We're here live from Memorial Stadium as Nebraska gets ready to hold its annual fall camp press conference this afternoon.
Head coach Mike Riley and 10-12 players will meet with reporters to talk about the upcoming season, so check here for live updates from what they had to say.
Riley is scheduled to take the podium around 1:30 p.m.
***Riley is at the podium.
***Riley said there's obviously a different dynamic around the team coming into this fall camp. He said the team had a good offseason coming off a big bowl win for them. He said there's been a "hungry theme" over the whole offseason, and the team is anxious to get back to action. Riley said the team is "hungry to win".
***Riley said there's a noticeable comfort going into Year Two as opposed to his first season last year. He said he and the staff know the players better, and the players know what the coaches want from them better.
***Riley said they hope to find out early which incoming freshmen are going to play this season. He wouldn't name anyone in particularly, but said they're going to push 5-6 freshmen to see if they're ready to contribute this season.
***Riley said it will come down to how much a freshman can contribute both on special teams and on offense/defense in determining if they will redshirt or not.
***Riley said he talked with a lot of people out how the team will respond to the aftermath of the death of Sam Foltz. He said there's no way to know how guys will handle it, and the emotions will probably be "across the board." Personally, he said he looks at it as if you can be as happy doing his job as Sam was playing football, you're doing it right. "Do it like he did it. Enjoy like he did."
***Riley said earlier this summer they held a "fox hole survey" on trust within the team and which players are viewed as the most trustworthy. Foltz was at the top of most everyone's list on almost every question.
***Riley said they do plan to do something special to honor Foltz this season and have a few things picked out (which will be announced soon). They're going to save his locker all season and have a "SF27" sticker on the helmets.
***Riley was asked if Foltz would have been a captain this season: "I think he would."
***Riley said freshman Caleb Lightbourn will compete with Isaac Armstrong for the starting punter duty. He said they want to decide who the starter is soon.
***Riley said the holder spot will be handled by the player Drew Brown is most comfortable with. Isaac Armstrong and Zack Darlington and Lightbourne are all candidates.
***Riley said the defensive line needs continued growth, especially with how young the unit is. That growth will go through camp and on into the season. Riley said Kevin Maurice needs to be a consistent leader of the line, and they're really excited about Mick Stoltenberg.
***Riley they have 6 viable options at DT with Maurice, Stoltenberg, the Davui
***Riley said freshman Jack Stoll is recovering from a wrist injury and won't be on the 105, but will rejoin the team at the start of the fall semester.
***De'Mornay Pierson-El and J.D. Spielman are both cleared to start practice tomorrow.
***With Pierson-El, Riley said they have to ease him back into things and will keep a close eye on the number of reps he gets early on.
***On the offensive line, Riley said a guy like Corey Whitaker may not be in the starting group right now, but he's really close. Riley also mentioned Jalin Barnett as a guy who is right there.
***At linebacker, Riley said Josh Banderas is the starting MIKE, but Chris Weber will fight him for the job. He also said Luke Gifford has had a great offseason and will push for snaps at outside linebacker.
***Riley said his group of wide receivers this season might be as good as he's ever had in terms of all around depth. He's had multiple NFL guys on one team, but the amount of talent NU has to work with at wide out and tight end is definitely unique.
***Riley said the team captains weren't elected this summer because he didn't want to "limit that leadership" during the offseason. He said he wants to give guys more time to step up and emerge as leaders on the field and in the locker room.
***Riley said he'll ask the seniors how they want to handle the captains and will decide on that soon.
***Riley said Mikale Wilbon made a step up in the running back rotation this spring. He also said freshman Tre Bryant has a chance to make an immediate impact, especially on special teams.
***At fullback, Riley said Luke McNitt, Harrison Jordan, and Graham Nabity are all players who can factor into at that position. Riley said Nabity is guy they really want to find ways to get on the field this season.
***Riley said they have made some "tweaks" to their practice format this fall, including an emphasis on good run game drills and also first-and-10 situational work, including more play-action stuff.
***Riley said the offense will incorporate more "option" schemes to help utilize Tommy Armstrong's skills better. Not necessarily traditional pitch-game option, but more run/pass options to give Armstrong more freedom to check into runs if they're there.
***That's all for Riley
***Tommy Armstrong is now up.
***Armstrong said he agrees with Riley's comment that the team is "hungry" this year. He said that started with guys taking it upon themselves to put in work on their own this summer with throwing and workouts.
***Armstrong said his message to the team following Foltz's death was for everyone to "stay on the same course." He said it was obviously a rough week, but they need to play like Sam would want them to.
***Armstrong said his receivers are the most talented of any group he's had since he's been here.
***Armstrong said Pierson-El just needs to trust himself and keep working the way he has been in order to get back to the level he was at before the injury.
***That's all for Armstrong.
***Jordan Westerkamp is now up.
***Westerkamp said it's hard to know how the team will respond to Foltz's death, but they're going to do all they can to honor him with their play this season. Along with the helmet decals, he said the team has a couple other ideas in the works to honor Sam.
