July 2018 fresh links
JULY 31, 2018
Greg Austin likes the progress his offensive linemen* have made since spring ball. | Audio
Former Husker receiver Brandon Reilly is setting his sights higher in year two with the Buffalo Bills.
Northwestern’s season may hinge on senior quarterback Clayton Thorson’s* recovery from knee surgery.
Nebraska looks solid in the middle at linebacker, and HuskerOnline has a projected depth chart for all four LB spots. | QBs by the numbers
Big Ten coaches talk anonymously about their conference opponents, including Nebraska. | Discuss
Anatomy of an Era: Walk-on fullback Chad Stanley saw it all as a player and coach from 1991 to 2000.
From Sam McKewon, five position battles* to watch and three question marks.* | Sipple on QB battle
JULY 30, 2018
Getting the Huskers’ former Big Eight rivals on future schedules* is no easy task.
Targeting rules won’t change in 2018, but evaluations are continuing. | Discuss
Signs point to Maurice Washington and Dominick Watt* making it to fall camp next month.
The defensive line has no shortage of experience but still has lots to prove.
Scott Frost loses football memorabilia and other valuables in a burglary at his Lincoln home, which is unoccupied as it undergoes renovations. | Discuss
Adam Carriker talks to Damian Jackson about playing for the Huskers, his time as a Navy SEAL, learning the playbook and more.
Anatomy of an Era: Ryan Held says Nebraska won championships because “we’d take kids that fit our system. … We weren’t into what a kid was ranked.”
Scott Frost’s harsh talk about the previous regime reflects his passion for the program, Steve Sipple writes. | McKewon: Growing pains* at QB
JULY 29, 2018
Husker247 looks back at when Bobby Newcombe saved the Huskers’ 1999 season in Lawrence, Kan. | Game page
Anatomy of an Era: Ryan Held sees his top accomplishment as a Husker as being four-time Scout Team Player of the Week in 1994.
This week in Husker history: Thunder Thornton is among the MVP vote-getters after the college all-stars upset the Green Bay Packers.
The OWH recaps the Huskers’ less-than-stellar year in athletics* with a look at each men’s and women’s sport.
JULY 28, 2018
The Big Ten deserves a better Big Red, Tad Stryker writes.
Safety JoJo Domann says he’s back after two ACL injuries.
The Huskers’ leadership and team-building sessions with The Program had an impact on Stanley Morgan and others.
The LJS sizes up several key position battles: Safety, running back, center, inside linebacker.
Nebraska’s young quarterbacks are learning to live in the spotlight.
Nutritionist Dave Ellis will not be a figurehead, instead working on the front lines with Nebraska’s athletes.
OWH camp countdown, Nos. 15-11*: Breon Dixon, Antonio Reed, Jerald Foster, Tanner Farmer, DiCaprio Bootle.
Anatomy of an Era: Even as a freshman walk-on in 1993, Ryan Held knew he wanted to be a coach, “so it was an unbelievable opportunity to be a sponge and learn from the best.”
JULY 27, 2018
Northwestern will be shooting for another 10-win season — and its first Big Ten home victory over the Huskers.
Kent Pavelka will be honored and roasted in September at the Omaha Press Club.
Nebraska is listed among five Power Five teams most likely to reach a bowl game this season after missing out in 2017.
Kirk Herbstreit says he’s excited to see Scott Frost at the helm at Nebraska. | Feldman & Mandel on board
Anatomy of an Era: For former strength coach Randy Gobel, the truly exciting part was the process leading to the championship games.
Coaches want versatility from the Husker linebackers, and Collin Miller* fits the bill as a potential inside and outside contributor.
JULY 26, 2018
Logan Smothers, 2020 dual-threat quarterback from Alabama, commits to the Huskers. | Coverage & highlights | Discuss
Memorial Stadium is No. 1 in this ranking of college football venues. | Discuss
Mike Rucker, Kyle Larson, Dan Schmidt and Bob Sledge are this year’s Husker inductees in the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame.
Here are preseason looks at Nebraska from Michigan and Northwestern perspectives.
JD Spielman is named to the Hornung Award watch list.
Anatomy of an Era: Randy Gobel says Nebraska’s pioneering use of sport- and position-specific workout routines had a lot to do with the Huskers’ success in the 1990s.
JULY 25, 2018
“Last Chance U” coach Frank Diaz is grateful for his time with Scott Frost.
Big Red Cobcast: Joe and Tweedy are joined by friend and statesman Brent Pope. They talk about D-backs, sports nutritionists, and how Tweedy is, no matter what anybody thinks, always right.
Defensive back Elijah Blades,* a 2017 Nebraska signee who failed to qualify academically, commits to Oregon. | Recruiting notes
The 7th Annual MN4NE Golf Tournament will be on August 27th.
