Helu 'explosive' in Saturday's practice
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By the Lincoln Journal Star
HELU SURGING: Roy Helu put a charge into Saturday’s practice when he bolted 57 yards for a touchdown against the first-string defense during a 40-minute scrimmage at the tail end of the workout.
The 6-foot, 215-pound sophomore took a delayed handoff, exploded up the middle and juked at least one defender to get to the outside. He then sprinted into the end zone.
“I’m seeing a guy who’s explosive,” Nebraska coach Bo Pelini said of Helu. “We had a couple missed fits on that run, and he took advantage. Then he got into the secondary and made a couple guys miss. He’s a heck of a football player, and I’ve seen it since Day 1 of spring. It’s fun to watch the guy play.”
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Nebraska has now completed 11 of 15 spring practices. The annual Red-White Spring Game is set for next Saturday.
Pelini was upbeat Saturday in his post-practice meeting with reporters. He watched the first-string defense fail to give up any long pass plays, with free safety Rickey Thenarse and cornerback Armando Murillo making nice plays to knock down deep passes.
“Both sides of the football are coming along,” Pelini said. “We’re doing some good things. It’s very similar to how we’ve been practicing. A lot of great competition. A lot of different guys stepping up and making plays.
“They’re flying around with a good attitude on both sides of the ball. They’re playing hard and we’re making progress. I like what I see out of the team right now.”
Sophomore guard Keith Williams (shoulder) and sophomore wideout Will Henry (hamstring) both sat out the practice. Henry has practiced only once this spring.
Receiver Curenski Gilleylen appeared to suffer a hamstring injury during the practice. None of the injuries appear to be serious.
In other player news, sophomore defensive tackle Seth Jensen has left the team for personal reasons, Pelini said, while sophomore walk-on linebacker Kyle Moore of Elkhorn has decided to transfer.
ONES VS. ONES?: Pelini was asked if the first-string offense will face the top defense in the Spring Game.
“It seems like everybody’s obsessed with that,” Pelini said. “We’re going to split the teams equally, is what we’re doing to do. We’re going to have a red team and a white team and not worry about 1s on 1s or 2s on 2s. We’re going to watch our guys play football and get better as a group. ... It’s going to be more split down the middle, kind of a draft-type thing.”
BY THE NUMBERS:
500
The approximate number of Touchdown Club members on hand for much of Saturday’s practice on a day designated for the group.
Scouting report:
Niles Paul
The 6-foot-1, 210-pound Paul, a sophomore wide receiver from Omaha, has been practicing with the first-string offense. With the loss of four senior wideouts, Paul is among a handful of young receivers looking to consistently play in the top rotation in 2008. Paul had one catch last season — in the opener.
“He’s doing some good things,” Pelini said. “He’s playing good football. Just like a lot of the guys, consistency is an issue. We want to see it every down, every play. The effort is there, but technique-wise, he’s still learning.”
Opponent watch:
Virginia Tech
Kenny Lewis’ hopes of being Virginia Tech’s starting tailback when the season opens Aug. 30 have been dealt a severe blow.
Lewis, the lead candidate to replace Branden Ore as the Hokies’ No. 1 tailback, will undergo surgery Tuesday for a torn labrum in his left shoulder and is expected to be sidelined for four to six months, according to the Roanoke (Va.) Times.
Lewis, a junior, had been experiencing pain and a loss of strength in the shoulder for some time, Tech head athletic trainer Mike Goforth said Friday.
The torn labrum was discovered during an MRI, running backs coach Billy Hite said. If Lewis can return in four months, that would have him back in the fold by mid-August. If it’s six months, it could be midseason before he returns.
Nebraska hosts Virginia Tech on Sept. 27.
Redshirt junior Jahre Cheeseman is now No. 1 on the depth chart, followed by redshirt freshmen Josh Oglesby and Darren Evans, plus senior Dustin Pickle.
— Steven M. Sipple
