HuskerfaninOkieland
Heisman Trophy Winner
The Independent
LINCOLN — For a guy who hasn't played a game at linebacker yet, Nebraska's Cody Glenn sure has the tough-guy attitude down.
He was chatting Monday about his move from running back to defense when Quentin Castille came up from behind and began staring him down. Castille didn't like it that Glenn had hit him a bit late during the practice that had just ended.
When Castille caught his eye, Glenn turned toward him and said coldly, "You ran out of bounds. Don't run out of bounds. You don't have to do that."
"I'm gonna get you," Castille said before moving on.
A year ago, Glenn and Castille were fellow I-backs. Glenn battled injuries and didn't get much playing time. Castille, who took many of the carries that would have gone to Glenn as a short-yardage back, finished as the team's second-leading rusher.
The emergence of Castille and Roy Helu Jr. behind starter Marlon Lucky made it clear that Glenn would have to scrap for carries in 2008.
With the Huskers short at linebacker, Glenn and new coach Bo Pelini discussed an experiment. If Glenn liked linebacker, he could stay there. If he didn't, he could move back to offense.
"The third day I went from No. 3 to No. 1 linebacker. You've got to love that. There was no going back after that," Glenn said.
The best part?
"It's nice laying out the punches rather than taking them," he said, looking in Castille's direction.
Lucky said Glenn made the right decision.
"Oh, yeah, he's a good hitter," he said.
Glenn, the projected weakside linebacker starter against Western Michigan on Aug. 30, has received good counsel since his move was announced. His cousin is married to former Husker Broderick Thomas, the All-America outside linebacker in the late 1980s also known as "the Sandman" for his hitting ability.
Thomas checks in regularly with Glenn to encourage him and remind him about the Nebraska defense's tradition. Thomas also tells Glenn to hit -- and hit hard.
"Let people know you're here and you ain't going nowhere for the next 60 minutes," Glenn said. "At the beginning of the game you have to impose your will and make them not want to be there for the next 60 minutes."
Glenn hasn't played linebacker in a game since 2004 at Rusk (Texas) High School. Recruiters from Texas, Texas A&M and Tennessee wanted him as a linebacker, but he dreamed of playing running back in college. Bill Callahan, Nebraska's former coach, offered him the chance.
Injuries kept Glenn from finding a rhythm, but he had his moments at I-back. He ran for four touchdowns as the short-yardage back in 2005. His role increased in 2006, when he rushed for a career-high 148 yards against Iowa State and finished with a team-high eight touchdowns. He faded last season because of injuries and the rise of other I-backs.
After Callahan was fired, Glenn said he spoke with a friend, former football trainer Doak Ostergard, and new linebackers coach Mike Ekeler about making the move.
Sure, Glenn had to swallow his pride.
"But this is my last year, and my main goal is to win," Glenn said. "Whatever I need to do to make that happen, that's what I was willing to do. After putting all that into perspective, it was an easy decision.
"It's not about me. It's about the team. We've got some good running backs over there, with Marlon and Roy and 'Q.' They can handle the load. I'm going to come over and make this defense better."
But if help at I-back is needed, Glenn would be happy to volunteer. He has said as much to offensive coordinator Shawn Watson and running backs coach Tim Beck.
"I always mention to coach Watson and coach Beck that if it's first-and-goal from the 1, I'm your man," Glenn said. "I'll run some plays at running back. I'm a linebacker now, and I'm pretty sure I won't get any carries over there. If I do, I'm down for it.”
LINCOLN — For a guy who hasn't played a game at linebacker yet, Nebraska's Cody Glenn sure has the tough-guy attitude down.
He was chatting Monday about his move from running back to defense when Quentin Castille came up from behind and began staring him down. Castille didn't like it that Glenn had hit him a bit late during the practice that had just ended.
When Castille caught his eye, Glenn turned toward him and said coldly, "You ran out of bounds. Don't run out of bounds. You don't have to do that."
"I'm gonna get you," Castille said before moving on.
A year ago, Glenn and Castille were fellow I-backs. Glenn battled injuries and didn't get much playing time. Castille, who took many of the carries that would have gone to Glenn as a short-yardage back, finished as the team's second-leading rusher.
The emergence of Castille and Roy Helu Jr. behind starter Marlon Lucky made it clear that Glenn would have to scrap for carries in 2008.
With the Huskers short at linebacker, Glenn and new coach Bo Pelini discussed an experiment. If Glenn liked linebacker, he could stay there. If he didn't, he could move back to offense.
"The third day I went from No. 3 to No. 1 linebacker. You've got to love that. There was no going back after that," Glenn said.
The best part?
"It's nice laying out the punches rather than taking them," he said, looking in Castille's direction.
Lucky said Glenn made the right decision.
"Oh, yeah, he's a good hitter," he said.
Glenn, the projected weakside linebacker starter against Western Michigan on Aug. 30, has received good counsel since his move was announced. His cousin is married to former Husker Broderick Thomas, the All-America outside linebacker in the late 1980s also known as "the Sandman" for his hitting ability.
Thomas checks in regularly with Glenn to encourage him and remind him about the Nebraska defense's tradition. Thomas also tells Glenn to hit -- and hit hard.
"Let people know you're here and you ain't going nowhere for the next 60 minutes," Glenn said. "At the beginning of the game you have to impose your will and make them not want to be there for the next 60 minutes."
Glenn hasn't played linebacker in a game since 2004 at Rusk (Texas) High School. Recruiters from Texas, Texas A&M and Tennessee wanted him as a linebacker, but he dreamed of playing running back in college. Bill Callahan, Nebraska's former coach, offered him the chance.
Injuries kept Glenn from finding a rhythm, but he had his moments at I-back. He ran for four touchdowns as the short-yardage back in 2005. His role increased in 2006, when he rushed for a career-high 148 yards against Iowa State and finished with a team-high eight touchdowns. He faded last season because of injuries and the rise of other I-backs.
After Callahan was fired, Glenn said he spoke with a friend, former football trainer Doak Ostergard, and new linebackers coach Mike Ekeler about making the move.
Sure, Glenn had to swallow his pride.
"But this is my last year, and my main goal is to win," Glenn said. "Whatever I need to do to make that happen, that's what I was willing to do. After putting all that into perspective, it was an easy decision.
"It's not about me. It's about the team. We've got some good running backs over there, with Marlon and Roy and 'Q.' They can handle the load. I'm going to come over and make this defense better."
But if help at I-back is needed, Glenn would be happy to volunteer. He has said as much to offensive coordinator Shawn Watson and running backs coach Tim Beck.
"I always mention to coach Watson and coach Beck that if it's first-and-goal from the 1, I'm your man," Glenn said. "I'll run some plays at running back. I'm a linebacker now, and I'm pretty sure I won't get any carries over there. If I do, I'm down for it.”
