Hickman has no qualms with playing center
If you’ve closely followed Nebraska’s offensive line in recent seasons, you’ll be familiar with the term “cross-train.”
Players are responsible for knowing multiple positions. Guards play at tackle. Tackles play at guard. Versatility becomes common, and oftentimes valuable.
“If you know more than one position, you kind of have an understanding of what’s going on,” said Nebraska lineman Jacob Hickman, a 6-foot-4, 285-pound sophomore from Bakersfield, Calif.
“Everybody kind of knows everything.”
So when Hickman, who’d played most of the first half of Saturday’s game against Texas A&M at left guard, was asked to slide over to center in the second half, nobody sweated.
Well, maybe Hickman did. Just a tad.
“When you jump into center, it’s kind of tough,” he said. “It’s kind of one of those things you’re accustomed to (one position). You’re mind-based around that guard position. You have to evaluate everything from a new position.
“But it’s not too bad.”
Certainly not bad enough to concern Nebraska coaches.
Offensive coordinator Shawn Watson said Hickman performed admirably in place of senior captain Brett Byford, who left with a leg injury.
“It was pretty easy, because we cross-trained him from spring practice on,” Watson said. “Putting him in there and letting him play center was no problem at all.”
Hickman is prepared and ready, if needed, to start in Byford’s place Saturday, when Nebraska (4-4, 1-3 Big 12 Conference) plays at No. 17 Texas (6-2, 2-2). Byford is expected to make the trip but is questionable for the game, Nebraska coach Bill Callahan said.
Watson, for one, has confidence in starting Hickman at center. He said he wasn’t nervous when calling on Hickman to fill in for Byford against A&M.
“Any time that you put a ball in between your legs, snap it and then reach the way we reach in our zone game, you’ve got to be a pretty special athlete,” Watson said. “So (Hickman) did that very well.
“He’s got one-step quickness that you need at center, and the feet to go along with it ... he can stick on, stay and finish.”
How did Hickman evaluate his performance?
“There are plays I’d like to get back,” Hickman said. “But no glaring mistakes.”
Hickman saw ample playing time as a true freshman last season, a testament to his ability to quickly pick up a complicated system.
“Every day, you kind of get a little more comfortable,” Hickman said. “At the same time, every day there’s something new that you kind of go, ‘Wow, I never thought about that before,’ or you mess up. It’s confusing, but at the same time, every day you get a little better at it.”
Hickman remembers feeling more comfortable midway through last season, and earning more playing time as a result. He saw considerable action against Oklahoma State and earned a start the following week against Missouri.
“It’s one of those things where it does kind of finally click over for you,” he said.
Hickman, though, suffered a knee injury during preparations for the Cotton Bowl. It’s an injury that kept him out of spring practice.
Watson said coaches had always tabbed Hickman to be a center in the future; Nebraska must replace Byford next season.
Hickman likes that idea, but said he’s not particular.
“I’m always the type that I’ll play wherever I can play,” he said. “I wouldn’t mind playing center next year. It wouldn’t be too bad of a deal.
“Whatever happens, happens.”
Reach Brian Rosenthal at 473-7436 or brosenthal@journalstar.com.
Players are responsible for knowing multiple positions. Guards play at tackle. Tackles play at guard. Versatility becomes common, and oftentimes valuable.
“If you know more than one position, you kind of have an understanding of what’s going on,” said Nebraska lineman Jacob Hickman, a 6-foot-4, 285-pound sophomore from Bakersfield, Calif.
“Everybody kind of knows everything.”
So when Hickman, who’d played most of the first half of Saturday’s game against Texas A&M at left guard, was asked to slide over to center in the second half, nobody sweated.
Well, maybe Hickman did. Just a tad.
“When you jump into center, it’s kind of tough,” he said. “It’s kind of one of those things you’re accustomed to (one position). You’re mind-based around that guard position. You have to evaluate everything from a new position.
“But it’s not too bad.”
Certainly not bad enough to concern Nebraska coaches.
Offensive coordinator Shawn Watson said Hickman performed admirably in place of senior captain Brett Byford, who left with a leg injury.
“It was pretty easy, because we cross-trained him from spring practice on,” Watson said. “Putting him in there and letting him play center was no problem at all.”
Hickman is prepared and ready, if needed, to start in Byford’s place Saturday, when Nebraska (4-4, 1-3 Big 12 Conference) plays at No. 17 Texas (6-2, 2-2). Byford is expected to make the trip but is questionable for the game, Nebraska coach Bill Callahan said.
Watson, for one, has confidence in starting Hickman at center. He said he wasn’t nervous when calling on Hickman to fill in for Byford against A&M.
“Any time that you put a ball in between your legs, snap it and then reach the way we reach in our zone game, you’ve got to be a pretty special athlete,” Watson said. “So (Hickman) did that very well.
“He’s got one-step quickness that you need at center, and the feet to go along with it ... he can stick on, stay and finish.”
How did Hickman evaluate his performance?
“There are plays I’d like to get back,” Hickman said. “But no glaring mistakes.”
Hickman saw ample playing time as a true freshman last season, a testament to his ability to quickly pick up a complicated system.
“Every day, you kind of get a little more comfortable,” Hickman said. “At the same time, every day there’s something new that you kind of go, ‘Wow, I never thought about that before,’ or you mess up. It’s confusing, but at the same time, every day you get a little better at it.”
Hickman remembers feeling more comfortable midway through last season, and earning more playing time as a result. He saw considerable action against Oklahoma State and earned a start the following week against Missouri.
“It’s one of those things where it does kind of finally click over for you,” he said.
Hickman, though, suffered a knee injury during preparations for the Cotton Bowl. It’s an injury that kept him out of spring practice.
Watson said coaches had always tabbed Hickman to be a center in the future; Nebraska must replace Byford next season.
Hickman likes that idea, but said he’s not particular.
“I’m always the type that I’ll play wherever I can play,” he said. “I wouldn’t mind playing center next year. It wouldn’t be too bad of a deal.
“Whatever happens, happens.”
Reach Brian Rosenthal at 473-7436 or brosenthal@journalstar.com.
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