Players’ weight gains* have the Huskers looking like a true Big Ten program, Sam McKewon writes.
Manziel to Pierson-El? It’s now a potential pass-catch combo* for the Montreal Alouettes.
Poll question: Will you attend Fan Day next month?
Caleb Lightbourn makes the preseason watch list for the Ray Guy Award.
The tandem of Aaron Taylor and Scott Frost has weathered a rough ride.
Jerald Foster and Mick Stoltenberg want to make this more than just a rebuilding year.
The BTN president’s comments in Chicago are a warning sign that cord-cutting could alter the college football landscape, Dan Wetzel writes.
JULY 24, 2018
Bill Moos makes a case for greater parity in scheduling. | Playoff expansion unlikely | Notes from Day 2 in Chicago: 1, 2*
Four Nebraska commits land on the 51-player Butkus Award High School Watch List.
Stanley Morgan brought his style to Chicago, and he’s sure to bring substance to the season, Steve Sipple writes.
FS1 analyst Joel Klatt says he feels pretty strongly that the Huskers finally have the right man for the job. | “Thrilled” at BTN
Tom Shatel says the Big Ten Kickoff Luncheon* embodies what makes the conference unique.
Bringing back the freshman locker room isn’t just about roster size. It’s part of Scott Frost’s program-rebuilding project that borrows from the past. | So many new faces* | Notes
A number of Huskers have added significant weight, if the figures in the new media guide are accurate. | Discuss
Nebraska is No. 8 in ESPN’s preseason Big Ten power rankings.
Luke McNitt is listed among 10 undrafted free agents with the best chance to make an NFL roster.
The 1997 Huskers will be the next team featured on BTN’s “Big Ten Elite” series.
Nebraska and Iowa are working to restore their Black Friday* games as soon as 2022. More from the second day of Big Ten Media Days: Alvarez on Frost* | Day 1 coverage
Anatomy of an Era: On the first offensive play of his only start, Clinton Childs went 65 yards for a touchdown.
JULY 23, 2018
Scott Frost says Nebraska “belongs in the upper echelon of college football” and should be contending for the division championship by next year. Get all the Big Ten Media Days coverage here. | Updates & discussion
The 2018 Nebraska football media guide is now available for downloading or online viewing. | Compressed file
Defensive end Mosai Newsom from Iowa announces his commitment to the Huskers. | Coverage & highlights | 2019 commits | Discuss
Husker receiver Stanley Morgan is one of 10 players earning Big Ten preseason honors.
Nebraska is No. 35 in the Orlando Sentinel’s preseason national rankings.
The move to morning practices wasn’t as simple as it might sound.
Anatomy of an Era: Wrestling was the first love of running back Clinton Childs, a high school All-American in the sport.
JULY 22, 2018
Scott Frost will be in the spotlight* as the first coach to speak at Big Ten Media Days, which will kick off Monday in Chicago. | Storylines: 1, 2, 3, 4 | Updates & discussion
Anatomy of an Era: Clinton Childs was part of perhaps the deepest running-back group in Husker history.
This week in Husker history: Athletic director Steve Pederson says he wants to see progress, not a particular win total, in 2003.
JULY 21, 2018
Nick Henrich, blue-chip inside linebacker from Omaha Burke, announces his commitment to the Huskers. | Coverage & highlights | Carriker gut reaction | Discuss
Former Husker Lavonte David looks back on his journey to Nebraska, and he shares his thoughts on Scott Frost and more.
A Big Ten media poll has Nebraska fourth in the West.
Sam McKewon sees Ron Brown’s return as a Back to the Future moment.
JULY 20, 2018
The LJS believes that MSU quarterback Brian Lewerke* is the best on Nebraska’s schedule.
Dave Ellis is returning to Nebraska as head of performance nutrition. | Anatomy of an Era segments: 1, 2, 3, 4
Jack Stoll is named to the Mackey Award watch list.
Huskers add UCF starting safety Tre Neal. | McKewon analysis*
Corn Nation has high praise for the 2018 Wisconsin Badgers.
247Sports discusses Adrian Martinez’s breakout potential.
Anatomy of an Era: Dennis Leblanc says recruiting often hinges on academics: “That’s what sells a parent.”
Wisconsin QB Alex Hornibrook is 2-0 against the Huskers in spite of not so great stats.
David Max pays tribute to his Mom on her 100th Birthday.
JULY 19, 2018
Tony Fair, a 330-pound junior college nose tackle, commits to the Huskers for 2019. | Highlights & coverage
Anatomy of an Era: It wasn’t always an easy sell, but Dennis Leblanc got players to raise their goals academically.
