Nebraska’s safety room is starting to sound like a group that expects to matter this fall.
First-year safeties coach Tyler Yelk has been around enough high-level defensive backs to know what he likes, and after Tuesday’s practice he made it clear he sees real potential in the Huskers’ group as they move into the second week of fall camp. With several contributors back from last season, Nebraska has a mix of familiar faces and new pieces that Yelk thinks can give the defense some flexibility.
“We have a group of guys that can really play,” he said. “So, we can mix and match that a little bit, which I like.
It creates a little bit more chaos on game days; I have to be a little bit more organized in terms of substitutions and things like that, but that’s no problem. We’ll get that taken care of.
That depth matters because Nebraska is also installing a new defensive scheme, and communication has to come along with it. Yelk said that part is still developing, but he’s encouraged by the way the room is handling the learning curve.
“It’s a growth process,” he said. “It comes with the confidence of understanding the playbook and eliminating that hesitation.
We used to joke that if you don’t know what to call, just call something. Just take charge.
So, [I’ve] just been pushing those guys and really appreciate the way they’ve responded. This early in camp, there’s still room to grow, but I really like where we’re at.”
Among the players helping that process are sophomore safeties Donovan Jones and Rex Guthrie, along with San Diego State transfer Dwayne McDougle. Yelk sees that experience as a major help as the Huskers try to sort out who fits where and who can handle bigger responsibilities.
The room’s confidence also seems to be shaped by Yelk’s relationship with Nebraska’s new defensive coordinator, Rob Aurich. The two played together at Minnesota-Duluth more than 15 years ago, and Yelk said Aurich’s coaching style matches the player he remembers.
“He was a stud player,” Yelk said. “He was fun to play behind as a safety.
He was going to do his job; he had command, and he was going to get to the football. But his demeanor, I mean, what he is up here (on the podium), that’s who he is (as a coach).”
Yelk said the transition for Nebraska’s defensive staff has been smooth, and he pointed to Aurich’s leadership as the reason.
“In one word, seamlessly,” he said when describing the transition. “That’s a credit to Rob.
His ability, his emotional IQ- everybody is confident, teetering on arrogant in this profession, and to be able to humble yourself, to be a part of something bigger than you, is what we all have to do. Everybody has done that, but we're ultimately aligned due to Rob’s leadership.”
Yelk also has a past connection with cornerback Andrew Marshall, who was an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention selection in 2025 after developing at Idaho, where Yelk was on staff. He said Marshall’s mindset has stood out just as much as his growth.
“The biggest thing is his approach,” Yelk said. “His mentality has just been unchanged. He thinks he’s the best, and he’s a fierce competitor, and good things are going to happen when you have those traits.”
Inside his own room, Yelk singled out Donovan Jones and fourth-year senior Jamir Conn as players who have jumped out to him. Both have been asked to take on different roles than they’ve had before, and in some cases that has meant moving into a new position group altogether.
“Those guys just work hard,” he said. “Jamir, I’ve had to pull the reins on him.
I’ve had to be like, ‘Hey, we can’t be overtraining.’ They’re always having follow-up questions; they’re always asking for more.
Both of those guys are just really great athletes, and I appreciate those guys aligning themselves with where we’re trying to put them.”
From Yelk’s perspective, the key thing is simple: the group is willing, and it’s learning fast enough to matter.
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