Check here for live updates from Nebraska's first weekly press conference of the season this afternoon, as the Huskers get ready to take on Arkansas State.
Head coach Mike Riley is scheduled to meet with reporters around 11:30 a.m.
***Riley is up.
***Riley said the depth chart is "pretty well set" going into the first game, and true freshmen Tyjon Lindsey, Jaylin Bradley, Avery Roberts, Deontre Thomas would all play for sure this season.
Others like Tristan Gebbia, Damion Daniels, Brenden Jaimes, and Guy Thomas will be ready for action, but it's unknown yet if any of them will play.
***Riley said the goal for Gebbia would be to redshirt this season, but he will go through the same process that Patrick O'Brien did last year and work with the varsity team in practice and travel for road games.
***Riley said the Blackshirts will be announced within the next few hours.
***Riley said the group of captains weren't surprising, and it wasn't a surprise that Tanner Lee was named one despite having never played a game snap at Nebraska. Riley said Lee "has been there, he's got a very confident way - a relatively humble way of being."
***Riley said he wasn't concerned about the pressure surrounding Lee this season, saying that was why Lee came to Nebraska in the first place, to play in "this arena" of college football.
***Riley said the running back rotation does have a plan, and it probably won't be an equal share of the workload. He wasn't ready to say who will start, but would likely announce that later in the week. His guess will all three backs will play, but some might be situation specific.
***Riley said he feels really good about the kickoff returners in JD Spielman, Lindsey and Bradley. He said all three can make big plays in space, and despite their inexperience, he doesn't think any player "will blink" when given an opportunity.
***Riley said Joshua Kalu was a well-respected player within the team, which was reflected in his selection as a team captain. Riley said Kalu taking on a major position change this offseason and handling the whole process like a pro really earned himself the respect of his teammates.
***Riley said the development of the 3-4 installation has been good this offseason, but they won't know how far it's come until they actually play a game.
***Riley continues to praise Bob Diaco and how he's taken control of the defense this offseason. He said Diaco's enthusiasm and way of teaching have really clicked with the players, and that's something Riley expected when he hired Diaco in the first place.
***Riley said one word to best describe Lee's fall camp would be "consistency." He said Lee has brought the same effort, focus, and performance every day since he's been at Nebraska, and that really showed this offseason.
***The big thing Riley is still looking for in Lee is taking his understanding of the offense and continuing to do it more efficiently and effectively in games and in practice.
***Riley said Cole Conrad has been a steady piece on the offensive line since the staff took over, and last year worked himself into the rotation. He's played all the positions on the line and is as intelligent as anyone in the group. "He's got all the attributes of a good football player."
***Riley said Scott Booker has been a great addition to the staff, including his work on special teams. Riley said Booker's energy was "contagious".
***That's all for Riley.
***Mick Stoltenberg is now up.
***Stoltenberg said his head injury this fall was just a minor deal and if anything the time off allowed his body to rest and get him ready to hit game week running.
***Stoltenberg said he definitely wasn't as ready to play as a true freshman the way Thomas and Daniels are right now. He said they both have a chance to make an immediate impact this year.
***Stoltenberg said he's currently weighing around 310-315 and feels like he's made big gains in his strength and conditioning this offseason. He said he's now put on around 50 pounds of muscle since his freshman year.
***Stoltenberg said the biggest thing Diaco has instilled in the defense has been giving maximum effort in everything they do. Stoltenberg said Diaco set the tone on that from the day he took over.
***Stoltenberg said one major big picture goal for the defense was stopping the run. The next would be improving the pass rush.
***Stoltenberg said the leadership in the locker room was a big reason why NU had such a drama-free offseason. He said the players made it clear they didn't want to hear any complaining, which he said was toxic for any locker room.
***That's all for Stoltenberg.
***Tanner Lee is now up.
***Lee said being named a captain was "probably one of the coolest experiences in my life so far, I think." He said seeing how much it meant to Nebraska guys like McNitt and Foster made it even more special to earn the honor.
***Lee said not having played a game in so long has him "extremely ready and excited" to get back on the field for real. He said the journey since leaving Tulane to be where he is today has him as excited as ever to get back to playing in a game again.
***Lee said he plans to "just focus on playing football" when he finally takes the field on Saturday night. He said he's been thinking about going through his first Tunnel Walk since last year.
***Lee said he's really confident in NU's receivers, especially the tight ends (i.e. Tyler Hoppes).
***Lee said Arkansas State has a really good defense, including a really good defensive line. He said they definitely take pride in their aggressiveness in rushing the passer.
***Lee said the last time he's actually been hit on the football field was in the second-to-last game of his sophomore season at Tulane. He broke his hand on that play.
