Injury sidelines Murtha
Nebraska junior Lydon Murtha, who has started every game this season at right tackle, suffered a regular season-ending foot injury in Saturday’s loss to Texas A&M.
“He’ll be out for a good six to eight weeks,” Husker coach Bill Callahan said Tuesday during his weekly media luncheon. “Hopefully he’ll be ready for the bowl practice.”
Nebraska takes a record of 4-4 overall and 1-3 in the Big 12 into Saturday’s game at No. 17 Texas (6-2, 2-2 Big 12). Murtha is the only Husker player who has been ruled out of the contest, Callahan said. Center Brett Byford (knee), linebacker Bo Ruud (knee) and linebacker Blake Lawrence (ankle) are questionable, the coach said.
The 6-foot-7, 305-pound Murtha suffered an apparent toe fracture and was to undergo surgery Tuesday or Wednesday.
“I think it happened on the second play of the game,” Callahan said. “But he played the entire game and finished the game with it.”
Junior Matt Slauson, who has started four games this season at right guard, likely will start in Murtha’s place at right tackle. Because of Murtha’s injury, Nebraska may need to turn to true freshman tackle Jaivorio Burkes for reserve duty, Callahan said.
“He’ll most likely see some playing time,” the coach said, noting Husker coaches are looking at about four or five different sets of starters along the offensive line.
As for pulling Burkes out of a redshirt season relatively late in the schedule, Callahan said Nebraska basically doesn’t have a choice.
“(Offensive line coach Dennis Wagner) has been getting him ready in the last few weeks,” Callahan said of 6-5, 315-pound Burkes, of Phoenix. “This is something you prepare those young kids for.”
Redshirt freshman D.J. Jones has appeared in a reserve role at both tackle and guard this season. Redshirt freshman Mike Smith is listed No. 2 at left tackle, and the Huskers have other young linemen in the system.
However, “We have a lot of confidence in his (Burkes’) ability,” Callahan said. “And we think right now he’s got the most talent to step in and play. So we’re going to utilize his skills and his abilities. He’s young. He’s going to have to go through the fires of course. But (true freshman tackle) Marcel Jones also is continuing to improve. Both those guys have worked really hard on the scout team. They’ve done an excellent job.”
“You don’t like to play those young guys,” Callahan added. “But we’re going to be forced into a position here where we might have to.”
Callahan reiterated that he would like to see true freshman I-back Marcus Mendoza get some playing time this season. The coach said he would be “hurt” personally by any suggestion he was being reckless in pulling true freshmen out of redshirts this late in the season.
“We’re trying to show our fans that we’re trying to put the best players on the field,” he said.
Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.
“He’ll be out for a good six to eight weeks,” Husker coach Bill Callahan said Tuesday during his weekly media luncheon. “Hopefully he’ll be ready for the bowl practice.”
Nebraska takes a record of 4-4 overall and 1-3 in the Big 12 into Saturday’s game at No. 17 Texas (6-2, 2-2 Big 12). Murtha is the only Husker player who has been ruled out of the contest, Callahan said. Center Brett Byford (knee), linebacker Bo Ruud (knee) and linebacker Blake Lawrence (ankle) are questionable, the coach said.
The 6-foot-7, 305-pound Murtha suffered an apparent toe fracture and was to undergo surgery Tuesday or Wednesday.
“I think it happened on the second play of the game,” Callahan said. “But he played the entire game and finished the game with it.”
Junior Matt Slauson, who has started four games this season at right guard, likely will start in Murtha’s place at right tackle. Because of Murtha’s injury, Nebraska may need to turn to true freshman tackle Jaivorio Burkes for reserve duty, Callahan said.
“He’ll most likely see some playing time,” the coach said, noting Husker coaches are looking at about four or five different sets of starters along the offensive line.
As for pulling Burkes out of a redshirt season relatively late in the schedule, Callahan said Nebraska basically doesn’t have a choice.
“(Offensive line coach Dennis Wagner) has been getting him ready in the last few weeks,” Callahan said of 6-5, 315-pound Burkes, of Phoenix. “This is something you prepare those young kids for.”
Redshirt freshman D.J. Jones has appeared in a reserve role at both tackle and guard this season. Redshirt freshman Mike Smith is listed No. 2 at left tackle, and the Huskers have other young linemen in the system.
However, “We have a lot of confidence in his (Burkes’) ability,” Callahan said. “And we think right now he’s got the most talent to step in and play. So we’re going to utilize his skills and his abilities. He’s young. He’s going to have to go through the fires of course. But (true freshman tackle) Marcel Jones also is continuing to improve. Both those guys have worked really hard on the scout team. They’ve done an excellent job.”
“You don’t like to play those young guys,” Callahan added. “But we’re going to be forced into a position here where we might have to.”
Callahan reiterated that he would like to see true freshman I-back Marcus Mendoza get some playing time this season. The coach said he would be “hurt” personally by any suggestion he was being reckless in pulling true freshmen out of redshirts this late in the season.
“We’re trying to show our fans that we’re trying to put the best players on the field,” he said.
Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.
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