The team has shifted focus to game prep as we approach the Huskers kicking off the season against Illinois. Nebraska has started preparing for its Week 0 opponent. Focus can become difficult as the dog days of summer set it and as we get deeper into camp.
Offensive coordinator Matt Lubick has been impressed with his team keeping the focus up.
“I like where we’re at right now from a focus standpoint,” Lubick said. “It’s been a long camp but a good camp. There has been a lot of improvement and our guys are excited to play an opponent. We are getting ready for that opponent and starting to do some scout looks. Our guys are really excited energetic about that instead of just going against ourselves, I’m really fired up about how our guys prepared all camp.”
The improvement in overall depth on the team has been a positive storyline all fall camp. There are several positions where Nebraska is still sorting out the depth chart even though the reason it isn’t sorted quite yet is a good thing.
“Yeah, it’s not set in stone but it’s getting a little clearer,” Lubick said. “Each day the depth chart gets a little clearer. Who the most consistent players are at every position becomes clearer. We haven’t finalized everything so we are letting that play out a little bit. But we like to shake it up. The good thing is we’re going to have a lot more depth than we did last year. So, we’re going to be able to be able to play more guys at every especially position especially skill spots.”
Wide receiver is a spot where Lubick can see the improved depth. He’s happy with that whole group because the whole group has improved. The team had a lot of first-year players at the position last year. The team got the addition of an impact transfer with Samori Toure who has slid into the room seamlessly. The returning players that played a lot last year are taking their games up a notch too.
“Oliver Martin, Wyatt Liewer, Levi Falck, Zavier Betts and Omar Manning have all gotten better,” Lubick said. We feel really good about that position.”
Running back has been the most talked about position on the team this fall camp. It has the most heated battle for the top spot with up to five players vying for the top spot. Sevion Morrison has had a strong fall camp after accepting the challenge this summer. Markese Stepp has been healthy during camp. Gabe Ervin Jr. has continued to improve as a freshman vying for playing time. Marvin Scott III and Rahmir Johnson are also still in the mix.
“We’re happy with the depth at running back,” Lubick said. We are still trying to actually make a decision on who is going to be the starting back but we’ll play more than one guy. We feel like we have lots a good players. We think we’ll definitely have more depth than we did last year.”
If healthy, Nebraska also has more depth in the tight end room this season too. Lubick noted that group is getting healthier. He feels good about where it’s heading for the first game of the season. The offensive line has been described by coach Greg Austin as a deeper unit this year too.
Depth is improving for Nebraska across the board. It should make practices better and more competitive. The hope is that it translates to Saturdays when the games begin at the end of the month.
Greg is the Recruiting Analyst for Hail Varsity and has covered Husker athletics since 2013. He has always had a passion for sports while growing up in the Chicago area. As he got older and had to hang up his cleats and sneakers, he realized his passion for sports went beyond just watching and attending games. He has covered many events from the Rose Bowl to championship boxing matches. If he’s not talking sports, he’s hovering over his grill. He is married to an amazing woman, Kim, and they have a dog that barks when Greg yells at the TV during games.
