Husker_Power
Starter
By the Lincoln Journal Star
Friday, Aug 24, 2007 - 12:14:32 am CDT
LINK
Marlon Lucky still feels the effects of a couple of hard hits he’s absorbed during preseason camp.
“Obviously, I came back with some little headaches,” the junior I-back said Thursday. “But that’s natural when you come back from a concussion.”
Lucky practiced for the second straight day Thursday. He had missed three straight practices, as well as most of last week, because of what was diagnosed as a mild concussion.
The 6-foot, 210-pound Lucky said he’s practicing at full-speed and feels like he’s in good shape.
“Coach K had me on a climber, so I’m good,” Lucky said, referring to Nebraska head strength coach Dave Kennedy.
Fellow junior I-back Cody Glenn also practiced Thursday, his third straight practice after missing more than a week with a hamstring injury.
Nebraska coach Bill Callahan said the I-backs’ missed practice time means the Huskers will have to revisit some of the work that was specifically planned for them during their absence.
“We’re pretty confident they’ll grasp what we need them to do,” Callahan said.
In other injury news, starting right guard Matt Slauson (shoulder) sat out his fourth straight practice Thursday and remains day-to-day, Callahan said.
Paul in mix
Although true freshman wide receiver Niles Paul is seeing practice time with the first- and second-string offenses, Callahan wasn’t ready to say for sure that the Omaha native would be an immediate contributor at the position this season.
But Callahan indicated it was a strong possibility.
“I still want to keep watching, but he has tremendous upside,” the coach said. “He’s a strong, powerful, gifted athlete. He has exceptional hands. He’s picking up the system better than I anticipated. His work ethic is outstanding on the field. … It seems like he never gets tired.”
The 6-1, 210-pound Paul last season had 46 receptions for 814 yards and 13 touchdowns for Omaha North.
By the numbers
1 or 2: Number of designed running plays for the fullback in Nebraska’s playbook, said fullback Andy Sand. “We usually put a bigger running back in there to run the ball, like Cody or Quentin (Castille), instead of us. We pretty much block.”
Scouting report
FB Andy Sand
A fifth-year senior, Sand has yet to see game action in college. But that’s about to change.
The 6-foot-2, 230-pound Sand has been working almost exclusively with the first-string offense, he said. His main competition for the starting job appears to be junior Thomas Lawson.
Sand, a Lincoln Southeast graduate, was a tight end in 2004 and 2005 before switching to fullback last August.
“It wasn’t really my choice,” he said. “They asked me to do it, and I was willing to do it for the team.”
It’s looking like a pretty good move right now.
“There’s not a whole lot of glory in (playing fullback) — we’re just kind of an extension of the O-line,” Sand said. “But I still take pride in it. I mean, I think it’s a great job, and I like doing it. There’s been a great tradition of the fullback at Nebraska.”
Opponent watch: Texas
Freshman quarterback John Chiles, who is set to back up sophomore Colt McCoy, is generating a buzz with his play in preseason camp, according to the Austin (Texas) American-Statesman.
Chiles is expected to see playing time this season, perhaps as early as Sept. 1 when fourth-ranked Texas opens against Arkansas State. Chiles moved up to second string when redshirt freshman Sherrod Harris sprained his knee Aug. 12.
“I think you’ll be pleased with what you see,” Texas coach Mack Brown told the American-Statesman.
It’s likely that Chiles’ most pleasing plays will be made first with his feet, according to the newspaper. That’s where he’s drawing quiet comparisons to Vince Young.
— Compiled by Steven M. Sipple
Friday, Aug 24, 2007 - 12:14:32 am CDT
LINK
Marlon Lucky still feels the effects of a couple of hard hits he’s absorbed during preseason camp.
“Obviously, I came back with some little headaches,” the junior I-back said Thursday. “But that’s natural when you come back from a concussion.”
Lucky practiced for the second straight day Thursday. He had missed three straight practices, as well as most of last week, because of what was diagnosed as a mild concussion.
The 6-foot, 210-pound Lucky said he’s practicing at full-speed and feels like he’s in good shape.
“Coach K had me on a climber, so I’m good,” Lucky said, referring to Nebraska head strength coach Dave Kennedy.
Fellow junior I-back Cody Glenn also practiced Thursday, his third straight practice after missing more than a week with a hamstring injury.
Nebraska coach Bill Callahan said the I-backs’ missed practice time means the Huskers will have to revisit some of the work that was specifically planned for them during their absence.
“We’re pretty confident they’ll grasp what we need them to do,” Callahan said.
In other injury news, starting right guard Matt Slauson (shoulder) sat out his fourth straight practice Thursday and remains day-to-day, Callahan said.
Paul in mix
Although true freshman wide receiver Niles Paul is seeing practice time with the first- and second-string offenses, Callahan wasn’t ready to say for sure that the Omaha native would be an immediate contributor at the position this season.
But Callahan indicated it was a strong possibility.
“I still want to keep watching, but he has tremendous upside,” the coach said. “He’s a strong, powerful, gifted athlete. He has exceptional hands. He’s picking up the system better than I anticipated. His work ethic is outstanding on the field. … It seems like he never gets tired.”
The 6-1, 210-pound Paul last season had 46 receptions for 814 yards and 13 touchdowns for Omaha North.
By the numbers
1 or 2: Number of designed running plays for the fullback in Nebraska’s playbook, said fullback Andy Sand. “We usually put a bigger running back in there to run the ball, like Cody or Quentin (Castille), instead of us. We pretty much block.”
Scouting report
FB Andy Sand
A fifth-year senior, Sand has yet to see game action in college. But that’s about to change.
The 6-foot-2, 230-pound Sand has been working almost exclusively with the first-string offense, he said. His main competition for the starting job appears to be junior Thomas Lawson.
Sand, a Lincoln Southeast graduate, was a tight end in 2004 and 2005 before switching to fullback last August.
“It wasn’t really my choice,” he said. “They asked me to do it, and I was willing to do it for the team.”
It’s looking like a pretty good move right now.
“There’s not a whole lot of glory in (playing fullback) — we’re just kind of an extension of the O-line,” Sand said. “But I still take pride in it. I mean, I think it’s a great job, and I like doing it. There’s been a great tradition of the fullback at Nebraska.”
Opponent watch: Texas
Freshman quarterback John Chiles, who is set to back up sophomore Colt McCoy, is generating a buzz with his play in preseason camp, according to the Austin (Texas) American-Statesman.
Chiles is expected to see playing time this season, perhaps as early as Sept. 1 when fourth-ranked Texas opens against Arkansas State. Chiles moved up to second string when redshirt freshman Sherrod Harris sprained his knee Aug. 12.
“I think you’ll be pleased with what you see,” Texas coach Mack Brown told the American-Statesman.
It’s likely that Chiles’ most pleasing plays will be made first with his feet, according to the newspaper. That’s where he’s drawing quiet comparisons to Vince Young.
— Compiled by Steven M. Sipple