NU offensive coordinator Shawn Watson said the left tackle job remains unclaimed on the Husker line, but said the staff likes what it has seen of redshirt freshman Jeremiah Sirles.
“He's really good,” Watson said. “He's got a great skill set and he's a very good player.”
Sirles and junior-college transfer Jermarcus Hardrick are the candidates on the left side. Either way, NU quarterbacks are going to have a first-year starter protecting their back side.
“We're not done there, either,” Watson said. “Everybody wants to focus on quarterback, but I'm sure Bo has told you guys whoever walks out there for the game will be the starters, because we continue to evaluate.”
In other offensive line news:
• Watson said Cole Pensick and walk-on Spencer Long are working behind Mike Caputo at center. “We feel pretty good about those three kids,” he said.
• Andrew Rodriguez has worked some with the No. 2s at guard and become a candidate to play as a true freshman, especially with Mike Smith out for the year. Rodriguez is a former All-Nebraska player from Aurora.
“He's got size, speed, all the things you look for,” Watson said. “Like any freshman, he's developing fundamentally, technically. He's not a done product, won't be until maybe two years down the road, maybe not even then, because that's
Crick sidekick hasn't emerged
Nobody's emerged as Jared Crick's permanent sidekick yet, according to assistant Carl Pelini.
But that doesn't mean that Pelini's worried about the production at that defensive tackle spot opposite Crick, the Big 12's preseason co-defensive player of the year.
Junior Terrence Moore and sophomore Baker Steinkuhler have been battling for the open starting job throughout preseason camp. And it's been back and forth, Pelini said.
“There's no guy,” he said. “That's open competition. It's probably going to go well into the season before a starter is named.”
But Moore and Steinkuhler will both play. Redshirt freshman Thad Randle is in the rotation, too.
Fisher injury creates opportunity
The season-ending injury to linebacker Sean Fisher has created a better opportunity for one talented newcomer to earn a chance to contribute this season.
Junior linebacker Lavonte David, who transferred to Nebraska from Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College, has had several impressive moments this month, despite his crash-course introduction to the NU defensive concepts.
Pelini calls practice ‘OK'
Nebraska coach Bo Pelini described the Huskers' fourth practice of the week on Thursday as “OK.”
“Decent,” Pelini said. “Still got some things, obviously that we're cleaning up.”
NU began to introduce some Western Kentucky concepts on Thursday but spent most of the two-hour workout with its top units matched against each other. The Hilltoppers visit Memorial Stadium on Sept. 4.
Rodriguez works with top units
Freshman offensive guard Andrew Rodriguez continues to work with the top units in practice, but Pelini said it's too early to determine if he'll skip a redshirt season.
“We'll see how it goes,” the coach said. “He's going to be a good player, though.”
— Rich Kaipust, Jon Nyatawa and Mitch Sherman
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