10-31-24
UNDERCOVER WORK
First, before looking briefly at the big picture Saturday’s game against UCLA, consider defensive coordinator Tony White’s praise for senior JACK linebacker MJ Sherman Tuesday.
“He sets a great example, being an older guy,” said White. “That’s the kind of guy you want, leading your . . . leading that position group.”
Sherman, in his second season at Nebraska after transferring from Georgia, has “made a ton of plays, but it’s the plays he doesn’t make where he’s really impacting the game,” White said.
“He’s kind of like the undercover hero.”
Sherman is “taking on blocks,” said White. “He’s so physical.”
As evidence of that physicality, White referred to Ohio State’s first series Saturday, 4th-and-1 at the Nebraska 27-yard line. Buckeye running back TreVeyon Henderson gets the ball. Sherman is “being double-teamed and he crushes the tight end down and the wing is on him,” White said. “As soon as the tight end comes off, he inserts himself up the field and he hits the ball carrier. There’s stuff like that you don’t see unless you’re really watching the game, how much he’s impacting.”
It all happens in an instant; Henderson is dropped for a 1-yard loss.
You have to look down the list to find Sherman’s total tackles, 17. But 11 are unassisted, with 3.5 sacks in addition to that tackle for loss, and he has four quarterback hurries.
Plus, the “undercover hero’s” impact doesn’t end when he’s on the sideline. Sherman is “talking each series to guys, to Princewell (Umanmielan) and Willis (McGahee IV), and then Willis goes in there and makes a huge play. And MJ is one of the first ones to jump around with him,” said White.
“It’s fun to watch him (Sherman) grow, develop.”
******
Heading home? Sort of. Tony White played football at UCLA, 1997-2000, a three-year starter at linebacker and began his collegiate coaching career as a grad assistant there. He was asked about his memories during Tuesday’s media availability. “The championships, the Rose Bowls,” White said. “With all the guys who play, you miss the locker room. You miss sitting down there before class, before you eat, just being around the guys. It’s those things you miss the most.”
Those “guys” included DeShaun Foster, in his first season as head coach at UCLA. Foster was only one year behind White. He was a “great, great running back,” said White.
White hasn’t set the Bruins aside even though time has passed. As with anyone, “the college they graduated (from), they root for ‘em every day of the year minus that one,” he said.
“It’s exciting to watch him (Foster) in his journey, where he came from, being in the game, the locker room together, now seeing him as the head coach.”
Although UCLA is 2-5 under Foster, “I think their record is very deceiving because they’ve played some really good teams,” offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield said Tuesday.
“They have the same record against common opponents as we have.”
The Bruins are 1-1, losing to Indiana (42-13) and defeating Rutgers (35-32).
Their losses also include to LSU, Oregon and Penn State.
******
Yes, Nebraska hasn’t been to a bowl game since 2016. And yes, the Huskers are one win away from bowl eligibility, though they started 5-3 last season, and well . . .
“In practice, I heard someone say we haven’t been to a bowl in eight years,” Dylan Raiola said Tuesday. “I think getting the fans guaranteed one more game (win), possibly more, being in the playoffs, would mean a lot to this fan base. They’ve been through a lot and been very loyal to everybody.”
Even so, the team needs to focus on “trying to win this week and this week only, and get six wins.”
Matt Rhule said Monday, how Nebraska plays against UCLA “will tell us where we are coming off these last two games.”
Mike Babcock
