Big Red Breakfast Details - Thenarse Not Starting?

by Jon Johnston on Aug 29, 2008 2:06 PM CDT

Life in the Red posts about the happenings at the Big Red Breakfast, the biggest news of which is this:

-- Pelini told the crowd Matt O'Hanlon, a senior walk-on from Bellevue, may start at free safety ahead of junior Rickey Thenarse, who's a tremendous hitter but sometimes operates outside the context of the defense, according to Marvin Sanders. The 5-11, 195-pound O'Hanlon played in 10 games last season, mostly on special teams. He had three tackles. As a sophomore in 2006, he played in all 14 games and made eight tackles.

If you want to get someone's attention, take away the one thing they want most, and for Rickey Thenarse that'd be playing time as a starter. If that doesn't do it, the guy is going to fall further down the depth chart.

No doubt Thenarse will see the field, though. If Pelini feels comfortable in starting O'Hanlon against this offense, that's a good thing. We may possible need both of them anyway.

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Starting a walk-on with zero experience is a good thing? What’s next? Cody Glenn is a 1st team All Big 12 pick? I hope we blow out W. Michigan just like the rest of Husker Nation, but we need to take the O’Hanlons, Wortmans, and Glenns as a sign of lack of talent and depth at positions, not a “good thing.” I’m scared to death starting these guys and I think it will show tomorrow.

by A. Rose on Aug 29, 2008 2:29 PM CDT reply actions

let me clarify that

it’s a fine line….

notice I said that if Pelini is comfortable starting him, that’s a good thing.

Him starting a good thing? Maybe, maybe not, but it looks like we’re going to find out.

Go Big Red Nebraska!
Our Cobs Are Bigger Than Yours!
Corn Nation!

by Jon Johnston on Aug 29, 2008 5:15 PM CDT up reply actions

I think maybe the start for O’Hanlon might not necessarily mean he plays the majority of the snaps…..not real sure what to think, but was holding out hope that guys like Thernarse and Culbert and a few others would live up to the hype. It’s early, so can’t make too much of it. Hopefully on Sunday we are all talking about how money Ganz, Lucky, Helu, Swift, etc looked in a blowout win.

by A. Rose on Aug 29, 2008 8:49 PM CDT reply actions

wow

Its nice to have a talent scout on the list here. It always amazes me when someone wants to rip a player by saying he sucks and shouldn’t be on the field. I hope on Sunday we are talking about how O’Hanlon and Wortman were blowing guys up on the field with their great tackles and how many sacks they had. Why are people so sure that Thernarse and Culbert are so much better then Wortman and O’Hanlon? I hope who ever is on the field plays like an all-american.

by taflorom on Aug 29, 2008 11:40 PM CDT reply actions

I don't care whether the guy is a 5 star scholarship player or an walk-on who played 8 man football...

The best guy should play. And sometimes the walk-on is a better player than the highly touted recruit.

by Husker Mike on Aug 29, 2008 11:48 PM CDT reply actions

I stand corrected. As a talent scout, I project O’Hanlon, Wortman, and Cody Glenn as starters for every other Big 12 team, including OU and Texas. It’s so awesome to get the walk-ons back on the field. Hoping we get can see Colton Koehler out there today blowing people up at LB too. GO HUSKERS!!!!!

by A. Rose on Aug 30, 2008 10:23 AM CDT reply actions

So

does Cody Glenn still suck?

by Blankman on Aug 31, 2008 5:36 PM CDT reply actions

So

We can start sucking each other’s cocks when guys like Wortman and O’Hanlon shut down Missouri, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma. It’s one game against W. Michigan we just one. I’ll take all those five stars the Texas and Oklahoma schools have over our walk on’s. You’ve got to be kidding me if you think getting big recruits doesn’t matter. Idiots.

by sammy vegas on Aug 31, 2008 11:27 PM CDT reply actions

I

don’t think you’ll have to worry about me partaking in that, thanks.

You go to war with the army you’ve got, not the one you want. And these are those guys this season. We have a ways to go before we start getting a gob of five-star recruits in multiple positions, so why bitch about it?

Cody Glenn looked pretty good in his first start at linebacker. Got to give him that much.

Go Big Red Nebraska!
Our Cobs Are Bigger Than Yours!
Corn Nation!

by Jon Johnston on Sep 1, 2008 8:29 AM CDT up reply actions

This isn't the NFL, boys...

You can only play people who are actually on your roster. If a walk-on is better than the x-star recruit, then play the walk-on. If the x-star recruit was overrated, blame the coaches who recruited him, not the walk-on. You can’t go out there and trade for a player if the x-star recruit washed out.

by Husker Mike on Sep 2, 2008 6:45 AM CDT up reply actions