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NU Notes: Coaches say Glenn has overcome injury
BY MITCH SHERMAN AND NICK RUBEK
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU
LINCOLN — Junior I-back Cody Glenn appears in better shape than at any time in his previous two years at Nebraska.
He's practicing at full speed with the top offensive unit. And it's been nine months since a nagging foot injury caused him to miss the seasons final three games, including the Cotton Bowl.
Strange, then, that concerns remain about the health of that foot.
"Just like with any player, you've always got to know your medical history," NU running backs coach Randy Jordan said.
"Cody has a history with his foot. Obviously, he's got to monitor it, but I'm not looking at it every day. Basically, what were doing is he's getting treatment. Our trainers doing a great job with it. He's full go."
The 6-foot, 230-pound Glenn rushed for 370 yards and eight touchdowns last season. He said he's done everything physically asked of him for the past several weeks and that the injury is in the past.
In the same breath, though, Glenn said he expects to experience good days and bad days with the foot. He is expected to split time at I-back with junior Marlon Lucky.
"I've challenged Cody," Jordan said, "told him that we need him in the months of November and December when it's cold. We need to bring out the big boy. That's when backs want the ball. It's cold and nobody wants to tackle him."
So will the coach pace his big back in September to keep him fresh for the Big 12 season?
"No, no, no," Jordan said. "I'm not pacing anybody. I'm going to play the best players."
Offensive coordinator Shawn Watson agreed. "We'll try to develop three or four backs to carry the load. Right now, Cody looks good. I never worry about him. Cody is ready to play ball. That's the way hes been in the first few days of practice. He's been a warrior."
Heat grueling
Nebraska battled heat and humidity on Friday afternoon in its first workout in full pads.
The Huskers practiced for 2½ hours at the Hawks Center and on the adjacent grass fields. They did not scrimmage, though a scrimmage looks likely for today, when NU conducts its first set of two-a-day drills.
"I think we had some pretty good intensity," defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove said. "I like the way the kids fought through it. It's hot. Just standing there as a coach, I'm doing a little sweating."
The heat is especially tough on coach Dennis Wagner's offensive linemen.
"The guys got to fight through that mentally," Wagner said. "That's half the battle in practice. Our big challenge today was to keep up the tempo. We picked up another 15 pounds on our bodies."
As for two-a-days, Cosgrove said, safety is important.
"You've got to be smart, make sure the kids are hydrated," Cosgrove said. "We're very fortunate our kids came into camp in great shape. I think the biggest thing is to be smart with the heat."
Christensen still out
The absence of left guard Andy Christensen from a fifth consecutive practice on Friday prompted Wagner to use a variety of replacements.
The Huskers are hopeful that Christensen, nursing a sore hamstring, will return today or Sunday. In his spot, Wagner has tried Keith Williams, Jacob Hickman, Jordan Picou, Mike Huff and Victory Haines.
"It's back to our philosophy of who's next," Wagner said. "It's not who's next on the depth chart, but who's the sixth-best guy, who's the seventh-best guy? You've got to learn every position on our offensive line. The only one we really don't mess with is the center."
Keller drops jaws
In what could be the side moment of the week, a playful end to one practice this week turned into highlight material. The group of NU quarterbacks all took aim at a net hanging from the goal post, trying to find one of the three small square openings in it from about 30 yards out.
Television cameras caught Keller's final attempt, a strike that went down as the only ball to find its target. Keller, a senior transfer from Arizona State, is in a quarterback battle with junior Joe Ganz.
BY MITCH SHERMAN AND NICK RUBEK
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU
LINCOLN — Junior I-back Cody Glenn appears in better shape than at any time in his previous two years at Nebraska.
He's practicing at full speed with the top offensive unit. And it's been nine months since a nagging foot injury caused him to miss the seasons final three games, including the Cotton Bowl.
Strange, then, that concerns remain about the health of that foot.
"Just like with any player, you've always got to know your medical history," NU running backs coach Randy Jordan said.
"Cody has a history with his foot. Obviously, he's got to monitor it, but I'm not looking at it every day. Basically, what were doing is he's getting treatment. Our trainers doing a great job with it. He's full go."
The 6-foot, 230-pound Glenn rushed for 370 yards and eight touchdowns last season. He said he's done everything physically asked of him for the past several weeks and that the injury is in the past.
In the same breath, though, Glenn said he expects to experience good days and bad days with the foot. He is expected to split time at I-back with junior Marlon Lucky.
"I've challenged Cody," Jordan said, "told him that we need him in the months of November and December when it's cold. We need to bring out the big boy. That's when backs want the ball. It's cold and nobody wants to tackle him."
So will the coach pace his big back in September to keep him fresh for the Big 12 season?
"No, no, no," Jordan said. "I'm not pacing anybody. I'm going to play the best players."
Offensive coordinator Shawn Watson agreed. "We'll try to develop three or four backs to carry the load. Right now, Cody looks good. I never worry about him. Cody is ready to play ball. That's the way hes been in the first few days of practice. He's been a warrior."
Heat grueling
Nebraska battled heat and humidity on Friday afternoon in its first workout in full pads.
The Huskers practiced for 2½ hours at the Hawks Center and on the adjacent grass fields. They did not scrimmage, though a scrimmage looks likely for today, when NU conducts its first set of two-a-day drills.
"I think we had some pretty good intensity," defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove said. "I like the way the kids fought through it. It's hot. Just standing there as a coach, I'm doing a little sweating."
The heat is especially tough on coach Dennis Wagner's offensive linemen.
"The guys got to fight through that mentally," Wagner said. "That's half the battle in practice. Our big challenge today was to keep up the tempo. We picked up another 15 pounds on our bodies."
As for two-a-days, Cosgrove said, safety is important.
"You've got to be smart, make sure the kids are hydrated," Cosgrove said. "We're very fortunate our kids came into camp in great shape. I think the biggest thing is to be smart with the heat."
Christensen still out
The absence of left guard Andy Christensen from a fifth consecutive practice on Friday prompted Wagner to use a variety of replacements.
The Huskers are hopeful that Christensen, nursing a sore hamstring, will return today or Sunday. In his spot, Wagner has tried Keith Williams, Jacob Hickman, Jordan Picou, Mike Huff and Victory Haines.
"It's back to our philosophy of who's next," Wagner said. "It's not who's next on the depth chart, but who's the sixth-best guy, who's the seventh-best guy? You've got to learn every position on our offensive line. The only one we really don't mess with is the center."
Keller drops jaws
In what could be the side moment of the week, a playful end to one practice this week turned into highlight material. The group of NU quarterbacks all took aim at a net hanging from the goal post, trying to find one of the three small square openings in it from about 30 yards out.
Television cameras caught Keller's final attempt, a strike that went down as the only ball to find its target. Keller, a senior transfer from Arizona State, is in a quarterback battle with junior Joe Ganz.
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