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Culbert moves to RB for spring drills
By BRIAN ROSENTHAL / Lincoln Journal Star
Maor Culbert of Nebraska partially blocks the punt of Matthew DiLallo of Colorado in 1st quarter action in a game played Friday in Lincoln. Nebraska defeated Colorado 37-14. (LJS Files)
Major Culbert, a California native, came to Nebraska knowing virtually nothing about the Huskers’ Blackshirt tradition.
Then, he watched a Nebraska football video. Culbert saw Nebraska’s starting defenders cross their arms — “throwing bones,” as they call it — after making big plays.
That’s all it took. Culbert wanted a Blackshirt.
“That amazed me,” he said, “every time I watched the video, how to be a Blackshirt.”
No word on whether the video showed ways of how not to be a Blackshirt. Say, for instance, like by playing running back.
That’s what Culbert, entering his sophomore season, is doing during Nebraska’s spring practice. Culbert and Nebraska coaches are hesitant to call it a permanent move.
For the time being, it’s a move out of necessity, given the Huskers’ injury problems at running back, and Culbert’s overall athletic ability and high school experience at the position.
“Coach just says I’m helping them out right now,” Culbert said.
You can probably guess, though, where Culbert, in a perfect world, would rather play. Especially after he tasted success on defense last season against Missouri. Culbert, playing a middle hybrid linebacker position, had six tackles in Nebraska’s 34-20 victory.
“I was just going with the flow,” Culbert said. “I wasn’t trying to think too hard. I was just going out there to have fun.”
Culbert also realizes that if he’s going to play — and boy, does he want that — he can’t be choosy.
“Doesn’t matter,” the 6-foot, 207-pound Culbert said. “Safety. Running back. I just want to get on the field.
“I was predominantly a running back in high school. I love safety. It don’t matter. I want to play safety, but there’s no preference.”
Don’t worry. Culbert says he’s not suffering from any identity crisis. He’s concentrating solely on running back this spring. If coaches ask him to move back to safety, he’s more than willing.
“If they don’t,” Culbert said. “I’m a running back.”
What kind of running back?
Culbert, who ran for more than 2,000 yards in his high school career, said he can catch, and that he’s “got a little wiggle” to him.
“I just run,” he said, “look for open holes, and just run.”
Culbert began practicing at running back in December, when Nebraska prepared to play Auburn in the Cotton Bowl with a banged-up running back unit. Culbert didn’t play in that game, but given the Huskers’ offseason headlines at running back, coaches asked him to remain there this spring.
Brandon Jackson declared for the NFL Draft. Kenny Wilson developed a staph infection in his leg and is out for the spring. Cody Glenn has been slow to recover from a foot injury. Marlon Lucky was hospitalized last month with an undisclosed medical condition.
Nebraska coach Bill Callahan said Culbert was impressive in bowl practices and picked up the system quickly.
“We still feel, though, that he’s a defensive player, and he’ll make a contribution on defense,” Callahan said. “We’re not going to lose that side of it.”
Culbert said he wishes he could learn the offensive system more quickly, particularly when it comes to blocking.
“The hardest part,” he said, “is knowing where to scan and what to do and where to line up at.”
As for defense, Culbert said he’s missing some new wrinkles this spring involving the safeties, but said if he moves back, he knows coach Bill Busch will keep him up to speed on any changes.
Said Callahan: “It won’t set him back (on defense). We don’t feel it will. And the coaches on defense don’t feel that way, either, so that’s a positive.”
Culbert moves to RB for spring drills
By BRIAN ROSENTHAL / Lincoln Journal Star
Maor Culbert of Nebraska partially blocks the punt of Matthew DiLallo of Colorado in 1st quarter action in a game played Friday in Lincoln. Nebraska defeated Colorado 37-14. (LJS Files)
Major Culbert, a California native, came to Nebraska knowing virtually nothing about the Huskers’ Blackshirt tradition.
Then, he watched a Nebraska football video. Culbert saw Nebraska’s starting defenders cross their arms — “throwing bones,” as they call it — after making big plays.
That’s all it took. Culbert wanted a Blackshirt.
“That amazed me,” he said, “every time I watched the video, how to be a Blackshirt.”
No word on whether the video showed ways of how not to be a Blackshirt. Say, for instance, like by playing running back.
That’s what Culbert, entering his sophomore season, is doing during Nebraska’s spring practice. Culbert and Nebraska coaches are hesitant to call it a permanent move.
For the time being, it’s a move out of necessity, given the Huskers’ injury problems at running back, and Culbert’s overall athletic ability and high school experience at the position.
“Coach just says I’m helping them out right now,” Culbert said.
You can probably guess, though, where Culbert, in a perfect world, would rather play. Especially after he tasted success on defense last season against Missouri. Culbert, playing a middle hybrid linebacker position, had six tackles in Nebraska’s 34-20 victory.
“I was just going with the flow,” Culbert said. “I wasn’t trying to think too hard. I was just going out there to have fun.”
Culbert also realizes that if he’s going to play — and boy, does he want that — he can’t be choosy.
“Doesn’t matter,” the 6-foot, 207-pound Culbert said. “Safety. Running back. I just want to get on the field.
“I was predominantly a running back in high school. I love safety. It don’t matter. I want to play safety, but there’s no preference.”
Don’t worry. Culbert says he’s not suffering from any identity crisis. He’s concentrating solely on running back this spring. If coaches ask him to move back to safety, he’s more than willing.
“If they don’t,” Culbert said. “I’m a running back.”
What kind of running back?
Culbert, who ran for more than 2,000 yards in his high school career, said he can catch, and that he’s “got a little wiggle” to him.
“I just run,” he said, “look for open holes, and just run.”
Culbert began practicing at running back in December, when Nebraska prepared to play Auburn in the Cotton Bowl with a banged-up running back unit. Culbert didn’t play in that game, but given the Huskers’ offseason headlines at running back, coaches asked him to remain there this spring.
Brandon Jackson declared for the NFL Draft. Kenny Wilson developed a staph infection in his leg and is out for the spring. Cody Glenn has been slow to recover from a foot injury. Marlon Lucky was hospitalized last month with an undisclosed medical condition.
Nebraska coach Bill Callahan said Culbert was impressive in bowl practices and picked up the system quickly.
“We still feel, though, that he’s a defensive player, and he’ll make a contribution on defense,” Callahan said. “We’re not going to lose that side of it.”
Culbert said he wishes he could learn the offensive system more quickly, particularly when it comes to blocking.
“The hardest part,” he said, “is knowing where to scan and what to do and where to line up at.”
As for defense, Culbert said he’s missing some new wrinkles this spring involving the safeties, but said if he moves back, he knows coach Bill Busch will keep him up to speed on any changes.
Said Callahan: “It won’t set him back (on defense). We don’t feel it will. And the coaches on defense don’t feel that way, either, so that’s a positive.”