Lance Brandenburgh took off his helmet after Monday’s spring practice and revealed some longer locks.

Longer, anyway, than last year’s buzz cut.

“Just growing it out a bit,” Brandenburgh explained. “Trying something different.”

That seems to be fitting of Brandenburgh.

Not only does he not fear change, he seems to embrace it and make the most of a new opportunity.

That’s happening again this spring, as Brandenburgh learns his third different linebacker position on the Nebraska football team.

This time, it’s the SAM, or strong side spot. Injuries to regular starter Stewart Bradley and promising redshirted freshman Nick Covey prompted the move. Coaches approached Brandenburgh, a 6-foot-1, 230-pound junior from Overland Park, Kan., about the switch three weeks before the spring season.

He’d never before played the position.

“He’s a quick learner. He takes coaching well,” Nebraska defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Kevin Cosgrove said. “He plays smart, he’s a good blitzer off the edge. He’s good in coverage. I’ve been very pleased with his progress.”

Brandenburgh is working with the No. 1 defense, ahead of senior Dontrell Moore and junior walk-on Brian Voges, a Lincoln Southwest graduate. Bradley is limited in practice as he continues his recovery from ACL surgery. Covey is sidelined after having shoulder surgery.

Among Brandenburgh’s biggest adjustments is learning tight end reads. He and Cosgrove agree that’s happened quickly, making for a near-seamless transition.

“I’m learning a lot,” Brandenburgh said. “I’m just trying to get better every day, and whatever happens, happens. All I can control is myself and what I do. I’m just trying to learn and get better and help the team out.”

Sound familiar?

Brandenburgh said similar things last season when he switched from MIKE to WILL. That turned out pretty well. Brandenburgh ended up starting at WILL in the Alamo Bowl after the Huskers’ top two players at the position, Steve Octavien and Bo Ruud, suffered season-ending injuries.

It was Brandenburgh’s first career start. He had six tackles — including two memorable, hard-hitting shots in the 32-28 victory over Michigan — along with a pass breakup.

“I probably played all right,” Brandenburgh said. “I feel like I can get a lot better. I try not to get satisfied with anything, though, because there’s always room for improvement. But I hope that kind of helped me out a little bit in the long run.”

If anything, it proved Nebraska has another strong player in an already deep and talented pool of linebackers.

The problem, of course, is keeping them all healthy. Then again, the benefit of that talented depth is having guys like Brandenburgh pick up the slack when the Ruuds and Octaviens and Bradleys get hurt.

In an ideal world, Cosgrove said Brandenburgh would probably be best-suited for MIKE linebacker.

“The good thing about Lance, he plays all three positions,” Cosgrove said. “If I can ever tie him into one spot, keep everyone healthy, I believe he’d be a very, very good football player.

“It’s not that he hasn’t been playing well at the positions he’s been at. He’s an unselfish guy. He does whatever he can for the team. We’ll find a home for him. We’ll just see what happens the rest of the spring.”

Beginning last spring, Brandenburgh fought various injuries — turf toe, stress fracture, a couple of hamstring pulls — that limited him until midway through last season. He began the year at MIKE, a position Corey McKeon clamped down by the end of fall camp and continues to hold. He eventually moved to WILL and made his biggest mark in the bowl game.

Brandenburgh said he’s not certain what will happen when Bradley returns 100 percent this fall, only to say he’s “sure it will be a battle.” Cosgrove was also noncommittal, saying only that the best player will play.

“The good thing about it is, we’ll have some great competition, once we have everyone healthy,” Cosgrove said. “They’ve got to make sure they’re doing the right things, because they know there’s going to be somebody breathing down their neck if they’re not.”

Reach Brian Rosenthal at 473-7436 or brosenthal@journalstar.com.