***Westerkamp said the competition in the receiver room will only make everyone better.
***Westerkamp said he's not worried about all of the records he could potentially break this season, but admitted he would love to etch his name along side the greatest wideouts in school history.
***That's all for Westerkamp.
***Drew Brown is now up.
***Brown said Foltz's death is really going to hit him tomorrow, more so than it has the past week. He said he's leaned on lots of different people during this, and the support the team has gotten has been invaluable.
***Brown said it's tough to think about football, but at the same time, football can be a great distraction during a time like this. Having practice start so soon after Foltz's death is both a good thing and bad thing, but in the end it will be nice to get back to work.
***That's all for Brown.
***Kevin Maurice is now up.
***Maurice said he's ready to take on a leadership role on the defensive line.
***Maurice said last year was a bit of a "culture shock" with the new coaching staff, and now everyone is much more comfortable with each other and what they're doing. That definitely showed during the spring and summer.
***Maurice said he thinks the defense can be "great" this season, but it starts up front with the defensive line.
***That's all for Maurice.
***Josh Banderas is now up.
***Banderas said the team's frame of mind right now is to continue to do what they were doing before Foltz's death. He would want them to stay after it and keep working, and that's what he thinks they're going to do.
***Banderas said the increased competition at linebacker this season will make everyone better as a result.
***Banderas said Dedrick Young might seem like a quiet guy, but he's anything but once you get to know him. He said the sky's the limit for Young in his development.
***Banderas said the ultimate goal this season is to "get to Indy and give us a chance" for a conference championship and a College Football Playoff berth.
*** That's all for Banderas.
***Chris Jones is now up.
***Jones said he doesn't feel like he's established anything yet in terms of his place on the team. He said his No. 1 goal personally is to win the Thorpe Award as the best defensive back in the country.
***Jones said facing NU's wide receivers every day in practice has been invaluable for making the secondary better. Because they get to practice against the best, they won't be intimidated by anything they'll see this season.
***Jones said his advice to the young guys coming up in the secondary is "it's a dog eat dog world out there. You've got to get yours, and I'm going to get mine."
***That's all for Jones.
***Terrell Newby is now up.
***Newby said he focused on being a better student of the game this offseason and watched hours of film of every game and every spring practice.
***Newby said being a senior this year has made him want to step up as a vocal leader more than ever. He said the entire room has to make each other better.
***Newby said Foltz's death brought the team together more than ever, and they're going to do all they can to stay together during a very difficult circumstance.
***Newby said Wilbon has put in a ton of work this summer, and that's really going to pay off in his play this fall.
***That's all for Newby.
That wraps up today's press conference. We'll have much more up later on this afternoon.
Head coach Mike Riley and 10-12 players will meet with reporters to talk about the upcoming season, so check here for live updates from what they had to say.
Riley is scheduled to take the podium around 1:30 p.m.
***Riley is at the podium.
***Riley said there's obviously a different dynamic around the team coming into this fall camp. He said the team had a good offseason coming off a big bowl win for them. He said there's been a "hungry theme" over the whole offseason, and the team is anxious to get back to action. Riley said the team is "hungry to win".
***Riley said there's a noticeable comfort going into Year Two as opposed to his first season last year. He said he and the staff know the players better, and the players know what the coaches want from them better.
***Riley said they hope to find out early which incoming freshmen are going to play this season. He wouldn't name anyone in particularly, but said they're going to push 5-6 freshmen to see if they're ready to contribute this season.
***Riley said it will come down to how much a freshman can contribute both on special teams and on offense/defense in determining if they will redshirt or not.
***Riley said he talked with a lot of people out how the team will respond to the aftermath of the death of Sam Foltz. He said there's no way to know how guys will handle it, and the emotions will probably be "across the board." Personally, he said he looks at it as if you can be as happy doing his job as Sam was playing football, you're doing it right. "Do it like he did it. Enjoy like he did."
***Riley said earlier this summer they held a "fox hole survey" on trust within the team and which players are viewed as the most trustworthy. Foltz was at the top of most everyone's list on almost every question.
***Riley said they do plan to do something special to honor Foltz this season and have a few things picked out (which will be announced soon). They're going to save his locker all season and have a "SF27" sticker on the helmets.
***Riley was asked if Foltz would have been a captain this season: "I think he would."
***Riley said freshman Caleb Lightbourn will compete with Isaac Armstrong for the starting punter duty. He said they want to decide who the starter is soon.
***Riley said the holder spot will be handled by the player Drew Brown is most comfortable with. Isaac Armstrong and Zack Darlington and Lightbourne are all candidates.
***Riley said the defensive line needs continued growth, especially with how young the unit is. That growth will go through camp and on into the season. Riley said Kevin Maurice needs to be a consistent leader of the line, and they're really excited about Mick Stoltenberg.
***Riley they have 6 viable options at DT with Maurice, Stoltenberg, the Davui
***Riley said freshman Jack Stoll is recovering from a wrist injury and won't be on the 105, but will rejoin the team at the start of the fall semester.
***De'Mornay Pierson-El and J.D. Spielman are both cleared to start practice tomorrow.
***With Pierson-El, Riley said they have to ease him back into things and will keep a close eye on the number of reps he gets early on.
