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Thursday notebook: Huskers make decision on starting right guard
***Head coach Mike Riley said linebackers Luke Gifford (hip) and Tyrin Ferguson (foot) are both ruled out for Saturday’s game at Purdue. Gifford has practiced some all week, but Riley said they didn’t want to risk any further setbacks by playing him. Ferguson will be “out a while” with a foot injury Riley didn’t want to detail.
***With Gifford and Ferguson out, Riley said Marcus Newby and Jacob Weinmaster would be the No. 1 and 2 DOG linebackers.
***Riley said Tanner Farmer would start at right guard and Matt Farniok would be “ready to play” if needed.
***Riley said he “misspoke” on Monday when he said linebacker Dedrick Young underwent a second surgery on his hand/wrist. Instead, what happened was Young never initially had surgery following the injury, and he just got a cast put on so he could finish the rest of the season.
After further examination team doctors didn’t like that the injury wasn't healing properly and opted to do a procedure during the bye week.
***Even though he’s wearing a large cast on his right hand, Riley said Young would be available to play on Saturday night and the staff was looking at ways to best use him and work around the limitations caused by the cast.
***Riley said running back Tre Bryant underwent successful knee surgery earlier this week and everything is right on course for him to return to action for the spring.
***Riley said tackle David Knevel was also out.
***Riley confirmed that safeties Joshua Kalu, Aaron Williams and Antonio Reed would all be ready to go against Purdue. He was excited to finally see the secondary he thought NU was going to have to enter the season, but noted that this would be the first time all year that group will have played a game together.
***Asked about the struggles of Nebraska’s young cornerbacks, Riley said “I’ve seen that movie before” and related it back a time at Oregon State when he had two freshmen corners who went through their bumps after being thrown into the fire as starters.
Those two were Keenan Lewis and Brandon Hughes, who both went on to have extensive NFL careers.
***Asked about the spirit of the team over the past two weeks, Riley said: “I try not to fool myself and make stuff up” but the spirit has actually been really good. He said it felt “cathartic” when the team got back to practice during the bye week.
***Riley said new athletic director Bill Moos stopped by and met with the coaches this morning and got a tour of all the facilities. Moos then came to the team meeting later in the day and spoke briefly with the players.
Thursday notebook: Huskers make decision on starting right guard
***Head coach Mike Riley said linebackers Luke Gifford (hip) and Tyrin Ferguson (foot) are both ruled out for Saturday’s game at Purdue. Gifford has practiced some all week, but Riley said they didn’t want to risk any further setbacks by playing him. Ferguson will be “out a while” with a foot injury Riley didn’t want to detail.
***With Gifford and Ferguson out, Riley said Marcus Newby and Jacob Weinmaster would be the No. 1 and 2 DOG linebackers.
***Riley said Tanner Farmer would start at right guard and Matt Farniok would be “ready to play” if needed.
***Riley said he “misspoke” on Monday when he said linebacker Dedrick Young underwent a second surgery on his hand/wrist. Instead, what happened was Young never initially had surgery following the injury, and he just got a cast put on so he could finish the rest of the season.
After further examination team doctors didn’t like that the injury wasn't healing properly and opted to do a procedure during the bye week.
***Even though he’s wearing a large cast on his right hand, Riley said Young would be available to play on Saturday night and the staff was looking at ways to best use him and work around the limitations caused by the cast.
***Riley said running back Tre Bryant underwent successful knee surgery earlier this week and everything is right on course for him to return to action for the spring.
***Riley said tackle David Knevel was also out.
***Riley confirmed that safeties Joshua Kalu, Aaron Williams and Antonio Reed would all be ready to go against Purdue. He was excited to finally see the secondary he thought NU was going to have to enter the season, but noted that this would be the first time all year that group will have played a game together.
***Asked about the struggles of Nebraska’s young cornerbacks, Riley said “I’ve seen that movie before” and related it back a time at Oregon State when he had two freshmen corners who went through their bumps after being thrown into the fire as starters.
Those two were Keenan Lewis and Brandon Hughes, who both went on to have extensive NFL careers.
***Asked about the spirit of the team over the past two weeks, Riley said: “I try not to fool myself and make stuff up” but the spirit has actually been really good. He said it felt “cathartic” when the team got back to practice during the bye week.
***Riley said new athletic director Bill Moos stopped by and met with the coaches this morning and got a tour of all the facilities. Moos then came to the team meeting later in the day and spoke briefly with the players.
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