***That's all for Lee.
***Jerald Foster is now up.
***Foster said he announced the captains in front of the entire team during a meeting. Foster said it was a great experience to hear his name called, more than anything because his teammates voted for him.
***Foster said there was a point in the spring when he was involved in a fight at practice and Riley lit into him about not being a leader. He said that moment really taught him what his role needed to be on this team and how he needed to act like a leader in everything he does.
***Foster said the offensive line has "seen about everything" going up against Nebraska's defense this offseason. He said it's been tough, but they know it will make the game so much easier when the season starts because nothing will catch them off guard.
***Foster said the improved trust and chemistry within the team should definitely play out on Saturday night, especially on the offensive line. He said if all 11 guys aren't all going the same direction, there's no way to get where you want to go.
***Foster said the most improved offensive lineman this offseason may actually be himself, as he's probably the least experienced of the group because of the time he missed last year due to injury.
***That's all for Foster.
***De'Mornay Pierson-El is up.
***DPE said it has obviously been an adjustment going from Tommy Armstrong to Lee, but credited Lee's work ethic and leadership to help the entire offense click with him.
***DPE said it's going to come down to the entire punt return team to improve the number of big returns he has this year. If everyone does their job, the return opportunities will be there.
***DPE was asked about how he feels health-wise, and he said: "If I had a dollar for every time I've been asked that, I'd be a rich man." He followed by saying he feels great and is ready to roll.
***DPE said people "will be shocked" by what they see from Nebraska's defense on Saturday night. He thinks the defense could be very good this season.
***That's all for DPE.
***Luke McNitt is up.
***McNitt said he had a feeling he would be a captain with the offseason he had, but that didn't diminish the feeling he got when he was actually named one. He said the first person he called was his dad, but his mom quickly took the phone.
***McNitt said he hit it off with Lee right away, and he wasn't surprised at all to see Lee be named a captain. He called Lee a "charasmatic" guy who connects with people instantly.
***McNitt said he's hoping for a senior year similar to what Andy Janovich had a couple seasons ago. He said he just wants to help his team in any way he can on both offense and special teams.
***McNitt said one guy who has impressed on special teams has been Austin Rose.
***With the extra week of fall camp this year, McNitt said this fall was maybe the hardest camps he's gone through both physically and mentally.
***That's all for McNitt.
That wraps up the up-front portion of today's press conference. We'll have much more later on this afternoon and then even more after tonight's practice.
Head coach Mike Riley is scheduled to meet with reporters around 11:30 a.m.
***Riley is up.
***Riley said the depth chart is "pretty well set" going into the first game, and true freshmen Tyjon Lindsey, Jaylin Bradley, Avery Roberts, Deontre Thomas would all play for sure this season.
Others like Tristan Gebbia, Damion Daniels, Brenden Jaimes, and Guy Thomas will be ready for action, but it's unknown yet if any of them will play.
***Riley said the goal for Gebbia would be to redshirt this season, but he will go through the same process that Patrick O'Brien did last year and work with the varsity team in practice and travel for road games.
***Riley said the Blackshirts will be announced within the next few hours.
***Riley said the group of captains weren't surprising, and it wasn't a surprise that Tanner Lee was named one despite having never played a game snap at Nebraska. Riley said Lee "has been there, he's got a very confident way - a relatively humble way of being."
***Riley said he wasn't concerned about the pressure surrounding Lee this season, saying that was why Lee came to Nebraska in the first place, to play in "this arena" of college football.
***Riley said the running back rotation does have a plan, and it probably won't be an equal share of the workload. He wasn't ready to say who will start, but would likely announce that later in the week. His guess will all three backs will play, but some might be situation specific.
***Riley said he feels really good about the kickoff returners in JD Spielman, Lindsey and Bradley. He said all three can make big plays in space, and despite their inexperience, he doesn't think any player "will blink" when given an opportunity.
***Riley said Joshua Kalu was a well-respected player within the team, which was reflected in his selection as a team captain. Riley said Kalu taking on a major position change this offseason and handling the whole process like a pro really earned himself the respect of his teammates.
***Riley said the development of the 3-4 installation has been good this offseason, but they won't know how far it's come until they actually play a game.
***Riley continues to praise Bob Diaco and how he's taken control of the defense this offseason. He said Diaco's enthusiasm and way of teaching have really clicked with the players, and that's something Riley expected when he hired Diaco in the first place.
***Riley said one word to best describe Lee's fall camp would be "consistency." He said Lee has brought the same effort, focus, and performance every day since he's been at Nebraska, and that really showed this offseason.
***The big thing Riley is still looking for in Lee is taking his understanding of the offense and continuing to do it more efficiently and effectively in games and in practice.
