%20--%3e%3csvg%20version='1.1'%20id='Nebraska_N'%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns:xlink='http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20x='0px'%20y='0px'%20viewBox='0%200%20163%20152'%20style='enable-background:new%200%200%20163%20152;'%20xml:space='preserve'%3e%3cstyle%20type='text/css'%3e%20.st0{fill:%23FFFFFF;}%20%3c/style%3e%3cg%3e%3cpath%20class='st0'%20d='M159.1,144c-2.3,0-4.1,1.8-4.1,4s1.8,4,4,4s4-1.8,4-4S161.2,144,159.1,144z%20M159,151.2c-1.8,0-3.2-1.4-3.2-3.2%20s1.4-3.2,3.2-3.2c1.7,0,3.2,1.5,3.2,3.2C162.2,149.8,160.8,151.2,159,151.2z'/%3e%3cg%3e%3cpath%20class='st0'%20d='M157.4,145.6h1.4c0.6,0,0.8,0,1.1,0.2c0.4,0.2,0.6,0.6,0.6,1.1c0,0.4-0.1,0.7-0.3,1c-0.1,0.2-0.3,0.2-0.6,0.4%20h-0.1l1.1,2.1h-0.8l-1-2h-0.6v2h-0.8L157.4,145.6L157.4,145.6z%20M158.6,147.7c0,0,0.3,0,0.4,0c0.4-0.1,0.6-0.3,0.6-0.8%20c0-0.3-0.1-0.5-0.4-0.6c-0.1,0-0.1,0-0.6,0h-0.4v1.4L158.6,147.7L158.6,147.7z'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3cg%3e%3cpath%20class='st0'%20d='M147,0H93h-5v5v35v5h5h5v24.8L55.2,2.3L53.7,0H51H5H0v5v35v5h5h5v62H5H0v5v35v5h5h54h5v-5v-35v-5h-5h-5V82.2%20l42.8,67.5l1.5,2.3h2.7h46h5v-5v-35v-5h-5h-5V45h5h5v-5V5V0H147z%20M150,5v35v3h-3h-7v66h7h3v3v35v3h-3h-46h-1.6l-0.9-1.4L52,75.3%20V109h7h3v3v35v3h-3H5H2v-3v-35v-3h3h7V43H5H2v-3V5V2h3h46h1.7l0.9,1.4L100,76.7V43h-7h-3v-3V5V2h3h54h3V5z'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cpath%20class='st0'%20d='M103,87L103,87L51,5H5v35c0,0,7.8,0,10,0c0,3.3,0,68.7,0,72l0,0c-2.2,0-10,0-10,0v35h54v-35c0,0-7.8,0-10,0l0,0%20c0-2.6,0-47,0-47l52,82h46v-35c0,0-7.8,0-10,0l0,0c0-3.3,0-68.7,0-72c2.2,0,10,0,10,0V5H93v35c0,0,7.8,0,10,0%20C103,42.6,103,87,103,87z'/%3e%3c/svg%3e)
Nebraska Football
Pre-Minnesota
Monday, Dec. 7, 2020
Press Conference Video
On what the next move is for him
“There’s two really good options. I don't think I'd be wrong with either option. So, I have to talk a lot about it to my family and coaches, but right now I'm really just focused on finishing the season. When that time comes, I'll make a decision. But until then, I’m focused on the team.”
On the emotions heading into this week
“Honestly, I don't know. You know, I don't think anyone's been in this situation before, so for our senior day to be in a year like it has been, I think emotions will be high. But like Frost always says, you know we have to control those emotions and still execute with passion and emotion. But just learn how to control it. Proud to be a senior at Nebraska. Wouldn't have had it any other way. Obviously if there were fans that'd be pretty cool. But you know other than that, I love the way things turned out. You know, I learned a lot more from losing than winning. I think I we've all grown a lot more throughout this year so proud of myself product, part of the guys I play with and I think emotions will be high that day.”
