• Video: Nebraska coach Bo Pelini speaks after the Huskers' practice Saturday:
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LINCOLN — Two years ago, four serious injuries to potentially key contributors this early might have caused even the confident Bo Pelini to start fretting.
But now that Nebraska has developed suitable depth at nearly every position, the Husker football coach can discuss the team's replacement options with the conviction that his squad has enough talent to make up for the losses.
Pelini on Saturday revealed the fourth major personnel loss of the preseason: Senior tight end Dreu Young will have back surgery next week and probably won't return for at least two months.
It's possible, Pelini said, that Young could be out all year.
“I don't know exactly what the timetable is,” Pelini said after practice. “He won't be available for a while. His status in coming back is a little bit up in the air.”
But Pelini said he still feels good about the position. Sophomores Ben Cotton and Kyler Reed received valuable playing time last year and seem capable of becoming dangerous weapons. Senior Mike McNeill could move back to tight end at some point, too.
“We have a number of options there,” Pelini said.
Pelini can say the same thing about the offensive line, which lost its most experienced member when Mike Smith broke a leg last week. Smith was a two-year starter at left tackle and seemed to be developing as a utility backup who could play any position on the line.
But redshirt freshman Jeremiah Sirles and junior college transfer Jermarcus Hardrick have emerged as candidates to start at left tackle. If both falter, Pelini said, either Marcel Jones or D.J. Jones could slide over from right tackle.
“That's one of the big differences that we have on the offensive line than in years past,” Pelini said. “We have more depth, so we have a little bit more flexibility in how we play our unit.”
That's also the case in the defensive backfield. The Huskers are now without veteran Anthony Blue after the junior tore an anterior cruciate ligament Tuesday. Blue, who played in 12 games as a true freshman, was likely vying for a reserve role in the secondary.
“It's really deep back there, so it's not a big issue,” Pelini said.
Same goes for the linebacker corps.
Sophomore Sean Fisher, a projected starter, broke a leg Tuesday and isn't expected to recover in time to play this fall.
But Pelini on Saturday reeled off the names of four players — sophomores Will Compton and Eric Martin, and juniors Lavonte David and Mathew May — who are contending for the two open spots at linebacker.
Like all of the injured Huskers, Fisher will be missed. But the Huskers plan to roll on.
“We have a lot of options,” Pelini said. “A lot of interchangeable parts.”
Contact the writer:
402-473-9585, jon.nyatawa@owh.com
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