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Mike Warren/DN
CARLOS POLK, a 6-foot-2,250-pound linebacker, said he is hoping for a break-out season.
Linebacker looks to prove his talent
By Samuel McKewon
Senior staff writer
Every so often, Nebraska middle linebacker
Carlos Polk allows himself a peek at guys like
Penn State’s LaVar Arrington and Ohio State’s
Na’il Diggs.
Both preseason All-Americans at linebacker
and likely top 15 picks in next year’s NFL Draft,
Arrington and Diggs don’t differ much from Polk
in terms of size, speed and agility. Polk knows it,
too.
What they do have is what Polk may finally
get in his junior season with the Comhuskers:
exposure.
Waiting for it to come hasn’t always been easy,
but after sitting behind NU mainstay Jay Foreman
for two seasons, Polk takes over at a position akin
to the quarterback on offense. He knows his talent
runs deep. His teammates and coaches agree.
Now all he needs, die consensus seems to be,
is time.
“I have some big shoes to fill,” Polk said. “But
I’m ready to step up to die plate. Jay used to make
all the calls in die past. I am the guy that has to
make the calls now.”
The 6-foot-2, 250 pounder from Rockford,
111., has started only one game in his career, last
week’s 42-7 win over Iowa. He had five tackles
and one sack in about three quarters of play.
But it was the Hawkeyes’ third offensive play
of the game that got NU Linebackers Coach Craig
Bohl’s attention and a glimpse at what Polk can do
as a full-time player.
On a draw play on third and nine, Polk initial
ly blitzed the quarterback. But then he spotted
Hawkeye running back Ladell Betts slipping into
the open. Polk stopped, turned 90 degrees and
then chased down Betts from behind for no gain.
“He had enough speed and he had the instinct
to take the right angle to be able to make the play,”
Bohl said. “Those things are skills that are
uniquely possessed by only a few linebackers.”
Polk laughed as he recalled the play.
“Linebacker chasing down a running back,
that’s always impressive,” Polk said “You look at it
on film and you’re like, ‘Hey, I’m step faster than
I thought I was.’ ”
Polk has been showing ability like that since
his freshman year, when he had 32 tackles, includ
ing six tackles for loss and a sack. Last season, he
had only 22 tackles but still had big plays, like his
sack of Kansas State’s Michael Bishop, which
caused a fumble and set up an NU touchdown.
Please see POLK on 10
NU not looking past Cal
By Samuel McKewon
Senior staff writer
Blame class tests for Nebraska
quarterback Bobby Newcombe’s non
chalant treatment of the California
defense at Tuesday’s press conference.
Some West Coast reporter, via
speakerphone, asked the junior starter
if he remembered any Golden Bears
defenders from last season.
Newcombe admitted he hadn’t
seen much, with two tests in his classes
this week.
“Well, they’ve got two very highly
touted linebackers,” the reporter said.
“OK,” Newcombe replied, and said
no more as the room burst into laugh
ter.
But make no mistake, neither
Newcombe nor the rest of Ae
Comhusker offense is taking Cdrs
defense lightly. In what could be one of
the best units No. 5 Nebraska faces all
season, precautions and preparations
have been underway all week for
Saturday’s 2:30 p.m., ABC-televised
Please see CAL on 10
Offense Defense
Pos. No. Name Ht Wt Pos. No. Name Ht Wt
MMHMMIMfliM HMMHHHOnHNMHHHHnMHW
SMdWBWwSfi&iSwiBilWBBSil WMHHHBnHSHnHnHHMi
nMHMnSfiSMnSM^M^HMnMI
nSwSnnnnWMSnMnBMBni^K IIMHMHMnHOHHHMHRMMi^K
SnRNMHMMMMMMRHIMI^HI MHHMSHSSHHHHHHiHHniS
PK 26 Josh Brown 6-2 185 P 17 DanHadenfeMt 5-11 195
California starters
Pos. No. Name Ht Wt Pos. No. Name Ht Wt
DE 97An5e^!rter^ 6-4 250
TB 4 Marcus Fields 6-2 215 P 89 WckHarris 6-3 215
■>■ • . ,.
Buckhalter returns
to Husker practice
By Darren Ivy
Senior staff writer
Amid rumors that he was trans
ferring and after missing practice for
three days, junior I-back Correll
Buckhalter returned to the Nebraska
football team Thursday.
Buckhalter, who declined to talk
to reporters after practice, met with
Coach Frank Solich Thursday morn
ing and worked through any prob
lems he had, Solich said.
However, because Buckhalter
missed team meetings and practice,
he won’t play against California
Saturday. He will return the next
week against Southern Mississippi,
his brother’s alma mater.
“I feel good about him being
Jjack,” Solich said. “He’s a good per
son. He’s a good football player, and
it makes 9ense for him to be a part of
this program.
Picks from
the hicks 10V
The Patty Nebraskan sports staff members
pick the winners (in bold) of 10 college
football games this weekend.
’W—fiBHI
“He’s meant a lot for us. He car
ried a big load last year. We are glad
to have him back. I think everybody
is.”
Buckhalter, who led h|U with
799 yards last year; will remain the
No. 3 I-back. He had three carries for
22 carries in NUls opener vs. Iowa.