Kicker Billy Todd leads the Huskers in scoring this year with 42
points through the first seven games. Who is the former Nebraska
back who holds a 28-year record for most points scored in a season
in the Big Eight?
4.
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Starting is 'dream come true' for walk-on Nelson
By Buck Mahoney
The walk-ons at the University of Ne
braska have gained a lot of attention
recently. The likes of I.M. Hipp, Clete
Pillen and Larry Valasek are among those
who have gained starting positions after
they did not receive scholarships.
This year, Derrie Nelson adds his name
to the list of those who have walked on to
become starters. Nelson, a 6-2, 212 pound
sophomore from Fairmont, is sharing a
starting defensive end spot with L.C. Cole.
Nelson said that becoming a starter is a
"dream come true" for him.
"It's something you always think
about," he said. "It's like a dream, but in
reality it's a long way away for a walk-on."
Nelson said the most important thing
for a walk-on to have is desire. He said
desire can cover up a player's weaknesses in
size and speed by bettering his technique.
"If you don't have desire, you won't get
past high school," he said.
In his senior year of high school. Nelson
played middle linebacker, a position where
he had to play the run as well as drop back
for pass coverage. He said his duties as a
linebacker were much the same as his
duties as a defensive end are at Nebraska,
but he said he likes playing defensive end
Better.
Sacks and interceptions
"You don't have all those big guys com
ing at you," he said. "As a linebacker, you
get centers and guards blocking on you,
but as an end you get backs and wide re
ceivers." Nelson said he likes the combination of
pass coverage and pass rush that are the re
sponsibilities of defensive ends, because
both provide a chance to make a big play.
Rushing the quarterback provides the
opportunity to sack him because offenses
often forget to block the end according to
Nelson, and covering passes provides a
chance for an interception.
Nelson, Cole and the other starting end,
George Andrews have all intercepted passes
this year.
"For awhile we were ahead of the
secondary in interceptions, but in the last
game I think the secondary took com
mand," Nelson said.
Maul the guy
Nelson has earned a reputation for being
a reckless player, and he says he likes to
have that reputation on the field.
"I try to go in and maul a guy right off
because if you really maul him, you gain
his respect," Nelson said.
He also said it is important to be aggres
sive early in the game because it gives the
opponents something to think about
during the contest.
Although he is a reckless player on the
field, he added that he is not that way
when he leaves the stadium.
"Off the field I'm fine and tame," he
said.
Today, the Huskers will have their
attention focused on the Oklahoma State
Cowboys, a team that lost their first five
games before winning their last two.
Won't lay down and die
"They always play us tough," Nelson
said. 'They're not a team that'll lay down
and die like Colorado did."
One key to beating the Cowboys will be
the Husker defense's ability to stop the
running game.
'They like to run off tackle a lot to
both sides and the coaches say they will
throw the ball if they have to," he said.
"At wide receiver they have some fast
people and they have a good quarterback,
too."
Although the past few games have been
easy wins for the Huskers, Nelson said he
didn't think the team would relax.
"Everybody is trying to perform better
and execute better," he said.
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Saturday, October 28, 1978
first down
page 5
