Nebraska defensive coordinator Erik Chinander (center) helps lead the Huskers through warmups ahead of the Red-White Spring Game on May 1 at Memorial Stadium.
Quinton Newsome, Tyreke Johnson, and Braxton Clark have separated themselves in the race to be among Nebraska’s top cornerbacks, NU defensive coordinator Erik Chinander said Monday.
The trio of sophomores are all getting reps with the top defense in practice, and the competition appears set to go down to the wire with game prep for Illinois beginning in earnest next week.
“That position’s got to shake out a little bit for us,” Chinander said. “So that’s a good competition.
Clark, who missed last season after suffering an injury in fall camp, and Newsome, who has played in 18 games in his first two years with the Huskers, are both familiar faces.
But Johnson, the former five-star recruit who transferred to Nebraska from Ohio State in the offseason, has turned heads as well.
“You never know with a new guy, but you’ve got a guy that came from a program that’s a well-run program that’s had success, so you knew he was going to be used to the day-in, day-out,” Chinander said. “He was going to be used to practicing the right way, so that part of it was going to be smooth. It was just a matter of learning a new language and getting along with the guys, but he’s done a really good job with that so far.”
Nebraska’s physicality on offense has been noticeable from Chinander’s point of view, he said. He said NU has done a good job of running the ball downhill with a physical offensive line and tight ends.
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