Healthier of mind and body than he was last season, Barry Cryer seems prepared to carry a heavier load for the Nebraska football team. “Last year I could go about seven or eight plays before I got tired,” the Husker defensive tackle said Wednesday. “I could go 20 plays strong right now and not get tired.”

This coming season, Cryer will be expected to play 20 consecutive plays and perhaps even more as Nebraska’s projected starter at the position known as the “three-technique,” the interior line position immediately beside the nose tackle.

Nebraska lost to graduation both of its starting interior defensive linemen from last season — Titus Adams and Le Kevin Smith — and replacing them has been a point of emphasis this spring. Through nine of 15 spring practices, Husker defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove has been encouraged by his linemen’s progress, particularly Cryer’s.

“Barry has made a lot of improvement,” Cosgrove said. “He had a heck of an off-season. He got bigger and stronger and more explosive, and I see that carry over to the practice field.”

He’s playing faster and hitting harder this spring, said Cryer, who transferred to Nebraska last year from Dodge City (Kan.) Community College.

Although the 6-foot-2, 280-pound senior’s weight hasn’t changed much, it’s clearly distributed better throughout his frame. He increased his intensity in workouts and cut back on fried foods in favor of baked fish, baked chicken, fruits and vegetables, he said. On many nights, he does as many as 200 pushups before bed time.

What’s more, “I’m working hard in the weight room with Ola,” said Cryer, referring to No. 1 nose tackle Ola Dagunduro.

Cryer and Dagunduro are close friends. They’re constantly joking with each other and engaging in mostly lighthearted competitions.

“Everything’s a competition, no matter what we do,” Cryer said. “We could go outside and walk and see who walks the fastest. I don’t like losing, and he don’t like losing.”

During Wednesday’s practice, Leon Jackson clutched a handoff and started moving to his right, only to run smack into a wall created by Cryer and Dagunduro, the duo smothering the I-back for a 5-yard loss. The linemen slapped each other in celebration as they lay on the turf.

Cryer saw action in all 12 games last season and recorded a total of six tackles. He finished the season with a flourish, coming up with sacks against Colorado in the regular-season finale and Michigan in the Alamo Bowl.

A native of Marrero, La., Cryer struggled early last season in part because his thoughts often drifted toward his family’s ravaged home near New Orleans. Hurricane Katrina, which reached land Aug. 29, is estimated to be responsible for $75 billion in damages, making it the costliest hurricane in U.S. history.

“It was devastating watching on TV and not being able to do anything,” Cryer said. “A lot was going on in my mind at the time. It had me really shaken up. I didn’t know where half of my family was some days. I was scared that I was going to lose someone really important to me.”

Now, as his family rebuilds its home, Cryer feels more at ease.

“Everything’s getting back to normal now,” he said.

Cryer is pleased with his play this spring, but feels he could play better.

Meanwhile, the 6-2, 300-pound Dagunduro has practiced well during the past few workouts after a relatively slow start this spring, Cosgrove said.

“He was a little sluggish to start out with,” Cosgrove said. “It showed that he hadn’t practiced for awhile.”

The senior from suburban Los Angeles was sluggish getting off the line of scrimmage and slow with his reads, the coach said.

“I would say that in the last three or so practices, we’re starting to see some quickness — quickness in the different techniques he needs to use at that nose guard position,” Cosgrove said.

As for backups, 6-4, 320-pound Ndamukong Suh at nose tackle and 6-3, 275-pound Ty Steinkuhler at the three-technique are improving every day, Cosgrove said.

Cryer acknowledged Adams and Smith “will be a hard act to follow.”

“But we’re gonna do what we got to do.”

Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.