Brandenburgh fills in gaps for Huskers
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BY BRIAN ROSENTHAL / Lincoln Journal Star
What, Lance Brandenburgh couldn’t drive the team bus, too?
The junior linebacker from Overland Park, Kan., has seemingly done everything else for the No. 21 Nebraska football team.
Last week against Troy, the 6-foot-1, 230-pound Brandenburgh played SAM linebacker, WILL linebacker and MIKE linebacker, and was on the punt team, punt block, kickoff return and kickoff teams.
That Nebraska kept scoring in a 56-0 rout meant little rest for Brandenburgh.
“I don’t know how many kickoffs we had,” he said. “It was wearing me out.”
But Brandenburgh had already said it himself: He’ll do anything to get on the field.
He’s getting his wish. His contributions haven’t gone unnoticed, either. The week after recording four tackles — including one for loss — against then-No. 4 USC, Brandenburgh was rewarded with a blackshirt.
That’s a symbol of great accomplishment for a Nebraska defender. It means you’re a starter. It’s particularly significant for Brandenburgh, who reached Blackshirt status as a backup.
“It’s definitely gratifying,” Brandenburgh said of his opportunity for playing time as a non-starter. “It feels like all my hard work is starting to pay off more.
“But I’m never satisfied. I’m never going to be satisfied, so I’m just going to keep working hard, and hopefully things will work out well.”
Brandenburgh isn’t certain which linebacker spot he’ll play Saturday night, when the Huskers begin Big 12 Conference play with a home game against Kansas. He’s not real particular, either.
Against Troy, he spelled starter Bo Ruud at WILL linebacker in the second series of the game. Then he played SAM, behind starter Stewart Bradley. He finished at MIKE, long after the Huskers had gained control and starter Corey McKeon was resting.
While not uncommon for a linebacker to be familiar with all three spots, it’s rare you see one play all three spots in one game.
“We’re very fortunate to have a guy like Lance,” Nebraska defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove said. “He’s one of our most valuable guys just because he has the ability to not only play all three positions, but excel at all three positions. When he’s in the game, we really don’t miss a beat.”
Brandenburgh’s flexibility has partially stemmed from the fact Nebraska has experienced injury problems at all three linebacker spots over the past two seasons. Last year, the Huskers lost Steve Octavien at WILL and Stewart Bradley at SAM.
And when Ruud, Octavien’s replacement, suffered a broken arm in December, Brandenburgh started in his place in the Alamo Bowl. Brandenburgh responded with a career-high six tackles in a 32-28 victory against Michigan. That game was his only career start.
“He has the ability to make plays,” Cosgrove said. “He’s a strong, physical guy. He’s always done a tremendous job on special teams. I’m very comfortable with him going in and banging three positions.”
This season, sophomore Phillip Dillard, the Huskers’ No. 2 MIKE linebacker, suffered an ACL tear, meaning Brandenburgh is now listed as McKeon’s top backup at the spot.
“It’s not very difficult in Lance’s position, because he’s such a smart kid,” McKeon said. “Each year, he’s played each position. It’s good for him. He knows all three spots, and he can play all three spots.”
Brandenburgh said WILL is probably his favorite position but that he doesn’t necessarily have a preference. He began the 2005 season at MIKE, became the top backup at WILL and then switched to SAM during the spring.
“Once you learn the MIKE, and then one of the outside backers, then everything … Once you learn one, it’s easier to pick up on the other ones,” Brandenburgh said. “It’s just a lot of different things you have to learn, a lot of different keys, a lot of different checks for each position.
“I mean, it’s tough. You have a lot of things going through your head. You don’t really have a chance to let your mind wander during practice, or during games. You have to think a lot.”
Reach Brian Rosenthal at 473-7436 or brosenthal@journalstar.com.
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