On holding the record for most career starts at Nebraska
“It means a lot. You know I came to Nebraska to be a part of an offensive line tradition and to be a part of that tradition now is just something that I'm forever grateful for. You know, all the people that have came before me, all the people that will come after me. To be where I am today, I couldn't have done it without my teammates. You know, when I was a young guy, people like Tanner Farmer and David Knevel, Nick Gates, all those guys, I didn't do it by myself so I couldn’t have done it without those guys.”
On Turner Corcoran’s progress this season
“Personally, I think he's more mature than I was when I was in his shoes. I think he'll be a great asset to the team next year as he is this year. Whatever role he fills, I think he'll be able to do it to the best of his ability. Coach Austin likes him. Coach Frost likes him. So along with all the other young guys, I think they're doing a great job competing every day in practice. But for him, I think if he has to take that left tackle next year, I going to do my best to kind of give him all the advice that the older guys gave me and just pass down a legacy of being a left tackle at Nebraska.”
On Cam Jurgen’s performance
“He works hard just like everybody else does on the offensive line and in the team. Obviously, he's had some stamping issues in the past so he's had to a stay after practice, come in before practice and work on that issue. Obviously it worked out this week. You know, I don't think there were too many, if any, bad snaps this week. So if that's the case, then he needs to keep doing what he's doing and not slack off. So I think everybody is working just as hard as him. But, like I said, he's a young kid so with experience comes confidence and I think the more confidence he gets, the more settled he’ll be into his position and the snaps issue will hopefully go away.”
On what it takes to start 39 straight games
“It has been a long 39 games. I'll say that. Did I see myself starting 39 ever since after that? No, honestly. I came to Nebraska at about 265-270 pounds and to start in the Big Ten as an offensive tackle at that weight is not ideal. But I feel like I came from a pretty good high school. I feel like my technique was for the most part there. Obviously, I made freshman error mistakes, but for the most part I feel like I held my own and then every year after that was just continuing to be a better version of myself on and off the field. I think that's really what helped me become who I am today. Like I mentioned before, I didn't do this by myself. I had a lot of older guys until I became the older guy who helped me along the way. So, without them I don't think that would be possible.”
On if there was ever a time his streak was in jeopardy of being broken
“There have always been a lot of small injuries here and there that every offensive lineman gets that everyone usually plays through. So I thank God every night for a healthy day, healthy season and praying for those who aren’t healthy and for a quick recovery. So I'm just trying to finish up this season healthy and be the best version of myself throughout the season.”
On why playing at 265 pounds in the Big Ten is not ideal
“It's pretty difficult to block someone across from you who's 6’6, 280, and can run a 4.4, you know. The defensive line in the Big Ten I think have some of the best athletes in the country, and they're only getting better. So to be in that light and to be as weak as I was, you know, back when I was a freshman, it was very difficult. I had to lean a lot on what, at the time, Coach Cavanaugh had taught me, technique wise. And really lean on the older guys to help me out a little bit, especially with the new the offense I had to learn that year. But playing at 265-270 in the Big Ten is not what I would call and ideal situation for an offensive tackle.”
On how his level of play has developed over his career
“I think they’ve gotten higher every year. I think the level that I'm playing at has gotten significantly higher than when I was a freshman, Obviously. Back then I would really just focus on sort of myself. Being selfish, didn't really know the playbook, didn't have the size, didn't have the strength to compete. But now, I do have the size. I do have the strength. I know the playbook. So, I’m trying to be a team leader, bringing people along with me, bringing young guys like Turner Corcoran and (Ethan) Piper. Bringing it up to the level that I'm playing at is kind of my role as a team leader. I feel like if I can keep doing that and keep bringing those young guys with me, and everybody playing up to the level that we're all playing at, then I think we'll be very successful.”
On his motivation to stay at Nebraska for all four years
“I wanted to show that I was I was loyal. I really had no reason to transfer. For the guys that did, they've had a lot of success so everyone has their reasons. I wanted to come to Nebraska to be at Nebraska and be a part of tradition like no other. And I feel like I've done that. I put a lot of trust in Coach Frost and his coaching staff and I'm glad that they are the staff that came. It couldn't imagine a better coach than Coach Austin. He's a main reason of why I stayed. I love playing for him. I love being coached by him. I love being with him every single day. He's a big reason of why I stayed.”
NU Athletic Communications