***On the offensive line, Riley said a guy like Corey Whitaker may not be in the starting group right now, but he's really close. Riley also mentioned Jalin Barnett as a guy who is right there.
***At linebacker, Riley said Josh Banderas is the starting MIKE, but Chris Weber will fight him for the job. He also said Luke Gifford has had a great offseason and will push for snaps at outside linebacker.
***Riley said his group of wide receivers this season might be as good as he's ever had in terms of all around depth. He's had multiple NFL guys on one team, but the amount of talent NU has to work with at wide out and tight end is definitely unique.
***Riley said the team captains weren't elected this summer because he didn't want to "limit that leadership" during the offseason. He said he wants to give guys more time to step up and emerge as leaders on the field and in the locker room.
***Riley said he'll ask the seniors how they want to handle the captains and will decide on that soon.
***Riley said Mikale Wilbon made a step up in the running back rotation this spring. He also said freshman Tre Bryant has a chance to make an immediate impact, especially on special teams.
***At fullback, Riley said Luke McNitt, Harrison Jordan, and Graham Nabity are all players who can factor into at that position. Riley said Nabity is guy they really want to find ways to get on the field this season.
***Riley said they have made some "tweaks" to their practice format this fall, including an emphasis on good run game drills and also first-and-10 situational work, including more play-action stuff.
***Riley said the offense will incorporate more "option" schemes to help utilize Tommy Armstrong's skills better. Not necessarily traditional pitch-game option, but more run/pass options to give Armstrong more freedom to check into runs if they're there.
***That's all for Riley
***Tommy Armstrong is now up.
***Armstrong said he agrees with Riley's comment that the team is "hungry" this year. He said that started with guys taking it upon themselves to put in work on their own this summer with throwing and workouts.
***Armstrong said his message to the team following Foltz's death was for everyone to "stay on the same course." He said it was obviously a rough week, but they need to play like Sam would want them to.
***Armstrong said his receivers are the most talented of any group he's had since he's been here.
***Armstrong said Pierson-El just needs to trust himself and keep working the way he has been in order to get back to the level he was at before the injury.
***That's all for Armstrong.
***Jordan Westerkamp is now up.
***Westerkamp said it's hard to know how the team will respond to Foltz's death, but they're going to do all they can to honor him with their play this season. Along with the helmet decals, he said the team has a couple other ideas in the works to honor Sam.
***Westerkamp said the competition in the receiver room will only make everyone better.
***Westerkamp said he's not worried about all of the records he could potentially break this season, but admitted he would love to etch his name along side the greatest wideouts in school history.
***That's all for Westerkamp.
***Drew Brown is now up.
***Brown said Foltz's death is really going to hit him tomorrow, more so than it has the past week. He said he's leaned on lots of different people during this, and the support the team has gotten has been invaluable.
***Brown said it's tough to think about football, but at the same time, football can be a great distraction during a time like this. Having practice start so soon after Foltz's death is both a good thing and bad thing, but in the end it will be nice to get back to work.
***That's all for Brown.
***Kevin Maurice is now up.
***Maurice said he's ready to take on a leadership role on the defensive line.
***Maurice said last year was a bit of a "culture shock" with the new coaching staff, and now everyone is much more comfortable with each other and what they're doing. That definitely showed during the spring and summer.
***Maurice said he thinks the defense can be "great" this season, but it starts up front with the defensive line.
***That's all for Maurice.
***Josh Banderas is now up.
***Banderas said the team's frame of mind right now is to continue to do what they were doing before Foltz's death. He would want them to stay after it and keep working, and that's what he thinks they're going to do.
***Banderas said the increased competition at linebacker this season will make everyone better as a result.
***Banderas said Dedrick Young might seem like a quiet guy, but he's anything but once you get to know him. He said the sky's the limit for Young in his development.
***Banderas said the ultimate goal this season is to "get to Indy and give us a chance" for a conference championship and a College Football Playoff berth.
*** That's all for Banderas.
***Chris Jones is now up.
***Jones said he doesn't feel like he's established anything yet in terms of his place on the team. He said his No. 1 goal personally is to win the Thorpe Award as the best defensive back in the country.
***Jones said facing NU's wide receivers every day in practice has been invaluable for making the secondary better. Because they get to practice against the best, they won't be intimidated by anything they'll see this season.
***Jones said his advice to the young guys coming up in the secondary is "it's a dog eat dog world out there. You've got to get yours, and I'm going to get mine."
***That's all for Jones.
***Terrell Newby is now up.
***Newby said he focused on being a better student of the game this offseason and watched hours of film of every game and every spring practice.
***Newby said being a senior this year has made him want to step up as a vocal leader more than ever. He said the entire room has to make each other better.
***Newby said Foltz's death brought the team together more than ever, and they're going to do all they can to stay together during a very difficult circumstance.
***Newby said Wilbon has put in a ton of work this summer, and that's really going to pay off in his play this fall.
***That's all for Newby.
That wraps up today's press conference. We'll have much more up later on this afternoon.
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