Now there's one less running back on the committee
Perhaps the departure of Leon Jackson from the Nebraska football team was inevitable given all the talent at his position. Nebraska would have had five very talented running backs competing in the Fall - Marlon Lucky, Cody Glenn, Brandon Jackson, Kenny Wilson and Leon Jackson (had he stayed). Yet, Leon's decision to transfer is a heartbreaker for some Husker fans. Leon was a very talented player, a likeable individual and he surely would have made some spectacular plays during his career. He has good hands, great speed and great moves. He is a playmaker. Just the kind of player Husker fans really hate to see leave.
The problem is that it was hard to find Leon's position on the team. During his short one-year stay, he bounced around from offense to defense and back to offense. At defense, he never really excelled at safety. Although he had the physical tools, his heart probably wasn't in playing defense. Returning to running back this Spring, Leon looked good during Spring practice. But of course, Marlon Lucky and Cody Glenn stole all the headlines and Leon was just learning the position again. Yes, the running back position at Nebraska is not so easy to master in Bill Callahan's offense. You not only have to run but you need to be able to pass block and run exacting pass routes as well. Lucky and Glenn had an edge in those areas due to the experience they had from last Fall. In the Spring game, Leon played for both the White and Red team. His runs weren't all that spectacular on the White team BUT he was much more impressive playing on the Red team with the first unit. His performance on the Red team was comparable to that of Lucky and Glenn.
While it hurts to lose Leon, there probably is a silver lining to this cloud. First, Nebraska will be fine at running back - there will still be four very talented running backs on the team. Second, Leon's departure probably makes it a little easier for Nebraska to recruit a talented running back in the next recruiting class. Since all four of those talented running backs will be either sophomores or juniors this Fall, there is an opening for someone to come in and be a freshman in 2007 with no sophomore running backs on the roster that year.
Go Big Red,
RedCap
The problem is that it was hard to find Leon's position on the team. During his short one-year stay, he bounced around from offense to defense and back to offense. At defense, he never really excelled at safety. Although he had the physical tools, his heart probably wasn't in playing defense. Returning to running back this Spring, Leon looked good during Spring practice. But of course, Marlon Lucky and Cody Glenn stole all the headlines and Leon was just learning the position again. Yes, the running back position at Nebraska is not so easy to master in Bill Callahan's offense. You not only have to run but you need to be able to pass block and run exacting pass routes as well. Lucky and Glenn had an edge in those areas due to the experience they had from last Fall. In the Spring game, Leon played for both the White and Red team. His runs weren't all that spectacular on the White team BUT he was much more impressive playing on the Red team with the first unit. His performance on the Red team was comparable to that of Lucky and Glenn.
While it hurts to lose Leon, there probably is a silver lining to this cloud. First, Nebraska will be fine at running back - there will still be four very talented running backs on the team. Second, Leon's departure probably makes it a little easier for Nebraska to recruit a talented running back in the next recruiting class. Since all four of those talented running backs will be either sophomores or juniors this Fall, there is an opening for someone to come in and be a freshman in 2007 with no sophomore running backs on the roster that year.
Go Big Red,
RedCap
posted by RedCap at 5:03 AM
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