Eric the Red
Team HuskerBoard
DN
From DN:
On a crucial third down and inches play, Cody Glenn plowed his way through the Pittsburgh defensive line and found himself one-on-one with a Panther defensive back.
As if a smile then came to his face, the Nebraska freshman I-back lowered his shoulder and gave the under-matched defender a non-verbal, “Get off me!” and continued on to pick up the first down and then some.
It’s for plays like that that the Nebraska coaches have dubbed Glenn “Baby Earl,” after NFL Hall-of-Fame running back Earl Campbell.
Just like his childhood idol, who grew up 40 minutes north of Glenn’s hometown of Rusk, Texas, Glenn plans on making a career of pounding the football and making defenders pay in the process.
“Really, I just don’t want to let the team down,” Glenn said of his mentality on third-and-short plays. “I hate letting people down. I feel like I’ve got to get (the first down), and I do whatever it takes to get it.”
In the Cornhuskers’ 7-6 win over Pittsburgh on Saturday, Glenn had just four carries for 20 yards.
Though his overall numbers weren’t anything to write back to Texas about, it was the way he earned them that set Glenn apart.
On his four carries in the game, Glenn had a six-yard run to convert a third-and-one play, and the gained seven yards on a fourth-and-one for the same result.
While senior Cory Ross – who carried the ball 32 times on Saturday – will undoubtedly continue to shoulder the majority of the Huskers’ running game, Glenn’s emergence has provided a break, especially in short-yardage, for Ross.
“He was absolutely outstanding in the totes that he had,” NU Coach Bill Callahan said. “We’ll begin to work him into the mix. There are certain situations that we have used him in that’s been short-yardage and goal line. We’ve also put him in there for a couple of normal-down runs in situations as well.”
Coming into the season, Glenn was fairly unsure of what his role was going to be on the team.
Though he wanted to play immediately, there was still a chance that the 6-foot, 230-pounder could redshirt this season or even change positions and move to fullback.
After seeing his ability to pound the ball in short-yardage situations, the Huskers knew they would have to use the kid that NU Running Backs Coach Randy Jordan described as “a wrecking ball.”
“He’s a big physical guy, but right now he’s still learning,” sophomore I-back Brandon Jackson said. “He’s going to get even better. It’s just a matter of him going out and being confident.”
Back in Rusk, Glenn epitomized the big, strong Texas running back made famous by Campbell.
In his four years as starting running back at Rusk High School, Glenn rushed for 6,353 yards and 87 touchdowns – both school records.
His career-rushing total ranks eighth all-time in Texas Class 3A history and 27th-most of all classes in Texas.
So when Glenn powered his way over that Pittsburgh defender last Saturday, it brought back memories of his high school glory days.
Now in the latest chapter of his football career, “Baby Earl” plans on living up to his prestigious nickname – no matter who gets in the way.
“However much (my coaches) want to play me, I’ll take it,” Glenn said. “I worked so hard just so I could play this year. Now I feel like, ‘I can do this. This ain’t that hard.’”
From DN:
On a crucial third down and inches play, Cody Glenn plowed his way through the Pittsburgh defensive line and found himself one-on-one with a Panther defensive back.
As if a smile then came to his face, the Nebraska freshman I-back lowered his shoulder and gave the under-matched defender a non-verbal, “Get off me!” and continued on to pick up the first down and then some.
It’s for plays like that that the Nebraska coaches have dubbed Glenn “Baby Earl,” after NFL Hall-of-Fame running back Earl Campbell.
Just like his childhood idol, who grew up 40 minutes north of Glenn’s hometown of Rusk, Texas, Glenn plans on making a career of pounding the football and making defenders pay in the process.
“Really, I just don’t want to let the team down,” Glenn said of his mentality on third-and-short plays. “I hate letting people down. I feel like I’ve got to get (the first down), and I do whatever it takes to get it.”
In the Cornhuskers’ 7-6 win over Pittsburgh on Saturday, Glenn had just four carries for 20 yards.
Though his overall numbers weren’t anything to write back to Texas about, it was the way he earned them that set Glenn apart.
On his four carries in the game, Glenn had a six-yard run to convert a third-and-one play, and the gained seven yards on a fourth-and-one for the same result.
While senior Cory Ross – who carried the ball 32 times on Saturday – will undoubtedly continue to shoulder the majority of the Huskers’ running game, Glenn’s emergence has provided a break, especially in short-yardage, for Ross.
“He was absolutely outstanding in the totes that he had,” NU Coach Bill Callahan said. “We’ll begin to work him into the mix. There are certain situations that we have used him in that’s been short-yardage and goal line. We’ve also put him in there for a couple of normal-down runs in situations as well.”
Coming into the season, Glenn was fairly unsure of what his role was going to be on the team.
Though he wanted to play immediately, there was still a chance that the 6-foot, 230-pounder could redshirt this season or even change positions and move to fullback.
After seeing his ability to pound the ball in short-yardage situations, the Huskers knew they would have to use the kid that NU Running Backs Coach Randy Jordan described as “a wrecking ball.”
“He’s a big physical guy, but right now he’s still learning,” sophomore I-back Brandon Jackson said. “He’s going to get even better. It’s just a matter of him going out and being confident.”
Back in Rusk, Glenn epitomized the big, strong Texas running back made famous by Campbell.
In his four years as starting running back at Rusk High School, Glenn rushed for 6,353 yards and 87 touchdowns – both school records.
His career-rushing total ranks eighth all-time in Texas Class 3A history and 27th-most of all classes in Texas.
So when Glenn powered his way over that Pittsburgh defender last Saturday, it brought back memories of his high school glory days.
Now in the latest chapter of his football career, “Baby Earl” plans on living up to his prestigious nickname – no matter who gets in the way.
“However much (my coaches) want to play me, I’ll take it,” Glenn said. “I worked so hard just so I could play this year. Now I feel like, ‘I can do this. This ain’t that hard.’”
