LINCOLN — Thinking like any other coach would, Carl Pelini originally figured the best aspect of Nebraska’s heralded walk-on program was its potential to serve as a recruiting security blanket.

That is, until he, his brother Bo and the rest of the NU staff met with Tom Osborne for the first time.

Carl Pelini had always carried practical perspective regarding walk-ons. He saw that at Nebraska, a couple of dozen overlooked athletes, most from in-state, march into preseason camp every fall hoping for their shot.

It’s a perfect scenario for coaches, considering how difficult it is to evaluate and predict how high school athletes might develop at the next level. A few of those hard-working additions can help make up for recruiting busts.

But as Osborne explained, and as Pelini soon saw firsthand, there’s more to the NU walk-on program than that.

Quickly the staff recognized what every native Nebraskan has always known: Players from this state walk on at NU because they’ve spent their childhoods aspiring to become Huskers.

Their pride for the program is contagious, Pelini said, and its effects are incredibly positive, especially on those from out-of-state. Pelini didn’t realize that at first. He does now.

“These kids from New Jersey, Florida or L.A. have come here to play for the University of Nebraska. ... We’re immersing them every day in the locker room with a group of kids who grew up in this state, dreaming of the day that they could wear that uniform,” Pelini said. “It begins to develop a culture.”

Pelini spoke to about 250 people Thursday morning at an event organized by the Nebraska Walk-on Club. It’s one of three Walk-on Club luncheons this fall.

Pelini captured the passion of walk-ons with this anecdote: One walk-on — Pelini didn’t reveal his name — is considering giving up an academically earned endowed scholarship worth $5,000 for a chance to play this year. If he steps on the field with a scholarship of any kind, he counts toward Nebraska’s 85-player limit.

“That’s the type of sacrifice that our walk-ons make every day,” Pelini said. “Perseverance, character, effort — if you took all those adjectives that you use to describe those walk-ons, that’s the culture we want at the University of Nebraska for the entire team.”

A few other tidbits from Pelini’s speech Thursday morning:

• He reiterated Thursday that Eric Hagg was the main reason the Huskers ditched their three-linebacker base defense for the peso formation, which features an extra defensive back filling a linebacker role. And now Austin Cassidy is factoring into that hybrid position as well.

“When did we start using (the peso)? About midway through last season when we figured out how talented Eric Hagg was — and Austin Cassidy, quite frankly,” Pelini said. “(We needed) ways to keep them on the field because they’re too good of athletes to only be in there when you only need nickel.”

• Four former local talents may eventually earn a spot in the defensive line rotation, according to Pelini. He mentioned Kenny Anderson (Millard West), Justin Jackson (Norris), and brothers Colin and Conor McDermott (Creighton Prep) as developing players who could eventually add depth. “I think they’re all extremely talented kids, but (they’re) working to put that weight on,” Pelini said. “We’ll see how that plays out.”

• At defensive back, it’s not easy for anyone to break into the two-deep at this point, just because there’s so much experienced talent in the secondary. But walk-ons Jim Ebke and Seth Jameson could be factors down the road, Pelini said.

Ebke, a former quarterback from Lincoln East, could see some time as a reserve this fall, but the junior’s more likely to hold a more stable role on special teams, according to Pelini. Jameson, a redshirt freshman from Southlake, Texas, dealt with a nagging injury during camp, but Pelini said he’s been improving of late.

Contact the writer:

402-473-9585, jon.nyatawa@owh.com

« Sports - Big Red Today

Share