John Bullock, Nebraska LBs looking to ‘break through’

Nebraska football’s Tony White wanted to see someone — anyone — step up during last Saturday’s scrimmage, the Huskers’ first of spring camp.

Everything is different, White said, when everyone is cut loose and the reps are live.

And with a handful of starters held out, NU’s second-year defensive coordinator wanted to get a feel for how other guys operate.

“You’re always looking for somebody to break through,” White said.

That’s placed a magnifying glass on NU’s linebackers, a group that’ll enter 2024 without two of its biggest pieces from a season ago, and a group searching for the right fits to anchor the middle of the Huskers’ defense this fall.

Luke Reimer, third-team all-Big Ten last year, graduated after posting 48 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and five sacks in 2023. Nick Henrich, a team captain who played in 35 career games at NU, retired from football after a second major knee injury toward the end of last season.

Asked about filling those voids following Thursday morning’s practice, White mentioned Mikai Gbayor, Javin Wright, Grant Buda and John Bullock, whom White said has “really stepped it up” this spring.

“You’ve got a lot of guys who are starting to come up,” White said. “But, again, it’s all about the buildup to Saturday, because Saturday is just like the game, and that’s where you really get a chance to say ‘OK, this is who I am.’”

Guys like Millard South product Gage Stenger and Syracuse transfer Stefon Thompson are in the mix, too, but Bullock became somewhat of a focal point of Thursday.

Bullock, out of Creighton Prep, is back with the Huskers for a sixth season. The 6-foot, 220-pound linebacker initially started his career at safety. After he transitioned to linebacker last year, White said it’s been evident this spring that Bullock is more comfortable.

Last fall, Nebraska allowed an average of 303.5 yards, including 92.9 yards rushing, and 18.3 points — all program bests since the Huskers joined the Big Ten in 2011.

Bullock, who earned one of the illustrious single-digit jerseys a year ago, played a large part in that. He appeared in every game, making 10 starts, and finished fourth on the team with 50 tackles.

“I think now, just being an older guy and having some experience at the position, he’s got a ton of confidence,” NU linebackers coach Rob Dvoracek said. “He’s a leader in that room. It’s been good to kind of see him play a bit more free.”

Wright — 51 tackles in 2023, tied for second on the team — will bring back necessary experience to a room trying to find its footing, its standouts after the end of Reimer’s and Henrich’s time in Lincoln.

Jack, a hybrid pass-rushing role in the Huskers’ defense, will add to the group. That’ll likely be held down by one — or both — of Chief Borders and MJ Sherman.

Some of those other guys, like Stenger and Thompson, are still settling into their new roles. For the former, that’s being called upon after two years of virtually no action. For the latter, that’s growing comfortable somewhere he’s only been for three months.

“That was a transition for him, and he’s working every day to get better at understanding how we want to do things,” Dvoracek said of Thompson. “He’s gotten better at it, learning how we practice, what our expectations are, what our standards are. He’s improving.”

Last weekend made it apparent to White and Dvoracek that they have the pieces to make the middle of Nebraska’s defense formidable. What they saw then is what they’ll be looking for again at this Saturday’s scrimmage — and next week’s spring game.

Now, in the months leading up to the Huskers’ season-opening matchup with UTEP, the challenge will be sifting through a room full of varying talent and landing on the best combination for this fall.

“Those guys are doing a nice job right doing, doing everything we’ve asked. Working hard, trying to get better every day,” Dvoracek said. “They’re doing a nice job.”