Football - 2025 Fall Camp Thread | Page 37 | The Platinum Board

Football 2025 Fall Camp Thread

Install the app
How to install the app on iOS

Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.

Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.

Welcome to tPB!

Welcome to The Platinum Board. We are a Nebraska Husker news source and fan community.

Sign Up Now!
  • Welcome to The Platinum Board! We are a Nebraska Cornhuskers news source and community. Please click "Log In" or "Register" above to gain access to the forums.

Football 2025 Fall Camp Thread

Schedule detail

Aug 31, 2025 at 12:01 PM
  • Unstick thread
  1. Seaofred92 Seaofred92
gettin to be that time fellas


bae thought GIF
 
Nebraska’s 2025 season opener against Cincinnati in Kansas City is less than two weeks away. Defensive coordinator John Butler gave the latest on the Huskers’ defense following Monday’s practice, as did d-line coach Terry Bradden, OLB coach Phil Simpson, and a handful of players.

Here is a full recap of what they had to say…

Nebraska defensive coordinator John Butler​

***Butler said Nebraska’s tackling was a “never-ending” process that could always improve. He said NU constantly preached fundamentals and that would continue through the season. He said tackling and takeaways/turnovers were some of the most significant factors early in the year.

On secondary standouts and young defenders on the rise

***Butler said DeShon Singleton has “an expanded role” in Nebraska’s defense. He noted that Sngleton got dinged up for a bit in camp, but was back in the mix. “He’s going to be a player for us that we expect him to play really well wherever he’s playing.”

***Butler confirmed that Donovan Jones was working primarily at cornerback again. However, he said that it didn’t have anything to do with Blye Hill’s recent knee injury.

***On freshman DL Kade Pietrzak: “Kade plays very hard.” He said Pietrzak goes “from snap to whistle… I would anticipate that he’s going to be a factor on our front seven.”

***Butler said the No. 1 characteristic of Jamir Conn and Jaylen George was they both brought “great energy” and “zero entitlement” to the program. They appreciate every opportunity and resource they get at Nebraska, and their mentality is, “‘What can I do to continue to earn this?'”

Defensive line coach Terry Bradden​

***Bradden said his message to the team about playing at Arrowhead Stadium has been “no distractions.” It’s “a beautiful stadium,” but Nebraska must focus on itself and not its venue.

He said the game was another “opportunity” for him to do something special by coaching his first college game in his former NFL home. It will be a “special” moment for him, and a handful of Chiefs defensive linemen said they planned to be at the game.

***Bradden has seen “a lot of great things” from the defensive line’s pass rush. He said the unit focuses on finding “one move” they can lean on to get to the QB. Next is “finishing.” Bradden’s favorite move is “club rip.”

***On Pietrzak, Bradden said he was constantly learning, especially the finer details that separate defensive linemen.

***Bradden said George was “an energy giver.” Even when he was injured, George was constantly picking guys up and teaching. “I’m very excited to see where Jaylen George can go.”

***Bradden said Williams Nwaneri has bought in and had “a high ceiling.” Bradden said it was on him to get Nwaneri to reach his potential.

***On Elijah Jeudy graduating last weekend, Bradden said earning a degree was one of the most important things a student-athlete can do. He tells his guys that they are students first, then athletes. “A lot of times guys forget that’s what it’s all about… That’s a special moment, and I’m so proud of him.”

Outside linebackers coach Phil Simpson​

***Simpson said Nebraska’s pass rushers “need to earn the right to rush the passer” by executing on first and second downs.

***Simpson said Jordan Ochoa got bigger and stronger over the offseason and had locked in on his technique and preparation. Ochoa always had the ability and the tools, and Simpson said he was starting to put it all together.

***Simpson said the versatility to rush the passer with several looks would give Nebraska a lot of options for how to use guys and attack offenses.

***Simpson said Dasan McCullough had made “a great amount of progress” this offseason. While NU is counting on McCullough to be a dominant pass rusher, Simpson’s message is that he must be a complete “football player” who can do everything. “You’re here just to rush the passer.”

