Several Huskers draw praise for spring performances

[huskernation20]

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BY BRIAN CHRISTOPHERSON / Lincoln Journal Star

Wednesday, Apr 23, 2008 - 11:18:54 pm CDT

Starting spots aren’t won in the spring, but certainly, some Husker football players used the last several weeks to help their cause in the pursuit for playing time this fall.

 

Let’s just say there wasn’t a whole lot of fan chatter about senior linebacker Tyler Wortman before spring ball began.

 

But after 15 spring practices, Husker coach Bo Pelini said the Grand Island native had coaches excited. Wortman emerged from spring practice as the No. 1 BUCK (strongside) linebacker.

 

What can spring do for you? It came with plenty of flattery for the likes of sophomore running back Roy Helu and senior running back-turned-linebacker Cody Glenn. Both earned compliments from coaches throughout the spring.

 

And, of course, senior quarterback Joe Ganz received his share of love as the kind of player an offense could rally around. It’s safe to say there will be no starting quarterback dilemma this fall.

 

The success of Helu, Glenn and Ganz have been well-documented this spring. But what other Huskers, perhaps some flying under the radar, improved their stock during spring camp?

 

Here are a few names:

 

* Barry Turner. The senior defensive end has long been thought heavy on talent, but his numbers so far have not been eye-catching.

 

But in his last spring, the returning starter impressed Pelini with his work ethic. Turner said the passion to play football was much improved across the entire defense during recent practices.

 

“When you’re losing, you lose a lot of things,” Turner said. “But with a new year, a new coaching staff, a new change, it’s a new beginning. We’re starting over.”

 

On Monday, Turner was one of a handful of names Pelini mentioned when talking about guys who showed strong leadership this spring.

 

“What’s he’s done, I’ve seen Barry buy in,” Pelini said. “You know, Barry, Zach Potter, some of those guys up front, they have a pride about themselves. They understand that they went through some tough times on defense last year. They don’t want it to happen again, especially the guys that are going to be seniors.”

 

Pelini said Turner and Potter were examples of guys who “worked their tails off” from the time spring football started to the end.

 

“I think they all understand, Barry and the whole group of seniors understand, that this is just begun,” Pelini said. “Our work has just started. It’s not time to sit back and relax and think about what happened in the spring.”

 

* Kevin Dixon. Working at the nose tackle spot, the senior showed improved lateral movement on a couple of plays during the Spring Game, tracking down speedy running backs.

 

Husker defensive coordinator Carl Pelini said Dixon is loaded with potential and “really stepped up his game this spring. He really took to the coaching.”

 

Other names on the defensive line that earned praise during the spring were sophomore defensive end Pierre Allen and redshirt freshman defensive tackle Terrence Moore.

 

Allen, Moore and Dixon might serve as good examples of players who really benefited from Nebraska’s new winter strength and conditioning strategies.

 

“I think there’s a great deal being done with flexibility and speed development and explosion,” Carl Pelini said. “That’s a huge emphasis of (head strength coach James Dobson). That’s one reason Bo hired him to do that job. Our guys are moving better. And believe me, after an offseason program during the rest of the spring and into the summer, it’s going to continue in an even better direction.”

 

* Marcus Mendoza. Although he had a couple problems fielding punts during Saturday’s scrimmage, the redshirt freshman running back got the coaches’ attention with his play this spring.

 

He responded well to his early Spring Game mishaps, showing some good body control on a 24-yard touchdown pass from Ganz. Small (5-feet-10, 185 pounds) but shifty, he also rushed seven times for 33 yards.

 

Near the end of spring ball, running backs coach Tim Beck said: “He may be one of the most improved guys we have.”

 

* Anthony West. The sophomore manned the No. 1 cornerback spot opposite of senior Armando Murillo throughout the spring. Competition will get steeper in the fall when sophomore Anthony Blue is expected to return from a knee injury and challenge for playing time.

 

But West has taken his opportunity to potentially start about as seriously as one can. Husker secondary coach Marvin Sanders said he'll often look out during meetings to find West taking notes.

 

“You talk about some intelligence now,” Sanders said. “That’s one of the smartest players, as a (sophomore), I’ve been around.”

 

* Curenski Gilleylen. There’s plenty up for grabs at the wide receiver positions. Veterans like Nate Swift and Todd Peterson return, but after that, young players will need to emerge. The 6-foot, 210-pound Gilleylen didn’t catch every pass thrown his way Saturday, but he did show off his wheels when he burned West on a 77-yard touchdown catch.

 

Pelini said Gilleylen was “someone who can be a big weapon in our offense.”

 

Peterson said the guys in the receiving corps expect big things out of the redshirt freshman, “and I think he’s come to realize that and is starting to expect big things out of himself.”

 

Peterson said Gilleylen can be a deep threat, as shown Saturday, but also a physical runner on the edge when used on bubble screens, adding: “We’re going to try and work him in as much as we can and get him touches and see what he can do next fall.”

[Huskerballz]

I'm excited about Curenski. He has the potential to be a burner.

[General Blackshirt]

Gilleylen kinda sounds like how Frantz Hardy was hyped up to be.

[husker249]

I dont think so, Gilleylen has much better size. Frantz Hardy was tiny, but really fast. I am really excited about Gilleylen, I think hes gunna be a star for us

[DaveH]

I'm excited about Curenski. He has the potential to be a burner.

He could be great, or he could be the next Isaiah Fluellen.

[xkbubo]

Good to hear some good things. Well, I was almost sure Niles would stand out well but how, when not enough pigskins gets thrown his way t_t whatta load of crap