Garrett Nelson
Nebraska Linebacker
Postgame Quotes vs. North Dakota (Sept. 3, 2022)
Nebraska 38, North Dakota 17

On getting his first sack and fumble of the year

“They always feel good. That's my job, so when I finally hunt down the quarterback and get the ball, it's kind of the epitome of what we are supposed to do at the position.” 

 

On what his message was to the team at halftime

“Just that everybody needs to take a deep breath. We don’t need to panic, just keep doing our job. I was talking to some people last week with Northwestern. They said you were trying to go out there and win the game yourself. You need to make the plays that you train to do to help us to win the game. There’s a difference. I wanted people to learn from my mistake, so I was telling our guys not to panic. We need to breathe and keep doing our job. There’s nothing we need to change. Doing what we need to do in the sense of running the ball, be physical. That’s how you win football games.”

 

On what he's learned about himself in these first two games

“I put a lot of it on my shoulders in a sense. I’m a new leader that was my first game as a leader and you come out and do that. I personally didn’t do anything to help our team win. I took that pretty personally. Understanding that one game doesn’t define me as a leader doesn’t define this team as a team that game doesn't define me as a player. Really focusing on my job the best I could do it and use my leadership as a weapon and be a constant rhythm for those guys, and not get in the spot where I try to do everything.”

 

On how he responded following Northwestern

“It took a couple days. (Marques) Buford helped me out a ton. He told me he loves playing with me and wouldn’t want to play with anyone else. It felt like the weight of the world was on my head and I wasn’t really Garrett. I really appreciate him putting things in perspective as a younger leader and understanding how things work and putting things in perspective as a player and a leader.” 

 

On what the defense needs to improve

“Getting the eyes right. Being a great defense, an elite defense, you don’t let those big plays happen. You keep a consistent rhythm going out there and make stops. Only giving them one or two first downs, getting the ball back and doing your job and telling your players that. New defense, new guys, different pieces, figuring out how to play with each other and when you’re on the field together to do your job."

 

On Ochaun Mathis’ first sack as a Husker

“So proud of him. Hopefully he shares it with me, I touched him too. I was really proud of him man, he did awesome. That's our job, got to go do that.”

 

On Anthony Grant

“He's the happiest guy in the world. He has the biggest smile on his face. That guy is incredible at football. If he keeps doing that I think we will be solid.”

NU Athletic Communications