Nebraska is three weeks into fall camp and here are some updates from Lincoln.
**Injuries**
Offense
Senior offensive lineman Marcel Jones has missed most of camp with back problems that he had been battling since last season. He rejoined the team last week.
After being dinged up sophomore offensive lineman Brent Qvale missed time at practice in week two of camp but returned late last week.
The only current injuries to the offensive line that have kept players out are, sophomore Jeremiah Sirles and junior Brandon Thompson. Head coach Bo Pelini says that he expect the Huskers offensive line will have all of their players ready and healthy by Monday.
Freshman Quarterback walk-on Tyson Broekemeier will miss the upcoming season with a knee injury.
Defense
Senior corner back Alfonzo Dennard has missed most of fall camp, but Pelini said he is making progress and is way ahead of schedule. The preseason All-American is battling a knee injury.
Redshirt freshman linebacker Trevor Roach is still been backed down with a with a hamstring injury.
Senior linebacker Mathew May was also battling a hamstring injury but returned to practice last week.
Defensive tackle Kevin Williams was dinged up in practice last week, and has been backed down in practice.
Whats New?
*Bo Pelini said that he expects four true freshman to play in the Huskers first game on Sep. 3 against Tennessee-Chattanooga. The obvious guesses would be the three freshman running backs in, Braylon Heard, Aaron Green and Ameer Abdullah. But, who would be the fourth? Most people are speculating that it will be offensive lineman Tyler Moore.
*With Cody Green transferring to Tulsa, and Bubba Starling choosing to play pro baseball, the Huskers need some depth at quarterback. Expect freshman Anthony Ridder from West Point, Nebraska and Bronson Marsh from Millard South High School, in Omaha to see time at quarter back while playing on the scout team.
*Who will return kicks in 2011 for the Huskers? We don’t know either, but special teams coach John Papuchis said that there are eight different players who have “gotten a look” in fall camp freshmen Jamal Turner, Ameer Abdullah, Aaron Green, Kenny Bell, junior Tim Marlowe, and senior Brandon Kinnie. Marlowe and Kinnie have had experience returning kicks and punts in the past for the Huskers.
*Sophomore cornerback Lazarri Middleton has transfered to SMU after not having his scholarship renewed. Middleton is a Long Beach, California native and was recruited by the Mustangs out of high school.
*Every year there is a sad story in camp. This year it is senior cornerback Anthony Blue. After suffering two major knee injuries in 2008 and 2010, the Cedar Hills, Texas native has decided to leave football. Blue was one of the highest regarded corners on the team in 2008 before his injury and just has never looked the same.
Who Has Made The Most Noise
1. Ameer Abdullah: There have been stories after stories out of fall camp about what the talanted true freshman running back has done in camp. It will be interesting to see who will be the number 2 back behind junior Rex Burkhead. Don’t be surprised if it’s Abdullah.
2. Justin Blatchford: Loosing 3 players in your secondary to the NFL is never easy to replace. But it looks like Ponca, Nebraska native Justin Blatchford will replace Eric Hagg at the “Nickle” position. He has been talked about almost every day in interviews by the defensive coaching staff.
3. Andrew Green: Blatchford only fills one hole, look for Andrew Green to step up in Dennard’s absence and compete for serious playing time. The 6-foot-0 190 lb redshirt sophomore is getting a lot of praise at the corner position.
4. Tyler Moore: Tyler Moore is a true freshman from Clearwater, Florida. With all the injuries to the offensive line this fall, Moore has stepped in and has been taking the majority of reps at the right tackle spot.
5. Josh Williams: Nebraska’s least worry this year is on the defensive line, and with a starting spot at defensive end left open by the loss of Pierre Allen to graduation, redshirt junior Josh Williams has obviously moved up the chart to make his case for starting on the Nebraska front four. s