A more reflective and comfortable Zach Sterup might have found time this spring to step back and realize that his patience and hard work have led to this moment.
The Nebraska junior-to-be heads into the Red-White scrimmage Saturday ready to man the No. 1 spot at right tackle. It’s the job that he’s held down since spring practice started back on March 8.
It follows Sterup slowly putting more than 50 pounds on his 6-foot-8 frame (to 315) while also paying his dues as a backup for two seasons after redshirting his first year as a Husker. Always pounding the weights and the playbook hard along the way.
To Sterup, though, any current spot on the depth chart means nothing until he trots out with the first-team offense for the season-opening game with Florida Atlantic on Aug. 30 — and then continues to hold down the job.
“It’s just an opportunity,” he said. “Nothing’s set in stone. The season’s, what, five months away? That could change.
“I just go out there and just try to compete. I’m going against a great D-line in practice. Those guys are pretty tough. They’re making me a lot better. So that’s how I try to approach it.”
