LINCOLN — As far as knowing where to be and what to do last season, that wasn’t the problem it could have been for Sean Fisher playing as a redshirt freshman.
It helped that he was an Academic All-Big 12 player with a 4.0 grade average who understood schemes, assignments and alignments.
The other side was another story, something the Nebraska linebacker also was smart enough to realize as he reflected on his first regular duty as a Husker.
“Physically, I don’t think I was very pleased with the overall season for me,” Fisher said. “I don’t think I maybe completely understood what it took to be able to compete at that level. So this year I’m trying to work on that this spring and get ready for fall.”
Part of Fisher’s indoctrination to Big 12 football was the revelation that he was going to have trouble dealing with bigger opponents and getting off blocks. That negated some of the good coming from being fast and rangy at 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds.
So the winter emphasis was on adding strength and muscle mass, and the spring focus on keeping his pad level down and better using his hands to accomplish separation.
Assistant coach Mike Ekeler likes what he is starting to see after 12 practices for one of several sophomores who will be vying for time at linebacker next season.
“I just see his confidence grows every single day,” Ekeler said. “Now he’s figuring out how to play linebacker.”
Ekeler watched the former Millard North star struggle “up there in the box” with 300-pound linemen or while taking on backs at the point of attack.
“He just had to understand how to get off blocks and the whole technique part of it,” Ekeler said. “Right now, he plays with his hat and hands better than anybody I’ve ever seen. He understands the technique and he’s phenomenal at it.
“Once he hits the weight room more this summer, he’s got a very, very, very bright future.”
Fisher is up to 235 pounds and cognizant that his strength still needs to improve. It’s easier to lock in on technique and fundamentals, too, as his understanding of the position becomes more complete.
That has made this spring a huge time for him.
“Mentally, there have been some things that clicked, but I felt pretty comfortable last year with most of that stuff,” Fisher said. “Honestly, there were a lot of things I think I needed to work on last season. It’s different than playing at the level I was used to playing. It’s a lot more fast and it’s just a lot more physical.”
Fisher had to wait until after the season for it to all slow down and allow him to evaluate. He started six games and played in all 14 — finishing with 35 tackles — and was picked for the Big 12 all-freshman team by ESPN.com.
With Nebraska again limiting its number of linebackers on the field, Fisher will be locked in a battle come August with Eric Martin, Will Compton, Alonzo Whaley and others just to get on the field. His old “buck’’ spot is gone in the Huskers’ new base defense, but the other two spots are pretty much interchangeable, and Ekeler said Fisher could play either “with his eyes shut.”
Fisher just has to keep working on that physical aspect. “Hat and hands,” he said, repeating Ekeler’s regular phrase. Elevating all of his tools to this new level.
“He’s just made a ton of progress right now,” Ekeler said. “Like all our guys he’s got a long ways to go, but he’s headed in the right direction, big time.”
Contact the writer:
444-1042, rich.kaipust@owh.com
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