8:25 p.m.: The Huskers are done with the opening day of preseason camp, completing a two-hour practice in the heat – after which coach Bo Pelini and offensive coordinator Shawn Watson clarified several items related to the 105-man roster.
Quarterback Kody Spano is not in camp. Spano, returning from a second ACL tear, practiced in the spring but has not returned to full speed.
“He just needs more time in terms of the strength aspect,” Watson said.
Pelini described Spano as “right on schedule.”
“If you put him out there and he's going through the day-to-day rigors of camp,” the third-year coach said, “that'll probably set him back a little bit.”
The coaches confirmed that walk-on sophomore Ron Kellogg is also out until school begins, failing to make the 105-man cut.
Other notables out of the 105 include offensive lineman Nick Ash and linebacker Micah Kreikemeier. Millard South graduate Bronson Marsh will grayshirt, but cornerback Josh Mitchell is set to join the Huskers in preseason camp, Pelini said. Mitchell did not practice Saturday.
Also, linebacker Matt Holt is no longer on the team after missing all of last season with injury.
And freshman receiver Kenny Bell, watching practice Saturday, was left off the 105-man roster with a sore hamstring. I-back Braylon Heard has not qualified academically out Youngstown, Ohio, but may still join the Huskers in January.
One additional player was missing Saturday with an illness. Pelini did not name him.
Pelini described the workout as a “typical first day.”
“I thought the effort was good,” he said. “A lot of mistakes, obviously.”
Quarterbacks Zac Lee and Cody Green also spoke after practice.
Interestingly, Watson did not dismiss the idea of running a two-quarterback system.
“I'd be open to it,” he said.
Freshman Taylor Martinez is also in competition for the starting job. The trio will split snaps in practice evenly until someone emerges.
Watson said he and coach Bo Pelini will make a QB decision when the time is right.
“If it's 10 days, we'll do it then,” Watson said. “If it takes a month, it takes a month.”
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