***Riley said Cole Conrad has been a steady piece on the offensive line since the staff took over, and last year worked himself into the rotation. He's played all the positions on the line and is as intelligent as anyone in the group. "He's got all the attributes of a good football player."
***Riley said Scott Booker has been a great addition to the staff, including his work on special teams. Riley said Booker's energy was "contagious".
***That's all for Riley.
***Mick Stoltenberg is now up.
***Stoltenberg said his head injury this fall was just a minor deal and if anything the time off allowed his body to rest and get him ready to hit game week running.
***Stoltenberg said he definitely wasn't as ready to play as a true freshman the way Thomas and Daniels are right now. He said they both have a chance to make an immediate impact this year.
***Stoltenberg said he's currently weighing around 310-315 and feels like he's made big gains in his strength and conditioning this offseason. He said he's now put on around 50 pounds of muscle since his freshman year.
***Stoltenberg said the biggest thing Diaco has instilled in the defense has been giving maximum effort in everything they do. Stoltenberg said Diaco set the tone on that from the day he took over.
***Stoltenberg said one major big picture goal for the defense was stopping the run. The next would be improving the pass rush.
***Stoltenberg said the leadership in the locker room was a big reason why NU had such a drama-free offseason. He said the players made it clear they didn't want to hear any complaining, which he said was toxic for any locker room.
***That's all for Stoltenberg.
***Tanner Lee is now up.
***Lee said being named a captain was "probably one of the coolest experiences in my life so far, I think." He said seeing how much it meant to Nebraska guys like McNitt and Foster made it even more special to earn the honor.
***Lee said not having played a game in so long has him "extremely ready and excited" to get back on the field for real. He said the journey since leaving Tulane to be where he is today has him as excited as ever to get back to playing in a game again.
***Lee said he plans to "just focus on playing football" when he finally takes the field on Saturday night. He said he's been thinking about going through his first Tunnel Walk since last year.
***Lee said he's really confident in NU's receivers, especially the tight ends (i.e. Tyler Hoppes).
***Lee said Arkansas State has a really good defense, including a really good defensive line. He said they definitely take pride in their aggressiveness in rushing the passer.
***Lee said the last time he's actually been hit on the football field was in the second-to-last game of his sophomore season at Tulane. He broke his hand on that play.
***That's all for Lee.
***Jerald Foster is now up.
***Foster said he announced the captains in front of the entire team during a meeting. Foster said it was a great experience to hear his name called, more than anything because his teammates voted for him.
***Foster said there was a point in the spring when he was involved in a fight at practice and Riley lit into him about not being a leader. He said that moment really taught him what his role needed to be on this team and how he needed to act like a leader in everything he does.
***Foster said the offensive line has "seen about everything" going up against Nebraska's defense this offseason. He said it's been tough, but they know it will make the game so much easier when the season starts because nothing will catch them off guard.
***Foster said the improved trust and chemistry within the team should definitely play out on Saturday night, especially on the offensive line. He said if all 11 guys aren't all going the same direction, there's no way to get where you want to go.
***Foster said the most improved offensive lineman this offseason may actually be himself, as he's probably the least experienced of the group because of the time he missed last year due to injury.
***That's all for Foster.
***De'Mornay Pierson-El is up.
***DPE said it has obviously been an adjustment going from Tommy Armstrong to Lee, but credited Lee's work ethic and leadership to help the entire offense click with him.
***DPE said it's going to come down to the entire punt return team to improve the number of big returns he has this year. If everyone does their job, the return opportunities will be there.
***DPE was asked about how he feels health-wise, and he said: "If I had a dollar for every time I've been asked that, I'd be a rich man." He followed by saying he feels great and is ready to roll.
***DPE said people "will be shocked" by what they see from Nebraska's defense on Saturday night. He thinks the defense could be very good this season.
***That's all for DPE.
***Luke McNitt is up.
***McNitt said he had a feeling he would be a captain with the offseason he had, but that didn't diminish the feeling he got when he was actually named one. He said the first person he called was his dad, but his mom quickly took the phone.
***McNitt said he hit it off with Lee right away, and he wasn't surprised at all to see Lee be named a captain. He called Lee a "charasmatic" guy who connects with people instantly.
***McNitt said he's hoping for a senior year similar to what Andy Janovich had a couple seasons ago. He said he just wants to help his team in any way he can on both offense and special teams.
***McNitt said one guy who has impressed on special teams has been Austin Rose.
***With the extra week of fall camp this year, McNitt said this fall was maybe the hardest camps he's gone through both physically and mentally.
***That's all for McNitt.
That wraps up the up-front portion of today's press conference. We'll have much more later on this afternoon and then even more after tonight's practice.
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