Nebraska Football: Observations from open practice 3-27-25
Steve Marik • InsideNebraska
Staff Writer
@Steve_Marik
The sun shine was splashing half of Tom Osborne Field inside Memorial Stadium on Thursday morning as echos of coaches' orders and players' shouts and cheers bounced off the cement walls.
There was a slight chill in the air, something all football fans known the feeling of. Sort of felt like fall. But it's not. This is March, and this is spring ball at Nebraska.
For the first time since spring practices began on Monday, local media members were allowed to view about 30 minutes of practice inside the stadium. Here are a few quick observations:
> First, the players seen in yellow jerseys. On stationary bikes getting conditioning in were receiver Jackson Carpenter, Jack linebacker Maverick Noonan, defensive lineman Gabe Moore and kicker John Hohl, who was wearing a red jersey.
> Seen in green jerseys were defensive lineman Sua Lefotu, Dawson Merritt and defensive back Evan Taylor, as well as all the quarterbacks.
> Defensive line coach Terry Bradden brought the energy during his first press conference, and he was bringing more at practice. "FEET. HIT. RELEASE!" Bradden shouted after a good rep from defensive lineman David Hoffken. Technique was a key part of Bradden's drills. "Good! That's what you gotta do, rip through!" after Cam Lenhardt's make-up rep.
> Keona Davis and Williams Nwaneri look as if they were built in a football lab somewhere. Certainly first-guy-off-the-bus material. Davis is listed at 6-foot-5, 255 pounds, but looked bigger than 255. Nwaneri, listed at 6-7, 255 pounds, has certainly filled out his frame working with strength coach Corey Campbell and nutritionist Kristin Coggin. Bradden was coaching those two hard.
> Referees were invited to make sure the skill players and defenders were playing the correct way. Malcolm Hartzog was flagged for pass interference trying to cover Jacory Barney Jr., for example. On another rep, tight end Luke Lindenmeyer was flagged for offensive pass interference for pushing off as he made his out cut to the sideline against defensive back Rex Guthrie. Didn't matter to defensive coordinator John Butler, though, who was heard yelling at Guthrie — "He's bullying you! He's bullying you!"
> During one 1v1 rep, Blye Hill used his length to bat down a pass intended for Cal transfer Nyziah Hunter. When Hill can defend a receiver in front of him, he's hard to deal with.
> "Yeah, bro! Yeah, bro!" Dylan Raiola shouted after true freshman receiver Isaiah Mozee burned sophomore defensive back Mario Buford on a fade route. Raiola was pumped, and for good reason. Mozee was impressive.
> Also seen on 1vs1s, one battle between the 6-5 Quinn Clark and the 6-foot Jeremiah Charles. Clark was given a jump ball, but Charles was able to bat it down using his extreme wingspan. This is a big spring for Charles, who's entering his third year.
> On another rep, big-bodied hybrid receiver Janiran Bonner released off the line of scrimmage, put his shoulder into the chest of veteran DB Marques Buford Jr. and exploded at a 90-degree angle to the sideline. The throw was on target, and Bonner made the catch. Great route from a physical 220-pound athlete who can do a little blocking and catching.
> "That a way, Donnie!" was heard after one pass breakup. No, offensive line coach Donovan Raiola wasn't the one who broke up a completion against Hunter. Instead, it was the other Donnie — Donovan Jones, a redshirt freshman who had a strong end of the season in 2024.
> Over at the offensive line, Donovan Raiola had something to tell his players after each rep, whether it was good or bad. The position coach, known for being fiery, was more reserves on Thursday, at least when the media was in attendance.
> Heard from Raiola was "Good, Seag. Good, Seag" after a strong pass protection rep from the pride of Oakland-Craig High School, Grant Seagren.
> Thursday was the first look media members got of Alabama transfer Elijah Pritchett. A physical freak, he sure looks like at 6-6, 310 pounds. During one rep, which would've been at left tackle — don't make too much of that, as all the linemen were taking reps at all positions — Pritchett did exactly what you'd expect against walk-on Nolan Fennessy. Pritchett didn't give up an inch backward.