Here is a full recap of Nebraska's weekly press conference this afternoon at Memorial Stadium...
***Stanley Morgan is up.
***Morgan said closing in on several NU receiving records was a "humbling" experience to be mentioned among the best Huskers ever. He said he talked with Kenny Bell before Saturday's game and Bell told him to go break all of his records.
***Morgan said he had to get the records now and enjoy them while he could before guys like JD Spielman break them all in a couple years.
***Morgan said one of his biggest goals as a senior was to "break up the clicks" that were in Nebraska's locker room last season. He said he and the rest of the seniors made it a point to bring the team together and work for one goal.
***Morgan said one senior who he's admired that doesn't get a lot of attention was Bryan Reimers, who brings it ever day in practice and sets the standard for the entire receiving corps.
***Morgan said Adrian Martinez could be as good as he wants to be, and that what made him special was how "wise beyond his years" for a true freshman.
***Morgan said Michigan State's defense makes this week so exciting.
***Morgan said Nebraska's 3-7 record wasn't what he wanted at all, but all of the progress this program has made inside and out made it "a great season" for him personally.
***That's all for Morgan.
***Jerald Foster is now up.
***Foster said he's had "an interesting career here" but was glad he had the experiences he did at Nebraska.
***Foster said the way this season has turned around has really helped make this a better ending for his time as a Husker.
***Foster said Michigan State's top-ranked rushing defense would "a fun" challenge, and he doesn't expect NU to change much of what they do on offense.
***Foster said the only thing that's amazed him about Devine Ozigbo's season is how he somehow got "three steps faster" than he'd ever been. Foster gave a shoutout to NU's strength staff for that and making the team overall so much faster and stronger.
***Foster said he had no doubt that the foundation for Nebraska's program has been laid this season. That was something he was most proud of from his senior season.
***Foster said he feels great right now despite having played 10 straight games, and most everyone else is the same way. He feels they all "have enough juice left in the tank" to finish this season out strong.
***Foster said pointed to guys like Matt Jarzynka and Austin Rose as seniors he's always admired who don't get the attention as other seniors. He said Jarzynka had an internship opportunity this summer for his future career that he turned down so he could be with the team for summer workouts. Foster said that embodied everything the seniors wanted this team to be about.
***Foster said he remembers when he brother Tre went through Senior Day, calling it "a hard moment" knowing they would probably never play football together again. But he knows all good things must come to an end and he's excited about the future.
***That's all for Foster.
***Devine Ozigbo is up.
***Ozigbo said it was a great honor to earn Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week, but he gave all the credit for that award and his entire season to his offensive line.
***Ozigbo said it was good to show everyone what he can do when he gets a chance to break a long run on Saturday. He said that was something he wanted to bring to the table since he first watched old UCF film this offseason since he knew those opportunities would be there this offseason.
***That's all for Ozigbo.
***Adrian Martinez is up.
***Martinez said having a receiver like Morgan has helped him along since Day 1. He said he has "all the faith in the world" in Morgan and thinks he's going to catch every time he throws to him.
***Martinez said Michigan State's pass rush would be a challenge but feels confident in NU having enough weapons on offense to counter it.
***Martinez said Frost wanting to take the ball first to start every game sets the tone for the entire offense and gives them the confidence to come out firing.
***Martinez said this senior class has been so valuable to him helping him adjust to his role as Nebraska's starting quarterback, and he wants nothing more but to send them out right with a win on Saturday.
***Martinez said he's still focusing on one opponent at a time, but he knows that finishing out with two more wins would be a great boost for the team going into the offseason.
***That's all for Martinez.
***Mick Stoltenberg is up.
***Stoltenberg said his knee was doing OK after taking a shot at the end of the game on his interception. He practiced today and felt good.
***Stoltenberg said this was a bittersweet week since he's sad to be playing his final home game, but excited to keep building momentum to end the year. He said the seniors will have to keep their emotions in check this week since "it's not Senior Day for everyone else."
***Stoltenberg said he obviously would have liked to play more this year, but he's taken pride in being able to come back and provide some much needed depth, especially at a new position at defensive end.
***Stoltenberg said he's learned a lot about himself over his career, and he's taken on the motto of "a loser isn't the guy who gets knocked down, it's the guy who doesn't get back up." He said all of the seniors have taken on that mindset, which has really helped them fight back this season.
***Stoltenberg said a big difference with the increased turnovers for the defense has been the players taking it more seriously in practice. They've always done takeaway drills, but lately the guys have seen their value and realized "they're not just something to keep us busy."
***Stoltenberg said Mohamed Barry was definitely a guy who would take over as a key leader on defense. He also mentioned Dicaprio Bootle as another.
