Carriker, McPherson won't play vs. Panthers

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BY STEVEN M. SIPPLE / Lincoln Journal Star

Two Nebraska defensive starters — end Adam Carriker and cornerback Lornell McPherson — will miss Saturday's game at Pittsburgh because of injuries.

Carriker (ankle) and McPherson (hamstring) won't travel to the game, Husker head coach Bill Callahan said Thursday. Both players were injured during last week's 21-17 loss to Southern Miss.

Carriker, a 6-foot-6, 275-pound sophomore, is regarded as one of the team's most disruptive defenders. In his absence, reserve ends Wali Muhammad and Jay Moore may see more playing time.

"We have enough depth at that position," Callahan said, adding, "We're looking at a couple of possibilities in terms of bringing a couple of defensive tackles to the outside. We're trying to change up our format in terms of who we're going to plug in."

Starting tackle Titus Adams split time between end and tackle in 2003. He may see time at end against Pitt.

"We've looked at that, to be honest with you," Callahan said. "We've looked at everything."

Meanwhile, McPherson, a 5-9, 180-pound senior, will be replaced at right corner by true freshman Cortney Grixby of Omaha, who generally played well against Southern Miss after replacing McPherson with 11 minutes remaining in the second quarter.

"It's not the first freshman I've played before," said Husker secondary coach Phil Elmassian, 53, a 30-year coaching veteran. "It'll be challenging for Cortney, like it'd be challenging for anybody."

Elmassian and other Husker coaches have praised Grixby's confidence, resilience and understanding of the NU defense.

"He really does a nice job with adversity situations, which is always the one quality you want to find in a young man," Elmassian said. "We would've liked to redshirt him. You always would. Then again, that's what he was signed here for, to play. We felt during preseason practice that he'd be the next corner in the game if someone were injured, and it just so happens it's now."

Senior Kellen Huston will also be heavily involved in the cornerback rotation, Elmassian said.

Callahan said Nebraska will take 80 players to Pittsburgh.

"And we're going to need every one of them," he said.