Joe Ganz is the starter.
Everyone knows that, but as important as it was to have someone to back up
senior quarterback Sam Keller, someone now has to back up Ganz, should the
unthinkable happen.
Competing for that spot have been junior Beau Davis and freshman Patrick Witt, and Witt has said that in case Nebraska does lose Ganz and the Huskers
need someone to start, he’d be willing to pull his redshirt off and play.
As far as there being an official number two as of yet, Head Coach Bill Callahan said that they haven’t etched that in stone. “We haven’t determined who
is going to be that quarterback yet. We are still evaluating that, so we are
still looking and assessing and trying to work that out,” he said.
The only playing experience Davis has is almost infamous at this point.
Amidst a fairly lackluster performance against Texas Tech three years ago down
in Lubbock, Davis was brought in to replace former Husker Joe Dailey, who was
14-34 at that point of the game, having thrown a pick and a touchdown. Davis
came in and things melted down quickly for the freshman QB as he went 1-8,
throwing four interceptions and he fumbled the ball once as well.
That led to the most points ever given up by a Nebraska team as they lost to
Texas Tech, 70-10, still the largest margin of loss in Husker football history.
Also on the injury front is the linebacking corps, a unit which seems to have
perennial issues when it comes to keeping this group on its feet. Out for the
season is senior Lance Brandenburgh, and still not practicing, stemming from
injuries against Texas A&M, is senior Bo Ruud along with freshman Blake Lawrence. Ruud and Lawrence are listed first and second string at the SAM
linebacker position, respectively.
Looking to start for the Kansas game, if neither
is able to go, is junior Tyler Wortman. The Grand Island native did not see any
actual game time until this season, where he has participated in six games,
totaling three tackles, including one for a loss.
Backing up Wortman will be true freshman and cousin of former Husker
cornerback Fabian Washington, Latravis Washington. Washington has served time on
special teams this year, but hasn’t played any regular reps at linebacker this
year.
And leading up to the point where Ruud and Lawrence were injured, Washington
’s practice reps reflected that. But as Washington said, since the injuries to
the top two Strongside linebackers, his reps have obviously gone up. “I’d get
like 10 reps a practice, maybe more, at linebacker. But now it’s at least 20,
and maybe almost as much as 30.” He said. The Head Coach said that even if a
young man like Washington , who is slated at third string or lower, they are
always going to get some reps at their primary position.
“Whether or not they are on the scout team, or anytime they
are in a back up role, they are always receiving reps,” Callahan said.
Nebraska went full pads today, but is expected to go half-pads tomorrow,
followed by the walkthrough on Friday, before they depart for Lawrence , Kansas
. The Jayhawks are currently 19 point favorites over the Huskers, the largest
margin of such type, we believe, during the over 100-year history of this series
between the two.