JULY 18, 2018
Ron Brown discusses his return on Sports Nightly: “I just come to serve.” | 2011: Connecting with Abdullah*
Britney Spears’ boyfriend was never a Husker,* despite what was reported in a recent Men’s Health story.
Running backs coach Ryan Held shares a few thoughts with Husker Dan.
Ron Brown has rejoined* the Nebraska staff as director of player development. | Carriker gut reaction | McKewon commentary* | Discuss
OWH camp countdown, Nos. 25-21*: Freedom Akinmoladun, Alex Davis, Marquel Dismuke, Ben Stille, Tyjon Lindsey.
JULY 17, 2018
Former Husker Randy Gregory receives a conditional reinstatement from the NFL.
Tagge-to-Rodgers is ranked among the 16 most dangerous QB-WR combos in college football history.
A 247Sports analyst predicts a 7-5 season for the Huskers.
Athlon has Adrian Martinez in its top 25 breakout quarterbacks for 2018.
Nebraska is No. 5 on this list of 10 teams on the rise in 2018. | Upset at Ann Arbor?
Anatomy of an Era: More of Curt Thompson’s work behind the curtains.
Big Red Cobcast: Joe and Ryan take time out of their busy days to talk about player attrition and ponder listeners’ questions.
JULY 16, 2018
Three seniors — Jerald Foster, Stanley Morgan and Mick Stoltenberg — will represent Nebraska next week at Big Ten Media Days.
Anatomy of an Era: For Curt Thompson, the Tunnel Walk was a stressful event.
JULY 15, 2018
A record 840 fans ran Sunday in the Nebraska Football Road Race to support the fight against pediatric brain cancer. | Gebbia’s leadership | Martinez mic’d up | More features: 1, 2 | Photos | Tweets & more
Ohio State has lots of parts to replace, but that’s not likely to stop the Buckeyes from being one of the nation’s best teams.
Steve Sipple sees the hiring of Brenden Stai as an example of forward thinking by Nebraska.
Anatomy of an Era: Curt Thompson started as a weightroom “walk-on” and rose to the ranks of football administration.
This week in Husker history: Both world wars cause attrition in the program.
JULY 14, 2018
Linebacker Luke Gifford is determined to raise his game to a new level in his final season as a Husker. | Upbeat Bootle
Rich Glover gets an assist from Mike Rozier at Glover’s annual youth football camp in New Jersey.
The switch to morning practices has been finalized.
Nebraska faces the toughest go in this ranking of Big Ten West teams’ conference schedules.
Harrison Phillips reflects on why he chose Stanford over Nebraska* five years ago.
JULY 13, 2018
Running back Devine Ozigbo has slimmed down to meet the demands of the fast-paced offense.
The Huskers are mostly in the lower half in Athlon’s rankings of Big Ten position groups, but receivers and the O-line are exceptions.
Stanley Morgan comes in at No. 1 in HuskerOnline’s top 40 Huskers. | Five wild-card players
OWH camp countdown, Nos. 30-26*: Matt Farniok, Khalil Davis, Devine Ozigbo, Mikale Wilbon, Mike Williams.
Anatomy of an Era: Diane Yeutter sees Husker football as a family, and every autumn Saturday, “Nebraska has a family reunion.”
Rex Burkhead returns to Plano with a special surprise for his high school coach.
JULY 12, 2018
Lamar Jackson tops the LJS’s list of five veteran players who could be on the verge of their most productive seasons.
Minnesota has issues at quarterback in coach PJ Fleck’s second season. | Northwestern preview
Player departures, gambling, Frank Solich and more are discussed in the latest Husker Doc Talk.
Lavonte David and Ndamukong Suh own the highest player ratings* among former Huskers in the Madden 19 NFL video game.
Paul Rogers, record-setting placekicker for the Huskers and member of the 1970 national championship team, has died at age 69. | 1970 media guide profile | 2006 interview
Anatomy of an Era: Diane Yeutter is an unsung hero whose letter-writing to Tony Veland and other players made a difference.
JULY 11, 2018
The potential of true freshman Miles Jones has his teammates excited, including Devine Ozigbo.
Sporting News predicts a third-place finish in the Big Ten West for Nebraska.
Ohio State* has the stockpile of talent for another title run.
Academic issues have forced offensive tackle Willie Canty,* a 2018 signee, to take the junior college route. | Recruiting imact
JULY 10, 2018
In the latest Big Red Cobcast, Pat and Tweedy talk about expectations, rumors and how everything got to where it’s at.
With 17 returning starters, Michigan appears set for a run at the Big Ten title.
Stanley Morgan is No. 7 in a USA Today ranking of wide receivers.
The quarterbacks* Nebraska will face in 2018 run the gamut from green to experienced.
