The Nebraska Cornhuskers donned full pads for their fifth practice of the '15 season Tuesday night. The practice lasted just a shade over 2 hours on the Gass Practice Fields near the Hawks Championship Center.
Welcome to Lincoln @BigTenNetwork. Go ahead and make yourselves at home. #GBR #Huskers pic.twitter.com/4DawuriGft
— Nebraska Huskers (@Huskers) August 12, 2015
An interesting twist into the practice is that the Big Ten Network happened to arrive a day early to take in 2 practices, both today and tomorrow.
BTN's Dave Revsine offered up some insight into what he saw.
FWIW - AJ Bush rotating in 2nd behind Armstrong for Huskers. Great frame - looks the part
— Dave Revsine (@BTNDaveRevsine) August 12, 2015
Marcus Newby lining up with 1st group of LB's along with Rose-Ivey and Banderas
— Dave Revsine (@BTNDaveRevsine) August 12, 2015
One thing that stands out every time we're at Nebraska, but that bears repeating - this is a really impressive team physically
— Dave Revsine (@BTNDaveRevsine) August 12, 2015
Tommy Armstrong Jr. was obviously a focus of Revsine.
Armstrong has tried to force a couple of things that weren't there in 7 on 7 - pass INT'd by Joshua Kalu, then snatched back by J Turner
— Dave Revsine (@BTNDaveRevsine) August 12, 2015
Armstrong has had some sharp moments - just hit Stanley Morgan over the middle with an absolute strike
— Dave Revsine (@BTNDaveRevsine) August 12, 2015
QB play has been spotty in drills we've seen. TA w a couple of INT's & couple more that could have been. Then Fyfe came in & threw one too
— Dave Revsine (@BTNDaveRevsine) August 12, 2015
Here's a tweet and WAIT, THOUGHT IT'D BE ALL WEST COAST OFFENSE AND MIKE RILEY BE THE DEVIL.
This is not a complete overhaul offensively - a lot of stuff will look very familiar to Neb fans (spread formations, read option, etc)
— Dave Revsine (@BTNDaveRevsine) August 12, 2015
After practice, folks gave us their #hot #practice #takes. One theme was evident early and often.
Tuesday's practice in the books. Mikale Wilbon had another strong night at RB. Been a real good first week of camp for him. #Huskers
— Brian Christopherson (@HuskerExtraBC) August 12, 2015
Mikale Wilbon had the best practice of any #Huskers player in the first day in pads, got significant 1st team reps.
— Mike Welch (@RealMikeWelch) August 12, 2015
"Mikale (Wilbon) has made a giant leap from Spring to today. It's really exciting." - Mike Riley #Huskers pic.twitter.com/4qN5ocMFNk
— Mike Welch (@RealMikeWelch) August 12, 2015
Really impressed with Mikale Wilbon today. Definitely will be a factor at running back. #Huskers
— Brian Rosenthal (@HuskerExtraBR) August 12, 2015
Mikale Wilbon will be hard to keep off the field for the #Huskers this year. You always notice when he carries the ball.
— Greg Smith (@GregSmithSports) August 12, 2015
It had been stated that Terrell Newby was the leader in the clubhouse when it came to Running Back. However, it's good to see Mikale Wilbon get some 1st team love. That all being said, it's kind of a surprise I have not heard one thing about Adam Taylor at all yet this camp.
Top WRs were out tonight. Westerkamp, Pierson-El, and Taariq Allen all sidelined with minor "muscle-type" injuries. #Huskers
— Mike Welch (@RealMikeWelch) August 12, 2015
With the aforementioned players out of the loop today, one person stepped forward.
Without aforementioned wide receivers, true freshman Stanley Morgan saw more reps. Sure looks the part. #Huskers
— Brian Rosenthal (@HuskerExtraBR) August 12, 2015
The star of tonight's practice was undoubtedly freshman WR Stanley Morgan. Looks very comfortable. Will be a weapon immediately for #Huskers
— Jake Sorensen (@937JakeSorensen) August 12, 2015
Offensive line take? Sure.
After a rough start to fall camp, the O-line actually looked decent tonight. Nick Gates & Chongo Kondolo holding down right side. #Huskers
— Jake Sorensen (@937JakeSorensen) August 12, 2015
After practice, HC Mike Riley was happy that he could go to full pads, noting that he could go finally go full contact for a while.
"It is good to get through the progression of what they call acclimatization, I think it is a great idea and I frankly worry more on the days when you don’t have pads on than I do this day when you put full gear on. We did however do a little more ‘live football’ on our first day of full gear than before."
Riley also had love for both the QB's up in Camp...
"We have really tried to be fair with the quarterback rotation after Tommy’s first-team reps. I think all of them have taken second team snaps—what we are trying to do is give them all reps with other units, so they get a chance to play with the second string linemen, receivers and so on."
.. as well as Wilbon.
"Mikale I think has had a big jump from spring practice to today. I think he has made a very, very good improvement and I think that comes from him being able to utilize his ability. It is exciting—he is doing well."
Practice continues tomorrow.
Nothing like football under the lights. #GBR #Huskers ⚪️ pic.twitter.com/YlGwdz24ms
— Nebraska Football (@HuskerFBNation) August 12, 2015