STEVEN M. SIPPLE / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Saturday, December 24, 2005 6:00 pm
SAN ANTONIO — Several of his teammates frolicked along the scenic downtown Riverwalk this past weekend, enjoying food and drink and leisure time in the days before their bowl game.
Barry Turner wasn’t having it. The ultra-talented Nebraska true freshman stayed in his hotel room and studied his playbook. His assignment is challenging if not daunting: prepare to alternate between defensive end and strongside linebacker during Wednesday’s Alamo Bowl against No. 20 Michigan.
“I was probably the only guy who stayed in (the hotel),” Turner said with a wry smile.
Recent developments dictate that the 6-foot-3, 245-pound Turner, who produced six sacks this season as a backup defensive end, will see an increased amount of playing time in the Alamo Bowl. Defensive ends Wali Muhammad and Dontrell Moore have been suspended from the bowl, and weakside linebacker Bo Ruud’s broken arm necessitated shuffling at the linebacker positions.
Turner, after playing in passing situations for most of the season, figures to see additional action at defensive end while serving as the top backup behind senior strongside linebacker Adam Ickes.
“It’s great, as a true freshman, to be able to play more than I had been playing,” Turner said. “We’ll see what happens.”
Nebraska (7-4) squares off against a Michigan squad that features six senior offensive linemen on its two-deep chart. The Wolverines (7-4) favor a power running game on offense, averaging 164.5 rushing yards per game.
“They count on it a lot,” Ickes said. “That’s basically what I’m focusing on.”
Turner welcomes the test.
“We’re going to stick to what we have going,” Turner said.
As for the potential for a true freshman to feel intimidated by such a challenge, Turner said, “It’s just a game, you know. After it’s all over, it’s still going to be a game. I just put all of my effort into it.”
Turner’s efforts have paid big dividends for a Nebraska defense that entered the bowl season ranked No. 28 nationally against the run, allowing 123.7 yards per game. The Huskers lead the nation in sacks with 46 and tackles for loss with 115.
During the past week, however, Nebraska had to regroup without Ruud, the team’s second-leading tackler, and Muhammad, who had four sacks and 10 quarterback hurries on the season. In addition, Moore was beginning to find his niche late in the season as a pass-rush specialist at the “open” end position.
The trio’s absence has put the onus on Turner, whose six sacks established a Nebraska single-season record for freshmen and tied for first among all freshmen nationally. As an end, Turner could rely on his speed and explosiveness off the ball.
As for playing strongside linebacker, “It’s more thinking, more mental,” he said. “On the defensive line, the linebackers basically tell you what to do. Now, I’m going to be told what to do and also tell somebody what to do.”
Ickes, who was thrust into a starting role after Stewart Bradley suffered a knee injury in early October, said Nebraska’s pattern is to play its starting linebackers for the first three or four series of games before giving them a break. He said Turner, of suburban Nashville, Tenn., is ready to supply help in the linebacker rotation.
“He’s athletic, high energy, and brings a lot of speed,” Ickes said. “He’s a good blitzer. He’s a good player. He could probably play about anywhere he wants.”
Ickes indicated Turner has been practicing more at strongside linebacker than at defensive end.
Meanwhile, Lance Brandenburgh, a 6-1, 230-pound sophomore, is set to start at weakside linebacker in place of Ruud. Brandenburgh, of Overland Park, Kan., missed four of the season’s first five games with injuries but played extensively down the stretch. He has 17 tackles, including five for losses.
“He’s finally healthy, so that helps,” Ickes said. “I don’t think there’ll be much of a dropoff.”
Same goes for the situation at strongside linebacker.
“Barry knows what he’s doing,” Ickes said.
Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.