Riley updates injuries, remembers Bob Elliott before Iowa game

Nebraska (4-7, 3-5 Big Ten) will enter its final game of the 2017 season against Iowa (6-5, 3-5 Big Ten) on Friday with one of their best players questionable to play.

RFr. WR J.D. Spielman (shoulder) will be a game time decision, according to head coach Mike Riley.

“We’ll wait as long as we have to for J.D.,” Riley said following Thursday’s practice at the Hawks Championship Center. “We’re hoping he feels better tomorrow. If he feels better tomorrow, we’ll put him through the gamut. He hasn’t practiced this week, so we’ll get him going. I’m hoping he just wakes up a new man in the morning.”

Jr. WR Keyan Williams and Sr. Gabe Rahn will be ready to go if Spielman can’t go.

Other Injuries

Jr. S Aaron Williams (neck) is probable, as is Sr. LB Chris Weber (stinger), and Jr. RB Devine Ozigbo (ankle).

Senior Class

Coach Riley and his staff spent their last full length practice with a group of 21 seniors who will be playing in their final game on Friday.

“I’ve always felt fortunate to have been with guys, no matter how long it was,” Riley said. “It always makes me feel good about what we do and the things we get to do and the relationships that are developed. It’s such a privilege, and relationships are a lifetime, so it’s pretty special.”

One other player who isn’t a senior will be playing his final game on Friday, and that’s Jr. LB and Kearney, NE native Thomas Connely.

“He does everything he’s supposed to do in all the parts of a college student athlete,” Riley said. “Excellent student. Has already been accepted to medical school. Comes to practice, weights. Never on any list of any kind. Just a really good example of how to do things correctly.”

Connely made the travel roster for Penn State last week.

Bob Elliott

Nebraska lost safeties coach Bob Elliott on July 8 after complications with cancer at the age of 64. He was hired in February on the recommendation of defensive coordinator Bob Diaco.

Diaco and Elliott worked together on the Notre Dame coaching staff in 2012. Elliott’s experience in coaching spanned 38 years. He also played defensive back at Iowa from 1972-75.

Elliott will be honored either before or after the game on Friday for his service to Nebraska and to the game of football.

“It was a no brainer to hire (Elliott),” Riley said. “I was really, really excited to work with him. It’s so sad we didn’t get to spend much time together for bunches of reasons, obviously. He was a great football guy. I think he really connected with players in the short time I knew him. Those things were all more than evident. I actually saw him as a guy who was my age. We would have had a lot of fun working together, and I’ve said this before, we would have been buddies too, I think. We’re proud his family is coming over for the game.”

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