Husker Walk-on Q-n-A: Isaiah Stalbird

Nebraska redshirted freshman Isaiah Stalbird, a walk-on and graduate of Kearney High School, had an impressive fall camp in which he earned a No. 2 spot at safety, behind Marquel Dismuke, going into the Huskers' first game on Saturday. Stalbird chose to walk on at Nebraska over scholarship offers from Nebraska-Kearney and Wayne State, as well as a preferred walk-on offer from Wyoming. As a senior at Kearney, he made 77 tackles, including 53 solo stops, and recorded four fumble recoveries and two interceptions. Stalbird also had a pair of sacks as a senior. On the offensive side of the ball, Stalbird had 22 catches for 393 yards and six touchdowns as a wide receiver. He also participated in wrestling and soccer at Kearney. Following his prep career, Stalbird represented the South Squad in the 2018 Nebraska Shrine Bowl. He visited with Brian Rosenthal of Huskers.com about his walk-on opportunity and experience.
 
BR: How did you decide to walk-on at Nebraska?
Isaiah: "It was kind of a crazy process for me, because I didn't even really play a lot until my senior year. I've always wanted to play college football, but I just told myself going into my senior year I'm actually going to make it happen. I just got bigger, got into my high school playbook more, and I had a great senior season. It was awesome. We ended up playing in the state championship, and that's something I've always wanted to do. It was definitely crazy, because (my recruitment) picked up toward the end. At first it was small NAIA schools, then I started to get contacted by (Division) two, and week seven or eight I went up to Wyoming and took an unofficial there. I absolutely loved it. I was kind of set coming on there (as a walk-on) until Frost had his walk-on night, because before that, (Mike) Riley's staff had been talking to me a little bit – nothing official, just asking me questions, stuff like that. Then (the new staff) came in and had their walk-on night, and I was like, 'This is going to be a tough decision.' I just didn't think I could pass up an opportunity like this. What's a bigger college football place to play at than Nebraska? It was a little tough, but in the end I chose Nebraska, and honestly I couldn't have been happier."
 
BR: What was your experience like with your first fall camp a year ago?
Isaiah: "So fall camp (last year), it was a transition. It just flew right past me. I wasn't really getting the concept of everything with the defense, so I wasn't really doing too much. I was just there from working hard in the summer, so they decided to take me in (on the 110-man roster). It was a cool experience, but for me, the transition was kind of overwhelming. It wasn't really anything fun, because I was just kind of frustrated, not getting everything. When you don't get stuff, you don't get reps because when you get out there, you have no clue what you're doing. You look like an idiot, so Coach is like, 'Nope.' Then I went on through the season, I was a scout team player. I did that for the whole year, got bigger and stronger throughout the year. From when we reported to this last May, I put on like 30-plus pounds. I can definitely tell a difference. I just have to keep applying it on the field."
 
BR: We heard your name pop up this fall camp. Was there a point you felt you got the attention of your coaches?
Isaiah: "Honestly, it all started with spring ball. I've always wanted to play. I've never been one to want to be on the sidelines, just sitting there. I don't want to be a guy that's, 'OK, I'm on the team.' That doesn't make sense to me. I love football way too much to be standing on the sidelines. With the help of my coach and myself, I took it more upon myself to know the playbook more, come in for more coaching and actually take to coaching, not shut down and get frustrated and be like, 'I'm not going to do this' if I have a bad day. I took to coaching, and I had a decent spring ball. They could definitely tell a difference. Going into fall camp, I just wanted to piggyback off that a little bit, get even better. I think this fall camp, I definitely made a jump, but I definitely still need to get there. I'm not where I want to be. Even with how far I came, like you said, you hear my name pop up. I mean, that's awesome but I want to do even better. It was a great fall camp, and just the difference between last year and this year with my teammates, we're a lot closer and it feels like family."
 
