Nebraska defensive coordinator Rob Aurich isn’t tiptoeing into Week 1.
As the Huskers get ready for Ohio, Aurich is pushing his defense to bring an edge that goes beyond simple preparation. He said Tuesday that what he wants most is “Urgency to perform,” and he made clear the standard he expects once the game starts.
“I think they’re excited to show their level of readiness to play… When we step onto the game field here, there’s a level of intensity that you have to go to as a defensive player in order to play at your best… It’s a dark place, defensively, and we want to see our guys live in that zone.”
That kind of language tells you exactly where Aurich’s head is. He wants a defense that leans into the grind, and he believes Nebraska is close to being there. Part of that mindset, he said, will be tied to Blackshirts - and the staff plans to hand them out Tuesday afternoon.
Aurich called the Blackshirt tradition “one of the best traditions in college football,” adding, “It’s a beautiful experience to put those jerseys on people’s backs. It’s something that we don’t carry lightly. It’s a heated conversation in the staff room on who’s earned it up to this point.”
He still didn’t say exactly how many players will get one this fall, but he did leave the door open for others to earn their way in later.
Two names appear to be in strong position already. Boston College transfer Owen Stoudmire has impressed Aurich with his steady play at interior defensive line. The 6-foot-1, 300-pound fifth-year senior has stood out for the same reason every day, not just on his best days.
“Competitive kid,” Aurich said. “Performs every day.
Consistently good, not occasionally great, is the best thing that I could say about Owen. He’s the same guy every day.
Extremely competitive with himself. Plays with great leverage; has strong hands.
He’s a guy that I’ve been very, very pleased with how he’s performed.”
Junior defensive back Rex Guthrie is another player in the mix. He missed all of spring while recovering from injury, but Aurich said the return has gone better than expected. Guthrie started eight games for Nebraska last season, and now he’s listed as a co-starter on the depth chart heading into Week 1.
“Rex is playing above my expectations for coming back from that injury,” Aurich said. “No signs of lingering pain with that shoulder have shown up.
He missed spring, so it kind of took him a couple practices to get into the rhythm of that new position… but he’s a smart kid. He’s a competitor.
I’ve been really, really pleased with him.”
The rest of Nebraska’s secondary still has some sorting to do, including the cornerback spot opposite Andrew Marshall, who earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention last season. Aurich said the Huskers will sort out who belongs where, but the bigger point is simple: the best defenders will find the field.
“It’s a little bit about the flow of the game,” Aurich said. “The flow of the game and what we’re able to allocate to each player. I don’t know if we necessarily have a plan for reps for some of those two-deep positions, but it’s going to be a great opportunity to see where they are at.”
That approach also applies to FIU transfer Victor Evans III. Aurich said the senior cornerback has already shown enough in camp that Nebraska doesn’t need to ease him in. Evans III played in 28 college games with eight starts before arriving in Lincoln, and Aurich likes the experience he brings.
“He’s an experienced football player,” Aurich said. “Vic has played a lot of college football; he’s played in a lot of big games. I don’t think the moment has ever been too big for him in camp… Whenever we put him out there, it’s never been like we have to protect him; let him go.”
Aurich, like Evans III and five other transfers on Nebraska’s starting defense, is about to coach his first game inside Memorial Stadium with the Huskers. He said the setting matters, but not as much as getting the group ready to roll.
“I’m just excited to coach ball and play,” he said. “My family will be there; I’m excited to coach well for them.
Excited to have the guys prepped for our fans. I’m excited, but it’s football.
I’m excited to play football.”
And when the conversation turned to Ohio, Aurich didn’t dismiss the challenge. He pointed to a program that has won nine games or more in each of the last four seasons and noted the Bobcats are replacing a dynamic quarterback from last year. He also singled out captain Nick Poulos.
“Good program,” Aurich said. “Nine wins or more the last four seasons.
They’re replacing a dynamic quarterback from last year. The kid they’ve awarded captain to (Nick Poulos), he’s done a great job… I see why they named him captain.
You look at him in the fourth quarter, he’s not sliding. He’s going to be a competitive kid.
They’re going to be ready to play.”
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