Versatility paying dividends for O-line

By Brian Rosenthal / Huskers.com

Nebraska ran its first offensive play from scrimmage against Indiana, and right tackle David Knevel, already bothered by a sore ankle, lay on the ground as he repeatedly pounded his fist into the turf.

Yes, he hurt, but pain isn’t why Knevel felt the need to abuse blades of plastic grass and pieces of ground-up rubber.

“The biggest thing was frustration,” said Knevel, who’d already missed the brunt of Nebraska’s previous game, Oct. 1 against Illinois, with his bum ankle. “I was just upset that it happened on the first play. That’s mainly what the pounding of the ground was about, because I figured it felt bad enough that I didn’t think I’d be coming back right away.”

Sure enough, he didn’t. Knevel wore a T-shirt and shorts when he limped off the field Saturday following Nebraska’s 27-22 victory.

The good news is that Knevel, a 6-foot-9, 315-pound junior, has been practicing this week as No. 8 Nebraska (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten Conference) prepares to host Purdue (3-3, 1-2) in a 2:30 p.m. game Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

That’s more than can be said of left tackle Nick Gates, who gutted through a sore ankle against Indiana before donning a walking boot after the game. He’s still in that boot, and his status for the Purdue game isn’t certain.

“I sure hope so,” offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh said, when asked if Gates would play against the Boilermakers.

If Gates isn’t able to play, coach Mike Riley said senior Sam Hahn could move from left guard to left tackle, and senior Corey Whitaker could replace Hahn at guard.

“Tackle is where I’ve been at for years, so I’ll bounce out there if I need to do something, and if not, I’ll stay at guard,” the 6-7, 300-pound Hahn said. “Just whatever needs to be done, I’ll do it.”

Sophomore walk-on Cole Conrad, a Fremont native who’s practiced at every offensive line position, has stepped in at tackle when Knevel was sidelined, and Cavanaugh said he’d be interested to see what Conrad could do should he focus on playing guard.

Whatever the spot, it’s another example of how the injury-bothered offensive line – the Huskers lost left guard Jerald Foster to a season-ending knee injury before the season even began, and played the Illinois game without right guard Tanner Farmer – is benefitting from player versatility.

“It’s important to have versatility,” Hahn said, “so if we get in a bind like that, you can step up in there and the coaches feel confident in you going in there and getting the job done and doing the things you need to do to win.”

Knevel said Purdue won’t show near the defensive line movement that Indiana did, but that the Boilermakers will be prone to blitz more often.

“We’ve got a pretty good plan, just have to keep executing, keep getting better every day,” Cavanaugh said.

Receivers ready, Westy or no

Senior wide receiver Jordan Westerkamp, who injured his back Oct. 1 against Illinois and hasn’t practiced since, remains questionable to play against Purdue.

Fans and media aren’t exactly sure of the nature of Westerkamp’s injury, but hey, neither is his position coach.

“I don’t even know exactly what’s wrong with him,” receiver coach Keith Williams said. “I just know it’s a back deal. They start using big words, and I just say, ‘Uh, just let me know when he’s close.’ I don’t know, to be honest.”

Westerkamp didn’t travel to Indiana – even injured players count against the 70-man travel roster for conference games – but with seniors Alonzo Moore and Brandon Reilly, the receiving corps responded well, Williams said, in Nebraska’s first game without Westerkamp in his career.

“Those guys are mature. They understand what’s going on,” Williams said, also mentioning sophomore Stanley Morgan Jr. and junior De'Mornay Pierson El. “We’ve got other good leadership besides Westy in that room. Zo and B, those guys are good leaders, and Stan understands, D.P. understands. So it wasn’t that big of a missing piece in terms of – I mean, we missed him, but guys weren’t lost. They understood the situation.”

Reach Brian at brosenthal@huskers.com or follow him on Twitter @GBRosenthal.