***That's all for Stoltenberg.
***Scott Frost is up.
***Frost said he still remembers how emotional his Senior Day was, and he still has a picture of him and Tom Osborne in the tunnel before that game. He said it's going to be a special day for a group of seniors that help lay the foundation for the program's future.
***Frost pointed to Ozigbo as a senior who has really impressed him with how far he's come from Day 1 to now. He said Ozigbo fully embraced what the coaches wanted the team to be about and has thrived ever since.
***Frost said Ozigbo winning the Big Ten weekly honor was a perfect example of how kids should view things. He said far too often guys quit when they don't experience immediate success or face adversity, but Ozigbo kept working even when NU brought in more competition to take his job and he overcame everything to be one of the Big Ten's best.
***Frost doubled down on saying Ozigbo will be an NFL player, and while he won't tell anyone how to vote, he said Ozigbo was an all-Big Ten player in his mind.
***Frost said Michigan State's defense has changed since he faced them when he was at Oregon. He said MSU was "a quarters coverage" defense but is more man based now that mixes things up a little more with its pass defense.
***Frost said MSU was "close to or as good of a defense as we've faced all year." He said the best thing they do is get 11 guys to the football on every play and they don't give up big gains.
***Frost said Tre Neal has been a great addition to the defense not only with his experience, but also his leadership. Frost said Neal has helped the defense take on the aggressive mentality that has led to the big uptick in turnovers.
***Frost said there wasn't much change in Michigan State's offense whether Brian Lewerke or Rocky Lombardi was under center at quarterback.
***Frost said they've had some unfortunate injuries this season, but overall they haven't had "anywhere near the injuries they've had in recent past" despite playing 10 straight weeks. He credited the trainers and strength staff for being able to stay healthier than most teams.
***Frost said the kickoff special would be Barret Pickering going forward in favor of Caleb Lightbourn. "We want the ball to go where it's supposed to go."
***Frost said the increased forced fumbles was just a result of Nebraska being "ball aware now." He said guys are locking in on the ball better in coverage and how an opponent is holding it and taking shots at knocking it out.
***Frost said he can feel the momentum that's been built within the program, and even though there won't be a bowl game he felt very good about where things were going into the offseason.
***Frost said of the 11 a.m. kickoffs: "You win more games, you get better time slots." He said he personally likes 11 am games but realizes the disadvantage it puts NU in with recruiting and getting kids on campus in time.
***Frost said the 2019 class could end up being bigger than 25.
***That's all for Frost.
That wraps up today's press conference. We'll have much more up soon.
***Stanley Morgan is up.
***Morgan said closing in on several NU receiving records was a "humbling" experience to be mentioned among the best Huskers ever. He said he talked with Kenny Bell before Saturday's game and Bell told him to go break all of his records.
***Morgan said he had to get the records now and enjoy them while he could before guys like JD Spielman break them all in a couple years.
***Morgan said one of his biggest goals as a senior was to "break up the clicks" that were in Nebraska's locker room last season. He said he and the rest of the seniors made it a point to bring the team together and work for one goal.
***Morgan said one senior who he's admired that doesn't get a lot of attention was Bryan Reimers, who brings it ever day in practice and sets the standard for the entire receiving corps.
***Morgan said Adrian Martinez could be as good as he wants to be, and that what made him special was how "wise beyond his years" for a true freshman.
***Morgan said Michigan State's defense makes this week so exciting.
***Morgan said Nebraska's 3-7 record wasn't what he wanted at all, but all of the progress this program has made inside and out made it "a great season" for him personally.
***That's all for Morgan.
***Jerald Foster is now up.
***Foster said he's had "an interesting career here" but was glad he had the experiences he did at Nebraska.
***Foster said the way this season has turned around has really helped make this a better ending for his time as a Husker.
***Foster said Michigan State's top-ranked rushing defense would "a fun" challenge, and he doesn't expect NU to change much of what they do on offense.
***Foster said the only thing that's amazed him about Devine Ozigbo's season is how he somehow got "three steps faster" than he'd ever been. Foster gave a shoutout to NU's strength staff for that and making the team overall so much faster and stronger.
***Foster said he had no doubt that the foundation for Nebraska's program has been laid this season. That was something he was most proud of from his senior season.
***Foster said he feels great right now despite having played 10 straight games, and most everyone else is the same way. He feels they all "have enough juice left in the tank" to finish this season out strong.
***Foster said pointed to guys like Matt Jarzynka and Austin Rose as seniors he's always admired who don't get the attention as other seniors. He said Jarzynka had an internship opportunity this summer for his future career that he turned down so he could be with the team for summer workouts. Foster said that embodied everything the seniors wanted this team to be about.
***Foster said he remembers when he brother Tre went through Senior Day, calling it "a hard moment" knowing they would probably never play football together again. But he knows all good things must come to an end and he's excited about the future.
