It would've been understandable had Major Culbert, on the first day of spring practice, rolled his eyes upon hearing the question. So, Major, any chance you'll move to linebacker? Instead, he smiled.
BRIAN ROSENTHAL / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Wednesday, March 26, 2008 7:00 pm
It would’ve been understandable had Major Culbert, on the first day of spring practice, rolled his eyes upon hearing the question.
So, Major, any chance you’ll move to linebacker?
Instead, he smiled.
“I have no idea,” Culbert said. “The only thing I’m trying to do is just learn one position and be wherever my coaches want me.”
For the time being, at least, that’s strong safety. And Culbert, a junior on the Nebraska football team, couldn’t be more pleased.
“I feel real great at safety,” Culbert said. “Hopefully, I stay there. If not, I’m a team player. I’ve been that way since I came.”
It’s hard to argue with that.
Culbert, in two seasons with the program, has changed positions multiple times. Safety, then running back, then linebacker … and now, under a new coaching staff, safety again.
“When you’re an athletic person, and a couple of guys go down,” Culbert said, “that’s expected to happen, every level you play at.”
Still, Culbert is excited about the opportunity to stick at one position long enough to grow, flourish and help his team.
Safety seems like a good spot. Culbert, at 6 feet, has dropped a few pounds to about 203. He said offseason conditioning has helped his flexibility and his ability to move better laterally.
Then, there’s the comfort factor.
“I know what I’m doing,” Culbert said. “I feel like last year I didn’t really know what I was doing because I kept bouncing back. Now, Coach (Marvin) Sanders has given me every tool in the book — different keys to read, and being right where the ball is when I read those keys.
“I can only use that to my advantage.”
When asked about the changes in defenses, Culbert responded: “I try to just throw last year out the window. I’m not worrying about last year any more.”
Culbert said he’s adjusted to the speed of the game and isn’t thinking as much.
“Now, I’m just out there, just relaxed,” he said. “Listen to what the coaches tell me, and I’m just relaxed.
“I was trying to think too much when I first came. Just think, think, think, trying to get it all down at once.”
Culbert is practicing at safety along with Larry Asante, Rickey Thenarse, Shawn Sullivan, Austin Cassidy, Matt O’Hanlon and Adam Watson. Sanders, the new secondary coach, said Eric Hagg worked out Wednesday at cornerback with Prince Amukamara, Armando Murillo and Anthony West.
Sanders said it’s too early to broach any Culbert-to-linebacker speculation.
“He’s comfortable at safety, and he moves well enough to be at safety,” Sanders said. “It’s just a matter of trying to get him to understand the difference of playing out in space, compared to being close to the ball.
“If he proves that he’s a good enough athlete to be a pivotal player on the defense, then that’s where we’re going to play him.”
Sanders said he’s well aware of Culbert’s many position switches.
“He’s a real good kid. He talks team first,” Sanders said. “He’s a total team player.”
A happy one, too.
“I’ve dreamed of this,” Culbert said. “Just being here, playing for a big program. I’ve been playing every year, just steady, grinding. It’s finally coming all together.”
Reach Brian Rosenthal at 473-7436 or brosenthal@journalstar.com.