Husker Monday: Running Back Up For Grabs

Mike Riley knows who will take the first snap at running back for Nebraska on Saturday night when the Huskers open the 2017 season against Arkansas State.

He’s not ready to tell you, though.

The options, in alphabetical order, are sophomore Tre Bryant, junior Devine Ozigbo and junior Mikale Wilbon. That’s also the order in which they appeared on the first depth chart of the season – with ORs separating their names.

Yes, coaches still would prefer one guy to take a stranglehold on the running back position and serve as an every down back.

That hasn’t happened yet, so Riley, offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf and running backs coach Reggie Davis have a rotation ready.

“We certainly have a plan,” Riley said at his first weekly news conference of the season on Monday. “I don’t know that it will be equal in all terms, but there are some strengths there that situationally, they will be moved in and out of the game.”

Davis said coaches looked at overall production, from mental mistakes to physical attributes, in picking the silent starter.

“We looked at every facet of the game – running the ball, pass protection, catching the ball – all those things,” Davis said.

Devine is the most experienced of the trio, having run 135 times for 641 yards. Bryant rushed 43 times for 179 yards as a true freshman, and Wilbon has 24 rushes for 133 yards, with six receptions for 62 yards.

“They have all, at times in their past, done good things,” Riley said. “We looked for that consistent growth within that group, individually, and we feel good about all of those guys. I won’t guarantee it, but my guess is they will all play, and some of them will be specific-situation guys.”

 

Bradley Will Play

He wasn’t mentioned prominently Monday in the running back conversation, but true freshman running back Jaylin Bradley will play this season, Riley confirmed.

Bradley, from Bellevue West High School, made a strong impression early in fall camp at running back, but he’ll see the brunt of his action, at least early in the season, on special teams play.

“You’re looking for great athletes who can run in space, guys that can tackle, guys that can block in space, and Jaylin’s just a really, really good athlete, and so all those things come pretty naturally to him,” Davis said.

First-year assistant coach Scott Booker, who’s overseeing special teams, liked Bradley when he watched him run, Davis said.

“Then he had him do some tackling drills and really liked him, and all those things came pretty naturally,” Davis said. “By all means, get him out there, because that’s what special teams is all about  -- effort, running, hitting and tackling.”

 

Freshmen Watch

In addition to Bradley, other true freshmen who will play this season are linebacker Avery Roberts, defensive lineman Deontre Thomas and wide receiver Tyjon Lindsey, Riley confirmed.

“We certainly appreciated their talent to recruit them, and the other thing was that they had to show during the fall camp that they could fit in play,” Riley said. “They would be comfortable with what they had to do and how they did it so that technically they could make plays.

Among true freshmen who could play, but not for certain, are quarterback Tristin Gebbia, offensive lineman Brenden Jaimes, linebacker Guy Thomas and defensive lineman Damion Daniels.

Gebbia is listed as the No. 3 quarterback, behind top backup Patrick O’Brien. Riley said coaches will prepare Gebbia to play but only if necessary, with the preference of a redshirt – much the same way coaches last year handled O’Brien, now a redshirted freshman.

 

No. 11 On Radar

Arkansas State senior defensive end Ja’Von Rolland-Jones (No. 11) already holds the school record and Sun Belt Conference record with 30.5 career sacks. Now, he’s within 13.5 sacks of tying the NCAA FBS record, currently held by former Arizona State star Terrell Suggs (2000-02).

“Any time you’ve got a close who’s even close to a national record, it doesn’t matter what division they’re playing in, it doesn’t matter what league he’s playing in,” Davis said. “If a guy is getting to the quarterback that much, he’s going to catch your eye.”

Nebraska has never lost to a Sun Belt Conference foe, and has won the previous two meetings with Arkansas State by scores of 38-9 in 2009, and 42-13 in 2012.

Still, the Red Wolves won eight of nine games to close last season, and all Nebraska coaches must do to keep their players attention is mention the growing number of season-opening upsets from lower-level FBS programs.

“Enough of those upsets have happened during these guys’ lifetime,” Davis said. “It’s fresh in their mind, and they know they have to come out and play their best ball if they want to win the game.”

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