Five walk-ons to watch

[NUance]

Five walk-ons to watch

Column by Sam McKewon / World-Herald Bureau, PUBLISHED MONDAY, AUGUST 12, 2013 AT 1:00 AM / UPDATED AT 9:17 AM

 

<snip>

 

» Tight end Jared Blum: The Gretna native appears in the mix for playing time, perhaps as a blocking specialist. Trey Foster is another.

 

» Running back King Frazier: There's a role for him, perhaps on special teams, perhaps on offense. Freshmen Adam Taylor and Terrell Newby aren't likely to redshirt, but Frazier could be one of NU's better options on a short-yardage play.

 

» Defensive tackle Brodrick Nickens: Not likely to be a walk-on much longer, the senior from Alliance will have some role on the line. How large it is may depend on the progress of Vincent Valentine and several freshmen.

 

» Punter Sam Foltz: The starter for several years to come, if reports from practice are accurate. What creates all these talented in-state specialists? The wind. And perhaps boredom. It's inherently fun to boot the bejesus out of a football, even if it slides 18 yards sideways. Some do it better than others.

 

» Wide receiver Brandon Reilly: Has some Todd Peterson qualities to his physique, and probably better speed. Peterson had excellent hands, though. And Reilly has more competition for playing time.

LINK

You gotta hand it to these guys for walking on at Nebraska, when most of them had one or more scholarship offers in hand. Here's hoping that one of them turns into our next Spencer Long.

[Mavric]

Foltz sounds like he has a spot locked down. Hopefully Nickens can contribute as well. I'd be pretty surprised if we see the others on Saturdays but there are other ways to contribute as well.

 

Kudos to them.

 

 

Edit: We could see them on special teams but I was referring to a spot in the rotation on offense or defense.

Edited August 12, 2013 by Mavric

[HuskerShark]

Five walk-ons to watch

Column by Sam McKewon / World-Herald Bureau, PUBLISHED MONDAY, AUGUST 12, 2013 AT 1:00 AM / UPDATED AT 9:17 AM

 

<snip>

 

» Tight end Jared Blum: The Gretna native appears in the mix for playing time, perhaps as a blocking specialist. Trey Foster is another.

 

» Running back King Frazier: There's a role for him, perhaps on special teams, perhaps on offense. Freshmen Adam Taylor and Terrell Newby aren't likely to redshirt, but Frazier could be one of NU's better options on a short-yardage play.

 

» Defensive tackle Brodrick Nickens: Not likely to be a walk-on much longer, the senior from Alliance will have some role on the line. How large it is may depend on the progress of Vincent Valentine and several freshmen.

 

» Punter Sam Foltz: The starter for several years to come, if reports from practice are accurate. What creates all these talented in-state specialists? The wind. And perhaps boredom. It's inherently fun to boot the bejesus out of a football, even if it slides 18 yards sideways. Some do it better than others.

 

» Wide receiver Brandon Reilly: Has some Todd Peterson qualities to his physique, and probably better speed. Peterson had excellent hands, though. And Reilly has more competition for playing time.

LINK

You gotta hand it to these guys for walking on at Nebraska, when most of them had one or more scholarship offers in hand. Here's hoping that one of them turns into our next Spencer Long.

 

None of those guys play OL.........

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- just in case

[NUance]

Five walk-ons to watch

Column by Sam McKewon / World-Herald Bureau, PUBLISHED MONDAY, AUGUST 12, 2013 AT 1:00 AM / UPDATED AT 9:17 AM

 

<snip>

 

» Tight end Jared Blum: The Gretna native appears in the mix for playing time, perhaps as a blocking specialist. Trey Foster is another.

 

» Running back King Frazier: There's a role for him, perhaps on special teams, perhaps on offense. Freshmen Adam Taylor and Terrell Newby aren't likely to redshirt, but Frazier could be one of NU's better options on a short-yardage play.

 

» Defensive tackle Brodrick Nickens: Not likely to be a walk-on much longer, the senior from Alliance will have some role on the line. How large it is may depend on the progress of Vincent Valentine and several freshmen.

 

» Punter Sam Foltz: The starter for several years to come, if reports from practice are accurate. What creates all these talented in-state specialists? The wind. And perhaps boredom. It's inherently fun to boot the bejesus out of a football, even if it slides 18 yards sideways. Some do it better than others.

 

» Wide receiver Brandon Reilly: Has some Todd Peterson qualities to his physique, and probably better speed. Peterson had excellent hands, though. And Reilly has more competition for playing time.

