Two-a-days began at Nebraska on Friday, the first of four double sessions over the next week.
“I thought it was a good tempo,” said coach Bo Pelini, generally pleased with the Huskers' intensity and progress through the first week of preseason camp.
Pelini said NU coaches will take measures to avoid “overloading” the Huskers during the next few days.
“You want to get your work done,” he said after the 90-minute morning session on the FieldTurf outside the Hawks Center, “but we have to be smart as a staff to make sure we're not beaten down. We've had great learning, great tempo. Most of our install is in, so really this week is an evaluation period. There should be great competition.”
As for scrimmaging, Pelini said it's coming soon.
“You kind of ease into it,” he said. “(Thursday) afternoon was the first time we were allowed to tackle.”
Hardrick back to normal
Junior offensive tackle Jermarcus Hardrick is back at practice after suffering from heat-related illness on Monday.
Pelini said Hardrick, a newcomer who practiced with the Huskers in the spring, is under no extra limitations.
“When he initially had the cramping, we couldn't get the IV in him to make sure they replaced (fluids),” Pelini said, “so that caused the problem that he had. He's fine. He's doing really good.”
Depth behind Crick
Nebraska will get plenty of work out of Jared Crick, just as it did last season when the junior made 73 tackles to finish fourth on the team.
Crick said Friday, though, that he has trust in those behind him at defensive tackle.
“I'm not going to want to come off the field this year,” he said, “but when I need a blow it's going to be good to know that the guy coming in for us is capable and ready to do the job.”
NU has Crick, Baker Steinkuhler and Terrence Moore as returning defensive tackles with experience. Thaddeus Randle is coming off a redshirt, and depth comes from walk-on Justin Jackson and freshmen Jay Guy and Chase Rome, who both arrived in January.
A nice mix of talents, Crick said, as Nebraska tries to replace some guy named Suh.
“Thad, he's kind of like me last year, just relies on his speed,” Crick said. “Bake, he's big and strong. And T-Mo, he's got it all. So just seeing what we have in every single guy is great for us, and especially for depth.”
Mike Smith update
After practice Friday morning, tight end Mike McNeill provided reporters with an update on teammate and roommate Mike Smith, the senior offensive lineman who broke his leg Tuesday and will not play this season.
Smith, who has not had surgery yet, plans to stay in close contact with the program, according to McNeill.
“He's doing all right,” McNeill said. “He's going to be in and out of the stadium. He's got the doctors looking at him and the trainers helping him. So he'll be all right.”
Smith and McNeill both will graduate with degrees in marketing Saturday.
McNeill will conclude his NU career this fall. Smith might be done, too.
Precedent would indicate that it's unlikely Smith will be granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA. Smith redshirted in 2006, but has played in 39 games during the three seasons since.
Football humor
Every once in awhile during fall camp, Husker players get a reminder of football's joy — and brutality.
McNeill started laughing Friday as he shared a memorable moment from Thursday's practice.
“Will Henry got smacked on the sideline by Rickey Thenarse,” McNeill said. “That might've been the biggest hit. He caught the ball and he turned. When he turned, he kind of stood up and Rickey just KOd him on the sideline.”
McNeill might've laughed even harder, but someday the same thing might happen to him.
— Mitch Sherman, Rich Kaipust, John Nyatawa and Dirk Chatelain
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