Big-hitting Thenarse ready for his next step
A 245-pound battering ram was coming his way, but Rickey Thenarse stood unyielding.
The junior safety specializes in collisions and there’s no way he was about to duck out on this one, even if he was giving up 50 pounds to running back Quentin Castille.
Thenarse is used to being the hammer and not the nail. But when he tried to take on Castille up high, it was a mistake realized on the spot. The big back buried a shoulder into Thenarse, and the safety took an immediate seat.
“He got me, man,” said Thenarse, wearing the grin of a good sport after Saturday’s Spring Game. “We both brought it, but he brought it harder. Next time, I’ll go low.”
And you better believe there will be a next time. One thing the 6-foot, 195-pound Thenarse does not shy from is contact, a mentality that seems to have him in line for a starting spot at safety come fall.
His hard-hitting ways helped earn him the team’s MVP on special teams the past two seasons, some fan admiration along with it. It was Thenarse who was often the first guy downfield on kick coverages, launching his body at returnmen.
You can ask Husker sophomore receiver Niles Paul how a Thenarse hit feels. In one of this year’s early spring practices, Thenarse unloaded on the sophomore and Paul’s helmet went flying, a collection of “oohs” and “ahhs” heard around the field.
That’s Thenarse for you, Husker secondary coach Marvin Sanders will tell you. Of course, it’s worth a mention that Thenarse was out of position when he put that lick on Paul.
Yes, yes. Perhaps that has been the main drawback in keeping Thenarse from seeing more time at the safety position in his first two years.
“I’m always wanting to get to the ball,” Thenarse said. “It’s like a natural instinct. But (I’m) just trying to break that habit and play team defense.”
It’s been one of Sanders’ missions this spring: keep the playmaker bug in Thenarse while also showing the safety that an over-exuberance to always chase the ball can sometimes put him out of position, with a possible big-time negative result.
Thenarse has been taking the words to heart. He said he worked hard this spring on making sure he was first reading his key assignments, then reacting to the ball.
But when it does come time to react, expect to see Thenarse flying around, hunting for that big play.
In some ways, the Los Angeles native seems like he might be the type who could really excel in Husker head coach Bo Pelini’s defense.
Thenarse said he knew he liked the head coach in the first meeting when Pelini told the team what he expected of them.
“Yeah, I bought into it. I loved it,” Thenarse said. “I’ve just been having fun the whole spring, just flying around, doing what I do best, making plays. I feel like we have gotten better since last year, way better. I’m excited, man.”
He worked primarily with the No. 1 defense this spring, holding down the free safety spot. Junior Larry Asante has been managing the starting strong safety position.
“I feel great, I feel more confident being with the ones,” Thenarse said. “I feel like I have a big responsibility to just step my game up to another level, and that’s what I’m going to do.”
Coming off a season in which Nebraska ranked 112th out of 119 teams nationally in total defense, Husker coaches and players know the defense still has a long road ahead.
Pelini said Saturday that he was able to get across most of his base concepts this spring camp, but added that “we’re just at square one in teaching them.”
The head coach thinks his defense faced some added difficulties learning a new scheme while working against a complex Husker offense that was showing so many different formations during practices.
“But it will make us better in the long run because we’re seeing so much,” Pelini said. “I think it’s all there. We exposed them to a lot, and now it’s time to keep developing that understanding and hone in on where exactly we need to get to.”
Thenarse said the defense has made giant strides from where it was just five months ago. Maybe the biggest thing he’s seen: a return of confidence.
“Everyone’s just bringing that swagger back,” he said. “They’re just putting the best athletes on the field now, and it’s great.”
So far in his two seasons, Thenarse has accumulated 37 tackles, 23 of them solo. He’s forced three fumbles and intercepted one pass.
He’s contributed, certainly, but not to an extent that satisfies him. Thenarse believes his time has arrived.
“Obviously, I think I paid my dues and it’s time for me to step up and be a leader and get us where we need to be.“
Reach Brian Christopherson at 473-7439 or bchristopherson@journalstar.com.
