Tyler Wortman probably answered a dozen questions, at least, about that first play from scrimmage. He told his tale of how he's risen from scout-team walk-on as a freshman, to a starting linebacker as a senior. Still,
BRIAN ROSENTHAL / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Friday, April 18, 2008 7:00 pm
Tyler Wortman probably answered a dozen questions, at least, about that first play from scrimmage.
He told his tale of how he’s risen from scout-team walk-on as a freshman, to a starting linebacker as a senior.
Still, amid all the football talk, Wortman quickly answered an obscure question after Nebraska’s Red-White Spring Game.
In what class did you get an A-minus, anyway?
“History of France in the 17th Century,” Wortman said as he was being whisked away to the front podium for a postgame news conference.
That class was four years ago.
Until Saturday, it was probably the most notable blemish on Wortman’s Nebraska resume. Here on a full-ride academic scholarship, the Grand Island Central Catholic graduate has a 3.98 GPA.
Now, Wortman’s also known as the bully who ruined new coach Bo Pelini’s tribute to Tom Osborne.
“It was supposed to be old-school option, some nostalgia,” Wortman said. “I messed that up, I guess.”
It might top History of France on Wortman’s wish list of do-overs.
“He said, ‘Coach, I didn’t mean to,’ ” said a smiling Nebraska linebackers coach Mike Ekeler. “What do you tell him?”
Well, for starters, maybe not the play call.
Wortman and the rest of the Red team defense knew beforehand what Pelini’s first play would be — a triple-option. Something to honor Osborne, the athletic director who hired Pelini, and the former coach who mastered the option.
“The defense always cheats,” said Patrick Witt, the White team quarterback on the play. “Whatever. It was funny.”
Witt rolled to his right and tried to pitch to running back Roy Helu. Wortman busted the play by swatting the pitch, forcing a fumble and recovering it. The play lost 13 yards and set up the Red team at the White 7-yard line.
“My job is to play the QB, and that’s what I did,” said Wortman, who later apologized to Witt. “I came up and swatted at the ball. Just playing football.”
Wortman wasn’t apologizing for his leg tackle in the third quarter of Helu. It looked like Helu, who had an impressive day himself, had a huge hole at the line of scrimmage. Wortman recovered quickly and tripped up Helu for a short gain.
“I’d made a good read,” Wortman said, “and he cut back right into me, so I was right there.”
That was among six tackles for the 6-foot-3, 235-pound Wortman, who’s worked his way into the No. 1 spot at BUCK linebacker. He’s also Nebraska’s backup nickel MIKE linebacker.
“The guy’s done a fantastic job,” Ekeler said. “I don’t know how people viewed him in the past, but I tell you how I view him, and he’s a darned good football player.”
Wortman was a backup last season to Bo Ruud at the SAM position (now called the BUCK) and replaced Ruud when Ruud was injured late in the season. Wortman had nine tackles for the year, including one for a 3-yard loss at Texas, a couple of stops at Kansas and three at Colorado.
Then came wholesale coaching changes, and another new start for Wortman.
Making things particularly difficult for Wortman this spring was the fact he missed five practices — a third of the spring schedule — because he had a class.
“It’s kind of hard to learn a brand-new defense when you’re not able to get all the reps,” Wortman said. “But I think I did a good job of coming in extra and getting it down.”
Offseason conditioning work with new strength and conditioning coach James Dobson also helped. His footwork, especially, has improved, Wortman said.
“He’s gotten a lot better with his change of direction,” Ekeler said, noting the play Wortman made on Helu. “He’ll be the first to tell you that Coach Dobson has done an unbelievable job with all these guys.”
Ekeler, for the most part, was pleased with what he saw from his linebackers Saturday. He admitted he was disappointed in certain areas.
“You hear Bo always talk about how it’s a process, and today was just one other part of it,” Ekeler said.
“They know that we’re not anywhere close to where we’re going to be. It starts tomorrow. We’re not taking any time off. Spring ball may be over, but we’re going to continue on in the mental part of it.”
Reach Brian Rosenthal at 473-7436 or brosenthal@journalstar.com.