I-Backs Injury Bug

Hunter94

Heisman Trophy Winner
Numerous injuries plague NU's I-back lineup

By Jonathan Crowl, Daily Nebraskan

April 6, 2007

(CSTV U-WIRE) LINCOLN, Neb. -- Cody Glenn is frustrated. He's caught this ailment he can't seem to shake.

Call it the Nebraska I-backs injury bug.

A string of injuries is taking a toll on the Cornhuskers this spring, and the depth at running back is increasingly depleted.

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Senior Kenny Wilson was already out with a staph infection in his knee when he broke his femur helping move a television set. The injury required surgery, and Wilson is expected to be out next season.

Glenn, a junior, is still suffering from an injury he sustained almost five months ago against Texas A&M when he jumped up from being tackled in the end zone to discover his right foot had been wrenched in the process.

"When I scored in the end zone, I ran a guy over," Glenn said. "And when I ran him over, he grabbed my foot and twisted it, and then this big lineman came from the inside, and he tried to tackle me.

"A lot of people said I hurt it celebrating. But I didn't hurt it celebrating."

The injury has been nagging and lingering for Glenn, who was initially told the injury would heal itself in a few weeks.

But a few weeks turned into a few more weeks and a few more weeks after that. Glenn missed the final three games of the Huskers' season and couldn't shake the injury in the offseason.

It still affects him when he tries to make cuts on the field. The real pain sets in after practice, when Glenn walks with a noticeable limp and winces.

Losing Wilson makes Glenn's presence in the lineup that much more important. The Huskers are already going into next year without Brandon Jackson, their leading rusher from last year, who left school early to go pro.

Junior Marlon Lucky is expected to combine with Glenn to take most of the snaps this fall. His sophomore season was spent battling a back injury that hindered his performance, particularly late in the season. Freshman Marcus Mendoza is also sidelined with a hamstring pull.

To make up for the lack of depth, the Huskers have moved sophomore defensive back Major Culbert to the running back position.

"Major (Culbert) will be a factor in the backfield, and we're very fortunate that we have the opportunity to work him into the practice in that position," NU Coach Bill Callahan said. "He by no means feels he is being hindered as a defensive back, and we appreciate the fact that he is a selfless individual that wants to do this for the team."

New faces in the backfield could force the I-backs to bear a greater burden moving up the field.

The injuries might make it tougher, but Glenn said he is a team player. He knows his teammates are counting on him to produce.

"I don't want to leave (Lucky) out there by himself, have him do it all by himself," Glenn said. "I feel like I need to be out there."

Updated on Friday, Apr 6, 2007 9:00 pm EDT

this is not news to us, but it is an unpleasant reminder of how quickly things can turn. i just hope Castille can come in and get some reps and at least move in as a part time back. i feel real bad for Cody and i am sure they have evaluated his foot problem, but it sounds like it is going to get worse if he keeps practicing on it. this sounds like one of those injuries that takes lots of time to heal and just doesn't make sense to try to "play through it".

 
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There is still time for Cody to heal. I can't blieve that he hasn't gotten over it already. I read somewhere he said he's about 85% hopefully he'll be at 100% by summer.

 
Keeps looking more and more like we will need the freshmen when they get in just to keep any depth. I hope Castile and Helu catch on quick, it also looks like Amukamara may indeed get a shot on offense.

 
Those husker fans who are hoping for Quentin Castille to Redshirt can kiss that goodbye if Cody Glenn is Hurt. There is no possibly way we can go an entire season with Lucky, Mendoza, and Prince carrying the ball. We are going to NEED that big time bruiser back....without Cody, we are in trouble!

 
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