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After injury-riddled 2020 seasons, DLs Thomas and Riley figure to factor up front for Huskers | Football



Now, though? The Mustang, Oklahoma, native can’t help but feel good about where he’s at with less than three weeks before NU’s opener against Illinois.

“Compared to last year, my body feels the best it has ever felt,” Thomas said. “I’m feeling good, I’m running faster, I’m hitting gaps faster. I feel great.”

The 6-foot-2, 295-pounder has come a long way since his days as a 250-pound nose in Bob Diaco’s defense in 2017 and says he feels like he’s in a position to put together his best season as a Husker.

“I feel like that. They’ll see it this year,” Thomas said. “I feel the best I’ve ever felt. Faster, I understand what offenses are trying to do to me. They’re going to see me.”

Even though Nebraska eventually settled into an effective five-man rotation up front last fall, NU did have a tough stretch right before the late-October opener against Ohio State with injuries to both Thomas and defensive tackle Jordon Riley.

Riley suffered a knee injury that held him out against the Buckeyes defensive line coach Tony Tuioti said he didn’t see Riley back to looking like himself until about the end of the season.

“I’ve really made it an initiative to really come in this summer and drop the weight,” said Riley, who changed his number from 87 to 91 this offseason. “I got with (head strength coach Zach) Duval and (performance nutrition director Dave Ellis) and they really helped with that. I feel it. I feel it tremendously. I’m moving a way lot faster, a way lot quicker. So thanks to those guys, they’ve helped me a lot with that.



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