Spring Game post-game nuggets
Here are some quick notes to pass along from Nebraska’s post-game press conference following Saturday’s Red-White Spring Game…
***Head coach Mike Riley confirmed after the game that defensive tackles Greg McMullen and Kevin Williams were no longer with the program. Riley said McMullen was retiring from football to pursue graduate school and life after football, while Williams would likely transfer to another school as a grad transfer.
***Riley also said center Paul Thurston would likely transfer to another school. Thurston was only able to practice with the team four times this spring because of a class conflict, and he has asked for his scholarship release. Riley said they would meet next week to discuss it further, but added: “I will say for the most part that’s final.”
***Having now lost four potential starters or major contributors this season at defensive tackle (including Maliek Collins and Vincent Valentine), Riley said you couldn’t help but be a bit concerned about the depth situation on the interior line. However, he said he felt really good about the young guys they have coming up, specifically naming Kevin Maurice, Mick Stoltenberg, Khalil and Carlos Davis, and Peyton Newell.
We have a great group that is going to work hard, and we’ll be absolutely fine,” Riley said. “We might be better than fine.”
***Riley said Dylan Utter did not play in the spring game because he suffered an MCL strain in Thursday’s practice. Defensive end AJ Natter also didn’t play with a broken hand.
***With Utter and Thurston out, Michael Decker and Zach Hannon were the only two active centers in the game. Offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh said he intentionally didn't tell Decker he would be the No. 1 center for the game until a few hours before kickoff.
***One of the key players of the game was redshirt freshman defensive back Kyle Kasun, who made the game-winning interception on the final play to give the defense the victory. Riley said Kasun actually made the team via an open tryout and didn’t even join the Huskers until after spring break. Kasun was the only player to make the team from the tryout.
***Safety Nate Gerry said McMullen addressed the team before the game and informed them of his plans. Gerry said it was obviously tough to lose a veteran leader like McMullen, but he too was excited about the potential of the younger defensive tackles coming up.
***Running back Terrell Newby said the plan for the players for the rest of the spring semester would consistent of “a whole lot of lifting and getting ready for finals.”