NU's Marco waiting in the wings at end
By Steve Sipple
First Down Reporter
Nebraska defensive end Jon Marco has
accomplished a dream this season — sort of.
Marco said he dreamed during his child
hood of earning a Comhusker Black Shirt—
a practice pullover signifying starter status
on Nebraska’s defense. And although
Marco’s still sporting the second team’s
yellow practice jerseys, defensiveend coach
Tony Samuel said in his case the colors arc
purely symbolic.
“He’s the first defensive end in on both
sides,” he said. “He’s not a starter but he
plays as much as the other guys.
He s the guy I depend on in all situ
ations.”
The “other guys” arc 6-foot-1, 220
pound senior right end Jeff Jamrog and left
end Broderick Thomas, a 6-3, 235-pound
All-America candidate. Marco, a 6-1,220
pound junior from Bellevue, said he feels
like a starter.
“We got a three-man rotation,” he said.
“Those two start, but 1 get equal playing time
so I feel like a part of the first unit.”
Samuel said Marco plays like he’s part of
the first unit.
“He’s a real good player, a real good
technician,” Samuel said. “He really pays
attention to detail and he’s strong, real
aggressive and has deceptive speed. He’s
got all the tools to play his position and play
it well.
“If we could start three guys, he’d be the
starter.”
Marco proved his value last week against
Oklahoma State, recording three unassisted
tackles, including one for a two-yard loss.
He now has 13 tackles for the season—eight
unassisted. In addition, he has one quarter
back sack for a six yard loss, three pass
breakups and an interception in Nebraska’s
opener against Utah Slate.
Alter Marco threw Cowboy quarterback
Mike Gundy for the two-yard loss last week,
he responded with a sweeping fist and a few
words to the sophomore. That, Marco said,
is just his style.
“That’s how I amhe said. “I go out there
with a lot of enthusiasm. After you make a
nice play, you like to get up and have a little
fun.”
Samuel said it was a multitude of nice
plays on last year’s special teams that helped
Marco rise to his present role. He said
Marco’s intensity and speed on kickoff and
punt coverages were eye-catching.
“When you look at the kickoff films, he’s
always the first one down there,” he said.
“Last year he was one ol the top five defen
sive ends. But he was one of the best on
special teams when he was learning to be
come a defensive end.”
Marco, who’s playing on the Husker
special team’s again this season, said he
takes pride in the role.
“When you’re a substitute, it’s kind of a
proving ground to see where your heart is, ’
Marco said.
Samuel said Marco, a walk-on from
Bellevue West High School, began proving
himself at the start of spring practice and
continued to play well into the fall season,
when he earned a scholarship.
He picked some things up and the little
things clicked,” he said. “Once he got the
mental part down he started playing a lot
better.”
Marco said in addition to the mental
aspects of playing defensive end, having the
physical tools is also important.
He said the Husker ends play more like
outside linebackers.
“We have to rush, drop back for the pass
and cover man to man,” he said. “We enjoy
the best of both worlds. I like it — the
variety.
In fact, Marco said, the players are push
ing to get their position renamed to outside
linebacker because “it sounds tougher.”
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