BR: What are your personal expectations for this season?
Isaiah: "I definitely want to make an impact on special teams, because I'll be making an impact on that. Every chance I get in on defense, just make the most out of every play, just pay attention to all of our game plans, always be locked in on practice, always be ready for the game. With where I got myself now, I can't really slack off. You always have to keep your foot on the gas. Kind of like I said, I'm never really comfortable with where I'm at, so I'm always striving for more. I'm taking it day by day, trying to make the most of every opportunity."
 
BR: What kind of bond do the walk-ons here have?
Isaiah: "Honestly, we're a pretty tight group, because most of us were on scout team last year. We went to all those meetings, we played on the scout team. Most of us know each other, being local Nebraska guys, always hanging out in someone's dorm room or going out and doing stuff together. Definitely our class, we're super tight. Everybody hangs out with each other. It's a big group of family, honestly. At first, you don't know everybody too well. Now, we're a year in."
 
BR: What's being part of the walk-on tradition here mean to you?
Isaiah: "It's definitely cool, because when I got my walk-on offer, that was one of the things I was like, 'Wow, look at what just happened!' Just being able to get one, and then transitioning now, it's just awesome. I think there's a lot of quality walk-ons. They just have to try to prove themselves every rep they're in, prove yourself to the coaches and get bigger in the weight room."
 
BR: Do you have any favorite Nebraska walk-ons?
Isaiah: "I think the only one I really paid attention to was Luke McNitt, because he was from Kearney, and one of my best friend's older brother was in his class, so I remember seeing him around when I hung out with my friend and his brother."
 
BR: Any walk-ons on this team you're especially rooting for?
Isaiah: "Honestly, everybody, but one of my closer friends is Joseph Johnson. We both definitely came a long ways, and I'd love to see him play out there, hopefully be on scholarship someday. I'm probably rooting for him the most, but definitely everybody as a whole."
 
BR: When you see a walk-on like Trent Hixson get a scholarship, how does that make you feel?
Isaiah: "That's awesome, but at the same time, you want to keep working harder because that could be you one day. And that's awesome, him getting one. It makes me work harder, too, because I want to be in that position, and even when I get there, keep working and keep elevating from there. You can't be fine with where you're at. I don't think it works like that. If your brain is ticking right, I don't think you're like, 'Oh, I'm on scholarship, I'm supposed to chill now.' I know Trent will definitely keep working harder, and he definitely deserves it, too."
 
BR: How does the rest of the team accept the walk-ons?
Isaiah: "We're treated like everybody else. There's literally no difference. We're really just one family. Honestly, you can't even tell who's a walk-on or who's on scholarship. It's nice. I love it."
 
BR: Are you originally from Kearney?
Isaiah: "I grew up in Kearney, yeah. I've been there since I was like 5 or 6. So basically, yeah, Before that, my family kind of moved around a lot. I was born in Chicago, then at one point we were in Minneapolis, just kind of bounced back and forth. It's definitely been a crazy ride, because looking back, everything I've been through, I think most people see me as a younger kid, and definitely me, looking back at everything, I'm just blessed to even be where I'm at. I never thought I'd be in this position. It's not taking things for granted, going day by day.
 
BR: Any funny or memorable stories from practice?
Isaiah: "Definitely fall camp this year, were doing one-on-ones, and I think it was Quinton Newsome, and Darien Chase was running a route and was he was like bobbling it on the ground and Q gets up and kicks the ball out of his hands. It was just pretty funny. I probably get a new one every day because we have so many unique people on the team, everybody's always doing something goofy."
 
BR: What the biggest piece of advice you have taken from Coach Frost?
Isaiah: "Just be all-in whenever you're doing a drill, a workout or in practice. When I first got here, I definitely dipped my toe in the water, when he's talking about people dipping their toe in the water, scared to do stuff. I think this year I've jumped in and took authority over myself. I think definitely hearing that all the time, giving 100 percent every play, even if you mess up. I think that's probably one of my favorites. Just doing everything right, too, and being a great teammate.

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