LINCOLN — A big play at Nebraska’s Thursday practice pitted two top-100 recruits against each other.
Husker freshman receiver Tyjon Lindsey beat sophomore corner Lamar Jackson by several steps on a post route, and quarterback Tanner Lee placed the ball right in Lindsey’s hands for a 30-yard-plus gain.
Later in practice, Lindsey caught a deep pass in double coverage. He also caught a touchdown during a red-zone drill. With injuries to Jaevon McQuitty, Keyan Williams and Bryan Reimers keeping them out of practice, Lindsey was working with the Nos. 1 and 2 offenses.
“Today was a little bit better example of what he can do and what he can show,” offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf said. “There’s been some days where he’s played probably not as fast, where he’s thinking. But I like what I saw today.”
The No. 50 overall player in the nation according to 247 Sports’ composite service, Lindsey has been working to better learn his assignments, according to several coaches and teammates. Nebraska’s pro-style pass offense requires precise, well-timed routes, and receivers coach Keith Williams is a stickler for it. On Thursday, Williams gave Lindsey pointers during drills on how to run routes at full speed.
Redshirt freshman receiver JD Spielman said Lindsey is forthright about asking questions when he doesn’t know something.
“If he doesn’t know the play, he’ll look directly at one of us and say, ‘What do I have on this?’ Then we’ll tell him and we’ll talk about it after and then he’ll understand it,” Spielman said. “Each practice, you can tell he’s been getting better and better with his plays. He’s understanding more, he’s making less mistakes.”
New looks for offensive line
Nebraska’s offensive line on Thursday saw some exotic pressure packages from NU’s defense. Several overwhelmed the line, including one that led to a touch sack and safety of quarterback Tanner Lee. Langsdorf conceded they were “tough” looks from the defense, but line coach Mike Cavanaugh wanted more “frickin’ intensity” from his unit.
“There’s going to be moments where something new comes up,” Cavanaugh said. “I’m not a guy who’s going to tell everybody what’s going on. We’re going to have to figure it out and then work and then straighten it out.”
Cavanaugh spoke to three different sets of reporters over 15 minutes. Generally, Cavanaugh said, Nebraska’s offensive line has had a strong camp. He likes the chemistry of the group.
It appears NU’s No. 1 line is set for the season. Junior Tanner Farmer is the starting right guard — staving off any lingering challenge from redshirt freshman Boe Wilson — while junior Cole Conrad has “locked down” the starting center job over sophomore Michael Decker. A swing lineman last season who started at right tackle, Conrad moved to center halfway through spring camp.
“He’s done a pretty good job overall consistently with calls, technique,” Cavanaugh said of Conrad.
At left guard, Cavanaugh said, Jerald Foster starts, while John Raridon and No. 2 right tackle Matt Farniok are working behind him. Farniok, a redshirt freshman, also backs up the starting right tackle, senior David Knevel, whom Cavanaugh said has had a good camp.
At left tackle, junior Nick Gates enters his third year as the starter.
“When Nick trusts his technique, he’s as good as there is,” Cavanaugh said. “It comes down to that. It’s what you do. He’s a good enough athlete. He’s tough, he’s powerful. He’s worked real hard. He’s been doing a good job.”
Gates’ backup — should he need one — may be true freshman Brenden Jaimes, who worked with the No. 2 offense Thursday.
“He’s smart guy, picks things up fast, he doesn’t flinch,” Cavanaugh said of the 6-foot-5, 250-pound Jaimes. “He’s been fun. He’s tough.”
Cavanaugh said he’s not sure whether Jaimes will play or not this season. Nebraska hasn’t used a true freshman lineman with any regularity since 2011, when Tyler Moore started at right tackle. Moore left the following training camp.
Asked about other freshman linemen, Cavanaugh only mentioned Matt Sichterman, who’s working at right tackle and center.
“Powerful guy, uses his hands well in run blocking,” Cavanaugh said.
Still no separation in backfield
Nebraska coach Mike Riley’s deadline to find a clear No. 1 running back is here.
Riley said he wanted to find a starter among Tre Bryant, Mikale Wilbon and Devine Ozigbo by the end of this week. Otherwise, he said, he’d stick with a rotation.
As of Thursday, Langsdorf said, no back has separated himself from the pack.
“We haven’t really had anyone take off with that job yet,” Langsdorf said.
One reason, Langsdorf said, is Nebraska needs to have more live tackling to figure out which back is the best.
“You’ve really got to get some live tackling in there to really have a good evaluation,” Langsdorf said. “When you’re doing things that aren’t live, it makes it hard sometimes to see how they’re hitting a hole and breaking tackles and taking on those hits. It’s just a tough evaluation and we haven’t really had anyone take off with that job yet.”
Langsdorf again praised true freshman Jaylin Bradley’s work, though he didn’t give a word on whether Bradley, a Bellevue West graduate, will redshirt this season.
Quick hits
» Senior tight end Tyler Hoppes is having a strong camp, Langsdorf said.
“He’s probably playing as well as anybody on the offense,” Langsdorf said of Hoppes. “That kind of player at that position can be tough on defenses — especially in the red zone.”
» Bryant, Reimers, Williams and nose tackle Mick Stoltenberg did not practice Thursday.
» Nebraska will hold an open practice for students next Saturday.
» Several NFL scouts attended Thursday’s workout.
