Go Big Read: Spring Practice and Nebraska Football News
With the Nebraska football team getting some much-deserved rest and relaxation, we look back at the opportunities we’ve had to learn a bit about the 2017 squad.
The quarterback battle between Tanner Lee and Patrick O’Brien continues to be intense while the running back battle is showing some manner of separation. However, head coach Mike Riley isn’t going to make any changes to the depth chart public for the sake of competition.
Much has been quiet about the offensive line, but perhaps that’s not necessarily a bad thing. No injuries have occurred to the big men (knock on wood) and apparently there are already seven individuals who appear to be in game shape.
At wide receiver, several players have an opportunity to grab playing time as aside from Stanley Morgan and De’Mornay Pierson-El, it appears to be an open race.
On defense, it’s largely been about the installation of Bob Diaco’s 3-4 scheme. As the final two-and-a-half hour practice ended last Thursday, there was some rotation among players. This wasn’t the case for most of the spring so far as Diaco wanted to make sure the current starters feel comfortable with the change.
10 Best Nebraska Football Links of the Week
1. Nebraska spring football: Taking stock of what we’ve seen through two weeks (Land of 10)
Chris Heady recaps who’s standing out through two weeks of spring practices including a few surprises like Tanner Lee…running the ball?
2. Husker junior Bryan Reimers impresses coaches in practice as he looks to join mix of top wide receivers (Omaha World-Herald)
One of the wideouts who has a chance to get some major playing time this fall, Bryan Reimers has been a receiver that coach Keith Williams has been keeping on a little bit harder. Potentially preparing him for a starting role?
3. New 2018 quarterback on Nebraska’s radar (Omaha World-Herald)
6-5, 195-pound quarterback Tyler Shough stopped by a recent Nebraska practice. While Colson Yankoff and Tanner McKee still appear to be at the top of the Huskers’ quarterback board, Shough doesn’t look like a bad backup.
4. Secondary Finishes Strong Before Spring Break (Hail Varsity)
Jacob Padilla gets some takes from head coach Mike Riley and offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf along with looking at a player we’ve seen at cornerback getting a “look-see” at another position entirely.
5. Wide receiver Stanley Morgan is willing, able to carry heavy load for Huskers (Omaha World-Herald)
You’re going to hear Morgan’s name a lot over the course of the spring, summer and fall, so you may as well get used to it. The heir apparent to the No. 1 wideout role isn’t shy about his intentions to embrace that role, either.
6. Gifford says ‘it’s time to actually do something’ in Husker career (Lincoln Journal Star)
Luke Gifford’s contributions to the Nebraska football team haven’t been eye-opening, but he’s shown that he can make a play given the opportunity. It appears he realizes it’s now or never in terms of making something happen during his tenure at Nebraska.
7. Next Generation: Nebraska signee Damion Daniels ready to step out of brother’s shadow (Land of 10)
New Nebraska defensive tackle won plenty of awards and accolades in high school, but his brother Darrion won the same ones first. Now it’s time for the future Husker to find a home in Bob Diaco’s 3-4 defense and make a name for himself.
8. On an NU defense lacking star power, Aaron Williams’ wisdom critical (Lincoln Journal Star)
New Nebraska safeties coach Bob Elliot calls Williams “as smart a player as I’ve ever been around.” That’s going to be necessary as one of the last lines of defense in Bob Diaco’s new defense.
9. Tommy Armstrong’s testing at Husker pro day gets notice of Gil Brandt (Omaha World-Herald)
NFL.com analyst Gil Brandt has taken notice of former Nebraska quarterback Tommy Armstrong’s numbers from Nebraska’s pro day and seems curious about his future.
10. An avowed perfectionist, Husker running back Wilbon staying more relaxed these days (Lincoln Journal Star)
Mikale Wilbon has been a curious back as a Husker so far, but a laid back approach appears to be doing him a world of good this spring.
Husker Corner Round Up:
Football:
Huskers Who Need to Gain a Step Before Spring Break
A Historical Kind of Husker Quarterback Battle
Analyzing Potential Landing Spots for Rex Burkhead
Wyatt Mazour Ready to Start Making Moves
Episode 29 of the Husker Cuz Cast
What Practice No. 6 Taught Us
10 Best Wide Receivers of All-Time
Basketball:
Curing the Post-Selection Sadness
Reasonable Expectations for Tim Miles in 2017-18
Pick a Coach for Nebraska Basketball: Tim Miles or Tom Crean
Recruiting:
Better Know a Prospect – T.J. Pledger
Better Know a Prospect – Stephan Blaylock
Stat of the Week:
The Nebraska baseball team committed one error while the offense totaled 22 runs and 29 hits over the course of their sweep of the College of Charleston. The Huskers sit at 9-8 on the year and will face CSU Bakersfield on Thursday before four games against Cal Poly.