Media was allowed into the Hawks Championship Center to watch about 30 minutes of football practice Wednesday morning. This is the first such opening since 2019. Open practices had yet to happen in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the rest of the spring and disrupted the fall.
KLIN’s Kenny Larabee was in attendance to capture some of the sights.
Quarterbacks coach Mario Verduzco
Verduzco is heading into his fourth season in charge of the QBs in Lincoln. Each season has been preceded by the presumed backup or depth piece leaving the program (Tristan Gebbia & Patrick O’Brien, Noah Vedral, Luke McCaffrey).
Junior quarterback Adrian Martinez (2)
Martinez returns for his fourth season in Lincoln. The two-time team captain owns more than a dozen schools records, set during his 27 starts.
Freshman quarterback Logan Smothers (8)
Smothers did not play a single snap in the shortened 2020 fall season. He and Heinrich Haarberg are the only QBs on scholarship behind Adrian Martinez.
Freshman quarterback Heinrich Haarberg (10)
Haarberg joins Logan Smothers as the only scholarship QBs behind Adrian Martinez. Haarberg is the first in-state scholarship quarterback to sign with Nebraska since 2001.
Sophomore quarterback Matt Masker (18)
Masker has yet to play in a game over his three seasons in Lincoln, but he has been on the travel roster each year.
Head coach Scott Frost (left) and Associate AD Matt Davison (right) observe the early portion of Wednesday morning’s practice.
Defensive Coordinator Erik Chinander explains the next portion of a drill at Wednesday morning’s practice.
Outside Linebackers coach Mike Dawson (center, black polo) leads a drill while sophomore Garrett Nelson (44) prepares to go next. Among those in line: junior Caleb Tannor (2), sophomore Ryan Schommer (54), redshirt freshman Nick Leader (81), and junior Damian Jackson (38).
Inside Linebackers coach Barrett Ruud (center) observes a defense drill.
Junior defensive lineman Damion Daniels (93)
Daniels has played in every game the last two seasons. His play at nose tackle is a key piece for the Blackshirts.
Inside Linebackers
Among those in the group: redshirt freshman Garrett Snodgrass (41), sophomore Luke Reimer (28), junior Chris Kolarevic (31), redshirt freshman Nick Henrich (42), redshirt freshman Jackson Hannah (10), and sophomore Zach Schlager (25).
Freshman offensive lineman Henry Lutovsky (left) battles with a teammate during a blocking drill.
Offensive lineman execute a block drill. From left to right: Redshirt freshman Brant Banks (74), junior Trent Hixson (75), junior Matt Sichterman (70), and Bryce Benhart (54).
