huskers Are Striving to Establish an Identity

The Huskers are striving to establish an identity after playing their first year under a new coaching staff. “We want to learn the offense and follow our coaches,” Armstrong said. “It’s not about getting to know new coaches and a new offense. It’s more about focusing on the small things that will help us get better.”

According to Armstrong, Nebraska coaches are “trying to drive into our brains that it’s no longer about just knowing what to do,” he said. “It’s about competing and if you’re not studying, you’ll get left behind. Spring practice and fall camp are about knowing the playbook. We have a bunch of guys trying hard to eliminate our competitive mistakes and take care of the ball.”     

Riley (pictured above) respects the momentum his team craves. “Our team probably played our best football in the last month of the year,” he said. “A nice win against UCLA was a good thing. There has been a good vibe in the weight room with our team. We’re getting a lot of good work. Everything has basically been uneventful, which is a good thing.”

Through the years, before looking into launching spring practice, Riley prioritizes strong fundamentals over a volume of what he wants his team to do during the season because retention will be stronger. “The focus for us is just to play better football within the framework of what we do,” he said.

Nebraska’s spring practices begin Saturday morning with Armstrong designated as the Group A quarterback starter, working with 2015 backup Ryker Fyfe. Group B will alternate three quarterbacks – AJ Bush, Zach Darlington and freshman Patrick O'Brien. Riley said opportunities could include rotating another quarterback into Group A. The competition is on. Armstrong, for instance, shared with the media that his first playbook proficiency test score was a 6 out of 10. "No, that's not good," he said, acknowledging that Bush is the spring leader with a score of 9.

Riley Expects Running Backs Newby, Ozigbo to Work Hard, Grow and Develop

At Wednesday’s first 2016 press conference, Riley praised the way Nebraska running backs Terrell Newby and Devine Ozigbo (pictured above) finished the season. If those two continue to work hard, grow and develop, Riley expects the tandem to continue alternating like they did against UCLA in the bowl game.

“One of the reasons we beat Michigan State was the way we ran the ball,” Riley pointed out. “We don’t want to be in a game where we’re throwing 45 times. We had a real good plan of what we wanted to do, and that’s what we’re always shooting for. Our variety in what we did was great because the tailback played a part in the running game, the receivers had some fly sweeps and the quarterback ran the ball.

“Versatility made that game so much better,” Riley said. Besides the steady explosiveness of Armstrong, the Huskers showcased their running backs and receivers and “even got the tight end around on a running play.”

Riley is justifiably proud when he analyzes the resiliency throughout last season’s turmoil.

Despite the last-minute losses, “everyone kept going and no one lost their minds,” he said. “With all the adversity we had in a transition year, it could have been a real catastrophe. We played our best ball in the last month, and I like that. It says a lot about the players and a lot about the coaching staff, so it gives you a chance to be better, to grow and to build what’s most important in the day-to-day world that we live in and the world that we trust.”

Spring Season Concludes with Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 16

Nebraska’s spring football season concludes with the annual Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 16, at Memorial Stadium. Red-White Spring Game tickets are available online.

Kickoff is 1 p.m.

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