Anatomy of an Era: Tony Veland on Tommie Frazier: “You could see that even as a freshman he was a leader and he was one of those guys who was gonna elevate the other players by the way he played.”
JULY 9, 2018
Athlon has Nebraska penciled in for the Pinstripe Bowl.
Tristan Gebbia says he doesn’t feel like an underdog in the QB competition.
A number of departures from the team, including tight ends Matt Snyder and David Engelhaupt, are now official. | Updated roster | Discuss
Walk-on O-lineman Mitch Balenger has taken an unconventional route* to Nebraska.
Steve Sipple doesn’t see the Big Ten’s injury-reporting initiative going anywhere.
Anatomy of an Era: Tony Veland says the Huskers had “a real blue-collar mentality that was about ‘We’re not out here to be pretty, we’re here to win games.’ ”
JULY 8, 2018
OWH camp countdown, Nos. 35-31*: Andrew Bunch, Jaylin Bradley, Eric Lee, Will Jackson, Cole Conrad.
Anatomy of an Era: A fan’s letter helped lift oft-injured Tony Veland out of his “woe is me” funk.
This week in Husker history: Season ticket totals indicate enthusiasm is high after Biff Jones’ first season as coach.
JULY 7, 2018
Scott Frost is backing up his talk about walk-ons and building roster numbers, Tad Stryker writes.
Former Husker All-America O-lineman Brenden Stai is the new director of development for the Nebraska Athletic Development team.
Tommie Frazier is No. 5 in this list of Heisman snubs, and Ndamukong Suh gets an honorable mention.
The LJS highlights five true freshmen who could make in impact in 2018.
JULY 6, 2018
Phil Steele sees the Huskers improving this season by three or four wins over last year.
Volleyball’s Red-White scrimmage at 3 p.m. and Football’s Fan Day at 6:30 p.m. set up a doubleheader opportunity for Husker fans on Aug. 18.
Anatomy of an Era: Rob Zatechka says that some of the best guys he played against “were the guys I was hitting heads with in practice.”
JULY 5, 2018
Steve Sipple pumps the brakes on the Adrian Martinez hype.
Grad assistant Demeitre Brim is the one guy on the Nebraska staff who can tell you what it’s like to play for Scott Frost.
Husker newcomers have been assigned jersey numbers, and the addition of two juco transfers is now official. | Updated roster
The defense’s feeble totals of sacks and takeaways* over the past five years illustrate the task facing Erik Chinander.
Online registration ends soon for the Nebraska Football Road Race, which could give you a chance to see a Husker practice.
Anatomy of an Era: Rob Zatechka says the national championship win over Miami was actually “kind of an off-night” for the Huskers.
JULY 4, 2018
Husker players were tested in a big way last month by The Program. | Summer work
Nebraska is the front-runner for 2020 quarterback prospect Logan Smothers* from Alabama. | Discuss
Anatomy of an Era: Rob Zatechka says today’s “so-called gurus” are “running the spread option that Osborne pioneered.” | Vogel commentary
JULY 3, 2018
Freedom Akinmoladun has his sights set on vaulting into Nebraska’s top ten in career sacks.
Opponent previews: Ohio State tops the Husker schedule difficulty rankings, and Troy might pose the biggest nonconference test. | Up-and-down Iowa*
Mohamed Barry believes his time for waiting* is over, and he’s motivated to bring back the old Nebraska.
OWH camp countdown, Nos. 40-36*: Austin Allen, Cam’Ron Jones, Jaron Woodyard, Caleb Lightbourn, Miles Jones.
Anatomy of an Era: Rob Zatechka says team unity resulted in “an increased effort to try and win it for that guy who was wearing that same jersey lining up next to you.”
The latest Big Red Cobcast has at least three arguments listeners will want to chime in on.
JULY 2, 2018
The Big Ten is asking the NCAA to consider developing an NFL-like injury reporting system to protect the integrity of college football as legalized sports gambling expands.
Stanley Morgan is No. 7 and JD Spielman is No. 17 in Athlon’s national ranking of wide receivers.
Adam Carriker talks to NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner about the Huskers’ path to get back on top, Kurt’s Super Bowl memories and more.
JULY 1, 2018
Former Husker Ben Miles has landed at Texas A&M.
Opponent previews: Troy, Purdue, Northwestern, Michigan State, Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin.
Anatomy of an Era: Barron Miles says the staff wanted him to gain weight but finally gave up. “You just need to be fast, be explosive, be smart, and just be able to play the game.”
Nebraska posts its worst finish* — 44th — in the 25 years of the all-sports Directors’ Cup standings. | Discuss
This week in Husker history: Nebraska’s continuation of football during World War I is a plus for the Red Cross.