NamelessHusker
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[SIZE=14pt]Lucky finding transition to college football is tough[/SIZE]
Marlon Lucky darted into the open field and sprinted toward the end zone. Seemingly from nowhere, a defender emerged and cut down North Hollywood (Calif.) High's star running back.
Lucky leaped to his feet, foot-stomping angry. His frustration was evident even on grainy video of the high school game. It was as if he couldn't believe someone was good enough to tackle him in that instance, Nebraska running backs coach Randy Jordan said.
Now, after nearly two weeks of preseason camp, Jordan has a keen understanding of what drives the determined player on that video clip.
"Marlon's competitive, man — a fiery competitor," Jordan said Monday. "That's the thing I really like about him."
Lucky's flaming desire on the gridiron may be rivaled by the heat of a burning question gripping Husker Nation: Is the true freshman ready to play this season?
"He obviously can run the ball," Jordan said. "I think he can help us. But we have a long ways to go. We're just trying to get everyone up to speed, especially the new guys."
The 6-foot, 210-pound Lucky's running style reminds Nebraska starting I-back Cory Ross of ex-Husker David Horne. Like Horne, Ross said, Lucky runs smoothly and seemingly without great effort.
"It doesn't look like he's moving, but he's moving," Ross said.
If only Lucky's transition to the college game could be so smooth. He admits he was unprepared for the two-a-day practices, the brisk pace of workouts, the ultra-thick playbook. What's more, he recently gained 10 pounds and feels he has lost some of his quickness. He has to get it going again, he said.
"I think he's going to be a good back," Jordan said. "I think he has some good attributes. But you have to remember, he's a long ways from home. He still has to pick up the offense. He's coming along. I just challenge him every day to get better."
Lucky said there are no plans for him to sit out as a redshirt. To this point, he said, he and fellow freshman Cody Glenn essentially receive an equal number of carries in practice. Lucky, in fact, willingly defers to Ross and sophomore Brandon Jackson, at least at this point.
As of Monday, Lucky said, he was working as a first-string kickoff return man with sophomore Tierre Green.
"I'm here to help out," Lucky said. "If they want me to go out there, I'll go out there."
Said Jordan: "He knows how to run the ball. That's why we recruited him. But there's a lot more than just running the ball in this offense. You have to be able to protect (the quarterback), and that's something I think he'll get better at."
Lucky and Nebraska coach Bill Callahan spoke privately after Monday morning's practice. Callahan told the freshman he was proud of the way he played during a scrimmage Saturday.
"Marlon's carried quite a load during this training camp," Callahan said. "Because of that high volume of (carries), he's been subject to a lot of hits."
Asked if Lucky's high volume of carries portends the workload he'll receive during the season, Callahan said, "We keep looking at everybody. We've made no commitment as to how many carries a particular back might get during a game, because every game's different."
Jordan said Lucky has carried the ball frequently during practices in part because repetitions are the best way to learn an offense.
Jordan, meanwhile, is mindful that Lucky also is adapting to a much different environment than where he grew up, as is the case with many freshmen. Jordan tries to help smooth the transition by keeping close tabs on his running backs. On Sunday, for instance, he invited them to his home for dinner. They ate steak, played pool and, of course, PlayStation.
"Some of these kids are away from their families, and some of these kids don't have dads," Jordan said. "Not to be philosophical, but you have to really love on the kids, and I do love them. They know that."
Lucky sees irony in all of the attention he receives from fans. He's never played a down for Nebraska, yet a dozen kids surrounded him after Monday's practice pining for autographs. Whatever. He has little time to ponder his existence. Not right now.
He's too busy learning Nebraska's eight-pound playbook. Too busy tending to the bumps and bruises resulting from a rigorous preseason camp. Too busy thinking of ways to puncture defenses with his two main assets — his speed and soft hands.
"He has the ability to be a breakaway back," Callahan said. "We just have to keep feeding him the ball."