***That's all for Foster.
***Devine Ozigbo is up.
***Ozigbo said it was a great honor to earn Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week, but he gave all the credit for that award and his entire season to his offensive line.
***Ozigbo said it was good to show everyone what he can do when he gets a chance to break a long run on Saturday. He said that was something he wanted to bring to the table since he first watched old UCF film this offseason since he knew those opportunities would be there this offseason.
***That's all for Ozigbo.
***Adrian Martinez is up.
***Martinez said having a receiver like Morgan has helped him along since Day 1. He said he has "all the faith in the world" in Morgan and thinks he's going to catch every time he throws to him.
***Martinez said Michigan State's pass rush would be a challenge but feels confident in NU having enough weapons on offense to counter it.
***Martinez said Frost wanting to take the ball first to start every game sets the tone for the entire offense and gives them the confidence to come out firing.
***Martinez said this senior class has been so valuable to him helping him adjust to his role as Nebraska's starting quarterback, and he wants nothing more but to send them out right with a win on Saturday.
***Martinez said he's still focusing on one opponent at a time, but he knows that finishing out with two more wins would be a great boost for the team going into the offseason.
***That's all for Martinez.
***Mick Stoltenberg is up.
***Stoltenberg said his knee was doing OK after taking a shot at the end of the game on his interception. He practiced today and felt good.
***Stoltenberg said this was a bittersweet week since he's sad to be playing his final home game, but excited to keep building momentum to end the year. He said the seniors will have to keep their emotions in check this week since "it's not Senior Day for everyone else."
***Stoltenberg said he obviously would have liked to play more this year, but he's taken pride in being able to come back and provide some much needed depth, especially at a new position at defensive end.
***Stoltenberg said he's learned a lot about himself over his career, and he's taken on the motto of "a loser isn't the guy who gets knocked down, it's the guy who doesn't get back up." He said all of the seniors have taken on that mindset, which has really helped them fight back this season.
***Stoltenberg said a big difference with the increased turnovers for the defense has been the players taking it more seriously in practice. They've always done takeaway drills, but lately the guys have seen their value and realized "they're not just something to keep us busy."
***Stoltenberg said Mohamed Barry was definitely a guy who would take over as a key leader on defense. He also mentioned Dicaprio Bootle as another.
***That's all for Stoltenberg.
***Scott Frost is up.
***Frost said he still remembers how emotional his Senior Day was, and he still has a picture of him and Tom Osborne in the tunnel before that game. He said it's going to be a special day for a group of seniors that help lay the foundation for the program's future.
***Frost pointed to Ozigbo as a senior who has really impressed him with how far he's come from Day 1 to now. He said Ozigbo fully embraced what the coaches wanted the team to be about and has thrived ever since.
***Frost said Ozigbo winning the Big Ten weekly honor was a perfect example of how kids should view things. He said far too often guys quit when they don't experience immediate success or face adversity, but Ozigbo kept working even when NU brought in more competition to take his job and he overcame everything to be one of the Big Ten's best.
***Frost doubled down on saying Ozigbo will be an NFL player, and while he won't tell anyone how to vote, he said Ozigbo was an all-Big Ten player in his mind.
***Frost said Michigan State's defense has changed since he faced them when he was at Oregon. He said MSU was "a quarters coverage" defense but is more man based now that mixes things up a little more with its pass defense.
***Frost said MSU was "close to or as good of a defense as we've faced all year." He said the best thing they do is get 11 guys to the football on every play and they don't give up big gains.
***Frost said Tre Neal has been a great addition to the defense not only with his experience, but also his leadership. Frost said Neal has helped the defense take on the aggressive mentality that has led to the big uptick in turnovers.
***Frost said there wasn't much change in Michigan State's offense whether Brian Lewerke or Rocky Lombardi was under center at quarterback.
***Frost said they've had some unfortunate injuries this season, but overall they haven't had "anywhere near the injuries they've had in recent past" despite playing 10 straight weeks. He credited the trainers and strength staff for being able to stay healthier than most teams.
***Frost said the kickoff special would be Barret Pickering going forward in favor of Caleb Lightbourn. "We want the ball to go where it's supposed to go."
***Frost said the increased forced fumbles was just a result of Nebraska being "ball aware now." He said guys are locking in on the ball better in coverage and how an opponent is holding it and taking shots at knocking it out.
***Frost said he can feel the momentum that's been built within the program, and even though there won't be a bowl game he felt very good about where things were going into the offseason.
***Frost said of the 11 a.m. kickoffs: "You win more games, you get better time slots." He said he personally likes 11 am games but realizes the disadvantage it puts NU in with recruiting and getting kids on campus in time.
***Frost said the 2019 class could end up being bigger than 25.
***That's all for Frost.
That wraps up today's press conference. We'll have much more up soon.
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