Two days before the season begins, and the Huskers lose another linebacker to injury. Will Compton suffered some type of foot injury and will be out indefinitely. This makes Compton the second linebacker to go down after Sean Fisher suffered a broken leg earlier in fall camp, ending his season.
It sucks, but it sucks mostly for Compton and here at CN we wish him a speedy recovery.
I wouldn't start freaking out yet. Newcomer JUCO (Fort Scott CC) transfer Lavonte David is in a better position to start. One of the things that Fort Scott CC coach Jeff Sims told me about David was that he is a natural football player - he understood what Bo Pelini is trying to do. Sims also emphasized that it will take David time to adjust to life in Lincoln, which gives David about two games to get ready for prime time.
Sophomores Eric Martin and Alonzo Whaley will be available, as will Matt Holt. Holt has starting experience, starting in 2008 against Texas Tech, Pelini's first year when the linebacker cupboard truly was bare. Mathew May is another possibility, having played in 2008, but seeing little playing time in 2009 due to injury. Both Holt and May were originally safeties that switched to the linebacker position.
Is it too late for Latravis Washington to move back to the linebacker position? Washington had switched to try playing quarterback after Nebraska had a dearth of players at linebacker. Oh, sweet irony.