Link
[SIZE=14pt]Lucky finding transition to college football is tough[/SIZE]
Marlon Lucky darted into the open field and sprinted toward the end zone. Seemingly from nowhere, a defender emerged and cut down North Hollywood (Calif.) High's star running back.
Lucky leaped to his feet, foot-stomping angry. His frustration was evident even on grainy video of the high school game. It was as if he couldn't believe someone was good enough to tackle him in that instance, Nebraska running backs coach Randy Jordan said.
Now, after nearly two weeks of preseason camp, Jordan has a keen understanding of what drives the determined player on that video clip.
"Marlon's competitive, man — a fiery competitor," Jordan said Monday. "That's the thing I really like about him."
Lucky's flaming desire on the gridiron may be rivaled by the heat of a burning question gripping Husker Nation: Is the true freshman ready to play this season?
"He obviously can run the ball," Jordan said. "I think he can help us. But we have a long ways to go. We're just trying to get everyone up to speed, especially the new guys."
The 6-foot, 210-pound Lucky's running style reminds Nebraska starting I-back Cory Ross of ex-Husker David Horne. Like Horne, Ross said, Lucky runs smoothly and seemingly without great effort.
"It doesn't look like he's moving, but he's moving," Ross said.
If only Lucky's transition to the college game could be so smooth. He admits he was unprepared for the two-a-day practices, the brisk pace of workouts, the ultra-thick playbook. What's more, he recently gained 10 pounds and feels he has lost some of his quickness. He has to get it going again, he said.
"I think he's going to be a good back," Jordan said. "I think he has some good attributes. But you have to remember, he's a long ways from home. He still has to pick up the offense. He's coming along. I just challenge him every day to get better."
Lucky said there are no plans for him to sit out as a redshirt. To this point, he said, he and fellow freshman Cody Glenn essentially receive an equal number of carries in practice. Lucky, in fact, willingly defers to Ross and sophomore Brandon Jackson, at least at this point.
As of Monday, Lucky said, he was working as a first-string kickoff return man with sophomore Tierre Green.
"I'm here to help out," Lucky said. "If they want me to go out there, I'll go out there."
Said Jordan: "He knows how to run the ball. That's why we recruited him. But there's a lot more than just running the ball in this offense. You have to be able to protect (the quarterback), and that's something I think he'll get better at."
Lucky and Nebraska coach Bill Callahan spoke privately after Monday morning's practice. Callahan told the freshman he was proud of the way he played during a scrimmage Saturday.
"Marlon's carried quite a load during this training camp," Callahan said. "Because of that high volume of (carries), he's been subject to a lot of hits."
Asked if Lucky's high volume of carries portends the workload he'll receive during the season, Callahan said, "We keep looking at everybody. We've made no commitment as to how many carries a particular back might get during a game, because every game's different."
Jordan said Lucky has carried the ball frequently during practices in part because repetitions are the best way to learn an offense.
Jordan, meanwhile, is mindful that Lucky also is adapting to a much different environment than where he grew up, as is the case with many freshmen. Jordan tries to help smooth the transition by keeping close tabs on his running backs. On Sunday, for instance, he invited them to his home for dinner. They ate steak, played pool and, of course, PlayStation.
"Some of these kids are away from their families, and some of these kids don't have dads," Jordan said. "Not to be philosophical, but you have to really love on the kids, and I do love them. They know that."
Lucky sees irony in all of the attention he receives from fans. He's never played a down for Nebraska, yet a dozen kids surrounded him after Monday's practice pining for autographs. Whatever. He has little time to ponder his existence. Not right now.
He's too busy learning Nebraska's eight-pound playbook. Too busy tending to the bumps and bruises resulting from a rigorous preseason camp. Too busy thinking of ways to puncture defenses with his two main assets — his speed and soft hands.
"He has the ability to be a breakaway back," Callahan said. "We just have to keep feeding him the ball."
Link
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