Nebraska Cornhuskers News: From walk-on to scholly, more

Nebraska Cornhuskers cornerback Phalen Sanford (37) walks off the field with his head down after the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium. (Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports)
Nebraska Cornhuskers cornerback Phalen Sanford (37) walks off the field with his head down after the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium. (Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports)

The Nebraska Cornhuskers have promoted a couple of walk-ons to full scholarship status as a way to celebrate the end of Fall Camp.

The Nebraska football team has officially wrapped up Fall Camp. Starting on Monday, the Huskers will officially begin preparation for their season opener against the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

That’s enough to get excited already, but on Saturday, Matt Rhule added a bit of oomph to the proceedings. The new Nebraska Cornhuskers’ head coach announced that defensive back Phalen Sanford is one of two walk-ons that will be promoted to full scholarship status.

Rhule didn’t announce who the second player will be because he hasn’t been told yet. It sounds like that will be a special little thing he and the coaches have planned for after Monday’s first official game-prep practice.

Nebraska Cornhuskers injury update

Speaking of getting ready for Minnesota, Rhule commented on Saturday that for the most part, the Huskers are pretty healthy, or at least expect to be by the season’s start. Of the guys that are a bit banged up, Rhule said he expects all three to be back soon.

Running back Rahmir Johnson tweaked a hamstring and missed a recent practice, but Rhule doesn’t expect junior to be out long. That’s especially good news considering the Huskers are expecting the New Jersey import to be the 3rd down back this year.

Wide receiver Marcus Washington started fall camp with a broken hand and then once that was healed, he suffered a knee injury. However, Rhule believes the Nebraska Cornhuskers will be able to turn to the veteran receiver when the game against the Gophers comes up.

The final bit of good injury news was offensive lineman Teddy Prochazka. Teddy P suffered an injury early in camp, but the coaches expect his return this week. That will hopefully be enough prep time to allow him to play on August 31.

Nebraska Cornhuskers soccer team gets first victory

Behind a pair of finishes in the first half, the Nebraska soccer team picked up its first win of the season with a 2-1 conquest of Baylor. It means the women’s soccer team is now 1-0-1 after notching a tie in their season opener against the Creighton Bluejays.

Nebraska forged a 2-0 lead in the first half and then was able to hold on as neither team scored a goal in the second period.

Next, the Nebraska Cornhuskers will travel to face Eastern Washington on August 24 and then Gonzaga on August 27.

Trey Palmer turning heads

Drafted in the sixth round after one record-setting season with the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Tampa Bay Bucs wide receiver Trey Palmer is turning a lot of heads in fall camp.

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles recently said that he can’t believe his luck that so many NFL teams passed up Palmer. His new squad is happy to have him around.