LINK

You gotta hand it to these guys for walking on at Nebraska, when most of them had one or more scholarship offers in hand. Here's hoping that one of them turns into our next Spencer Long.

 

None of those guys play OL.........

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- just in case

Speaking of that, it seems like we've seen more walk-ons work themselves into starting roles on the O-line than any other positions on the team. Some of them are among our best players. Spencer Long being the most obvious example.

[HuskerShark]

Choi, Jackson, Long, Pelini. That's about it, but definitely guys we would have missed if we didn't have them.

[lo country]

Choi, Jackson, Long, Pelini. That's about it, but definitely guys we would have missed if we didn't have them.

Thread hi jack, but does this answer the question about the ability or lack thereof for Bo to develop talent? I Guess it is a double edge sword. He has walk ons starting because our recruiting sucks or he is able to develop walk ons into starters. Kids with less "natural ability" who excel vs the "star power" who get passed up.

 

Thoughts?

[NUance]

Choi, Jackson, Long, Pelini. That's about it, but definitely guys we would have missed if we didn't have them.

That's a pretty large percentage of last year's two-deep right there.

[I am I]

Bo develops talent, period.

 

look at a guy like JJ Watt from WI. dude barely had any action coming out of HS. Went to Central Mich....per wikipedia:

Watt attended Central Michigan University for one year in 2007. While there, he played tight end and caught eight passes for 77 yards. Frustrated by his lack of direction at Central Michigan, he transferred to Wisconsin. During this time he began delivering pizzas and had a somber encounter with a fan, where he regained his focus, telling himself, "I don't want to be delivering pizzas. I want to be playing football."^[7]

 

Some of our recent walkon success has been lineman, actually true for a long time. Take Watt: big frame, high motor needed time to develop. heard him on Rome one day, basically said, "i needed time to develop and get bigger and stronger and get my head on straight"

 

So it's not so crazy that guys who are athletically gifted start sooner in college and are on scholarship. it's also not crazy that it may take time for a kid who is only 17-18 yrs old to take time to marture into a solid 305lb road grader. And sometimes, it takes that extra determination of a guy who came in as a walkon to

to end up starting over a guy who always had his way with the opposition because he was more developed early.

 

what i love about our walk on program is that we continue to see kids who pass up a Kearney or SWMS or SDSU partial scholarship (news to a bunch of people, there are NO FULL RIDES except at Div 1) to walkon where their heart tells them to go, to play w no regrets for not trying at least. If a few of these guys can

make some noise in any fashion, i think it's great. good luck to them and thanks for following your dream of playing for Nebraska.

[I am I]

I don't know why my post is in blue, probably because i suck at computers and whatnot, and copy and pasted from Wiki.

[Frida's Boss]

Will Matt Damon's (team america voice) nephew get a walk on chance once school starts? How does that work?

[RedRedJarvisRedwine]

Choi, Jackson, Long, Pelini. That's about it, but definitely guys we would have missed if we didn't have them.

Thread hi jack, but does this answer the question about the ability or lack thereof for Bo to develop talent? I Guess it is a double edge sword. He has walk ons starting because our recruiting sucks or he is able to develop walk ons into starters. Kids with less "natural ability" who excel vs the "star power" who get passed up.

 

Thoughts?

Dont forget to thank one Barnibus Cotton

[blessed2bahusker]

I was really suprised to see that Jack Fordon did not make the 105. Does anyone know his status. Is he here right now? Injured?

[Count 'Bility]

I just read the first two chapters of the new book (Anatomy of an era)-David Seizys and Matt Turman. If you havent already, you gotta get this thing. Already, just from these two former walk-ons, probably the most honest, no bs, and insightful look into the Nebraska football walk-on program yet, as well as what was wrong with it under Callahan. It's a hell of a lot more that just getting them here.

**edit**

[NUinID]

Choi, Jackson, Long, Pelini. That's about it, but definitely guys we would have missed if we didn't have them.

Thread hi jack, but does this answer the question about the ability or lack thereof for Bo to develop talent? I Guess it is a double edge sword. He has walk ons starting because our recruiting sucks or he is able to develop walk ons into starters. Kids with less "natural ability" who excel vs the "star power" who get passed up.

 

Thoughts?

 

Offensive linemen are, for lack of a better word easier to build. The state of Nebraska is full of 6'4" big framed kids that are pretty athletic. Because they went to whatever small school and played TE or FB or whatever they never got a look at OL. If they have a big enough frame and can put on the wt and are willing to work, they have a chance to play.

[knapplc]

Five walk-ons to watch