***Simpson said McCullough had been “phenomenal” in helping continue the leadership and culture in the room. The unit’s motto was to “be water,” meaning you can adapt to any situation and be steady and poised.

----RW
 
Last edited:

Defensive lineman Keona Davis​

***Keona Davis said his biggest growth this fall had been in his technique. Much of that has been developing go-to pass rush moves. He said “double-swipe” was the move he’d worked on the most.

***Davis said Cam Lenhardt, Riley Van Poppel, Juedy, and Nwaneri had all made noticeable jumps this offseason and all in their own ways.

***On Pietrzak, Davis said he’d seen “a lot of great things” since the freshman arrived on campus. Much of that has come with Pietrzak gaining confidence and taking on a bigger voice on and off the field.

***Davis said his main personal goal this season was to reach double-digit sacks.

***Davis said he was “hyped” to see the black alternate jerseys. “Those things are cool… Our whole d-line was hyped.”

Linebacker Jordan Ochoa​

***Ochoa said playing in the bowl game “opened my eyes a little more about how fast the game goes.” He said he’s built upon that experience ever since.

***Ochoa said using multiple Jack linebackers on the field at once opened up a lot of things for Nebraska’s defense.

***Ochoa said Simpson “pushes me like I’m one of his kids.” He praised Simpson’s passion, saying, “He’s taught me a lot of things beyond football.”

***On McCullough, Ochoa said his leadership was what made him such an important piece on Nebraska’s defense. He said McCullough “moves like a pro” in everything he does, and Ochoa wants to model himself after that.

***Ochoa said he arrived at 250 pounds but gained 12 pounds of muscle over the offseason.

Defensive back Jamir Conn​

***Conn said he was bigger, faster, and stronger since arriving at Nebraska. He raved about how NU’s facilities and resources had taken his game to another level.

***Conn said he and the other FCS guys have “had to work for everything we’ve gotten… That gives us a chip on our shoulder that we feed off of every day.” That leads to him “going full speed on every play” and maximizing every opportunity he gets on the field.

***Conn said Jamar Mozee “means everything to me.” He said without Mozee, “I probably wouldn’t have gotten to college.” Mozee put Conn’s name out there at every opportunity, and “he gave me a pathway to get here.”

***While he’s a smaller defensive back, Conn said his advantages were his speed, quickness, and ability to bend and get low in ways taller DBs can’t.

Linebacker Dasan McCullough​

***McCullough said he feels “back at home” now playing on the line as a Jack. He said it “didn’t take long” for him to get back into the “mindset” of playing in the trenches. The biggest adjustment was “getting my body back in that condition” to hold up physically.

***McCullough said it was his responsibility to hold the Jack room up to their “standard” every day and to ensure all of them are “playing like starters.” He added that Simpson was “the perfect coach for me” for his final college season.

***On guys like Conn and George, McCullough said they bring a different mindset and appreciation for the opportunity players have at Nebraska.

***McCullough said, “It’s looked really good” when Nebraska uses multiple Jacks on the field together. They’re still working on the mental side to get everyone on the same page, but the pass-rush talent is undeniable.

Linebacker Marques Watson-Trent​

***Marques Watson-Trent said it feels like his career has come full circle after playing his first college game with Georgia Southern and now being a Husker.

He remembers how confident his GSU team was in that game, and his performance “gave me a lot of confidence” to play like that on that stage.

***On Nebraska’s facilities, Watson-Trent said, “There’s nothing like this place in the world.”

***Watson-Trent felt like he played well in Nebraska’s second fall scrimmage. He liked the defense’s effort and execution.

***Watson-Trent said he loved NU’s inside linebacker room. The room’s depth and experience have pushed everyone all offseason, including several young guys who have impressed. Dawson Merritt was the first freshman ILB he mentioned.

----RW
 
Last edited:
Back
Top