• Video Below: NU coach Bo Pelini discusses Bubba Starling and other topics, as well as Saturday's practice highlights:
• Photo Showcase: NU football practice, Aug. 6
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LINCOLN — The newly revived Nebraska-Iowa rivalry is still months away from its debut on the football field, but that didn't stop a high-profile Hawkeye from dishing out a verbal shot Friday.
Iowa's the better agricultural state.
This according to the school's Board of Regents president, Craig Lang, who was making a public appearance in Iowa City to generate farmer awareness.
"Iowa is No. 1 in all these things in agriculture, and Nebraska is not No. 1 in anything in agriculture, even though they're an agriculture state," Lang said, according to the Des Moines Register.
Nebraska will host Iowa in the teams' regular season finale on Nov. 25.
Two sidelined for now
Injuries will keep freshman offensive lineman Givens Price sidelined throughout preseason practice and senior offensive tackle Marcel Jones from participating early on, coach Bo Pelini said Saturday.
Neither Price nor Jones was practicing during the Huskers' first preseason session Saturday.
Pelini didn't disclose specifics on the injuries, but Price was seen on the sidelines with a wrap on his left knee.
Jones, a 6-foot-7, 320-pounder who's started 12 career games, dealt with back soreness for much of his junior season. He's day-to-day, Pelini said.
Pirman fits at 'backer
Freshman Max Pirman was recruited as a tight end, but he lined up at weakside linebacker during Saturday's practice.
Pirman, who's 6-foot-5, 215 pounds and from Ohio, did play linebacker at Orrville High School.
"He's a pretty talented guy," Pelini said. "We think that he can help us there right now."
Sutton hits the field
Freshman David Sutton, a former standout at Lincoln Southeast, earned a spot on the 105-man roster and was on the practice field with the Huskers Saturday.
Sutton was initially set to grayshirt, which would have made him ineligible to practice this fall. But he earned a scholarship in time to start practice.
He was impressive at tight end Saturday, according to Pelini.
"He had a good day, good first day," Pelini said.
There were several scholarship players not on the 105-man roster: Senior corner Marcus Mendoza; junior running back Collins Okafor; junior tight end Lester Ward; and sophomore corner Lazarri Middleton.
Freshman walk-ons who did make it: Tyson Broekemeier of Aurora and Pelham, Ala., native Derek Slaughter.
Those not in practice yet typically report when classes start.
A helping hand
Former Nebraska defensive back Eric Warfield has joined the team as an undergraduate assistant. He's still working toward his degree, so he's allowed to be on the field with players, helping position coach Corey Raymond. Warfield won a national title at NU in 1997 and played in the NFL from 1998 to 2006.
"We thought he'd be a good set of hands," Pelini said.
Moving fast
The offensive players seemed to have retained the quicker-pace approach that Nebraska coaches emphasized all spring, according to Pelini.
The Huskers' offense is set to move at an up-tempo style more regularly this fall. Pelini liked the way his players handled that plan Saturday.
"I think the players did a good job of continuing their learning and getting comfortable with the offense through the summer time," Pelini said. "They do that on their own. It showed (Saturday)."
— Jon Nyatawa and Sam McKewon
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• Video: NU coach Bo Pelini discusses Bubba Starling and other topics after Saturday's practice:
• Video: See video highlights from Saturday's football practice:
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