The junior safety specializes in collisions and there’s no way he was about to duck out on this one, even if he was giving up 50 pounds to running back Quentin Castille.
Thenarse is used to being the hammer and not the nail. But when he tried to take on Castille up high, it was a mistake realized on the spot. The big back buried a shoulder into Thenarse, and the safety took an immediate seat.
“He got me, man,” said Thenarse, wearing the grin of a good sport after Saturday’s Spring Game. “We both brought it, but he brought it harder. Next time, I’ll go low.”
And you better believe there will be a next time. One thing the 6-foot, 195-pound Thenarse does not shy from is contact, a mentality that seems to have him in line for a starting spot at safety come fall.
His hard-hitting ways helped earn him the team’s MVP on special teams the past two seasons, some fan admiration along with it. It was Thenarse who was often the first guy downfield on kick coverages, launching his body at returnmen.
You can ask Husker sophomore receiver Niles Paul how a Thenarse hit feels. In one of this year’s early spring practices, Thenarse unloaded on the sophomore and Paul’s helmet went flying, a collection of “oohs” and “ahhs” heard around the field.
That’s Thenarse for you, Husker secondary coach Marvin Sanders will tell you. Of course, it’s worth a mention that Thenarse was out of position when he put that lick on Paul.
Yes, yes. Perhaps that has been the main drawback in keeping Thenarse from seeing more time at the safety position in his first two years.
“I’m always wanting to get to the ball,” Thenarse said. “It’s like a natural instinct. But (I’m) just trying to break that habit and play team defense.”
It’s been one of Sanders’ missions this spring: keep the playmaker bug in Thenarse while also showing the safety that an over-exuberance to always chase the ball can sometimes put him out of position, with a possible big-time negative result.
Thenarse has been taking the words to heart. He said he worked hard this spring on making sure he was first reading his key assignments, then reacting to the ball.
But when it does come time to react, expect to see Thenarse flying around, hunting for that big play.
In some ways, the Los Angeles native seems like he might be the type who could really excel in Husker head coach Bo Pelini’s defense.
Thenarse said he knew he liked the head coach in the first meeting when Pelini told the team what he expected of them.
“Yeah, I bought into it. I loved it,” Thenarse said. “I’ve just been having fun the whole spring, just flying around, doing what I do best, making plays. I feel like we have gotten better since last year, way better. I’m excited, man.”
He worked primarily with the No. 1 defense this spring, holding down the free safety spot. Junior Larry Asante has been managing the starting strong safety position.
“I feel great, I feel more confident being with the ones,” Thenarse said. “I feel like I have a big responsibility to just step my game up to another level, and that’s what I’m going to do.”
Coming off a season in which Nebraska ranked 112th out of 119 teams nationally in total defense, Husker coaches and players know the defense still has a long road ahead.
Pelini said Saturday that he was able to get across most of his base concepts this spring camp, but added that “we’re just at square one in teaching them.”
The head coach thinks his defense faced some added difficulties learning a new scheme while working against a complex Husker offense that was showing so many different formations during practices.
“But it will make us better in the long run because we’re seeing so much,” Pelini said. “I think it’s all there. We exposed them to a lot, and now it’s time to keep developing that understanding and hone in on where exactly we need to get to.”
Thenarse said the defense has made giant strides from where it was just five months ago. Maybe the biggest thing he’s seen: a return of confidence.
“Everyone’s just bringing that swagger back,” he said. “They’re just putting the best athletes on the field now, and it’s great.”
So far in his two seasons, Thenarse has accumulated 37 tackles, 23 of them solo. He’s forced three fumbles and intercepted one pass.
He’s contributed, certainly, but not to an extent that satisfies him. Thenarse believes his time has arrived.
“Obviously, I think I paid my dues and it’s time for me to step up and be a leader and get us where we need to be.“
Reach Brian Christopherson at 473-7439 or bchristopherson@journalstar.com.
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