Freshman Running Back Ready To Roll Over Wolf Pack

Castille sets high goals, credits Coach Randy Jordan

Just two days after he attended his first fall class – Sociology of Crime – Nebraska freshman running back Quentin Castille found himself No. 2 on the depth chart of a Top 25 team.

It just keeps getting better for a kid who was already the talk of the Huskers' fall camp. Who's already blown up a couple of his own teammates in practice. Who's so pumped up, he concluded his interview by leaping to slap the top of the Legends Gate that NU opens at the end of its pre-game Tunnel Walk.

And he didn't mind that his shorts fell down after he did it.

Although junior Marlon Lucky said he's entirely healed from a mild concussion and is the clear starter going into Saturday's game against Nevada, Castille has put himself in position to pound a couple members of the Wolf Pack.

“I didn't really think I'd come in and make this kind of splash,” he said. “I'm serious. At the beginning of camp I was really discouraged. I didn't think I was doing good at all.

“I guess I was.”

At 6-foot-1, 245 pounds, Castille expects to be used Saturday on “power, up the middle plays,” some of which might normally be reserved for junior Cody Glenn. Glenn has fought a hamstring injury throughout fall camp but practiced Wednesday for the second day in a row. Castille thinks his pass blocking is up to snuff, too, but expected Lucky to get all the receiving opportunities.

NU quarterback Sam Keller isn't sure just how often he'll see a freshman back standing next to him in the huddle.

“But whatever's dialed up,” Keller said, “I'll be in their ear.”

Lucky, typically an interviewee of few words, called Castille “powerful.” He also said Castille and fellow freshman Roy Helu – who is listed No. 3 on the depth chart – are well ahead of where Lucky and Glenn were at their age.

That's partially because the two juniors serve as mentors, Lucky said.

“They come to us quite a bit,” he said.

Castille also credited his willingness to “keep my head in” Nebraska's massive playbook.

“The coaches preached it, the players preached it, my uncle preached it, everybody preached it. 'Keep your nose in that playbook.' That's what I did.

“I used to fall asleep in my high school playbook.”

Running backs coach Randy Jordan, whom Castille called “a father figure,” has not only brought the freshman along, but kept a family vibe among a competitive and varied group of players.

The corps of running backs, Castille said, “are just a group of guys trying to get better every day. They all get along. Lucky, Castille said, only seems quiet. He “jokes and mingles” with the group, especially the freshmen. Since Castille and Glenn are both from Texas, they're able to jaw back and forth about their high school days and going back home.

It all flows from Jordan, who played running back in the NFL.

“Coach Jordan knows how to get on us without getting on us, and he knows how to get on us and mean to get on us,” Castille said. “But he never brings us down. He always keeps it positive.”

Not surprisingly, Castille said he's set goals for himself. They're not small ones.

“To be a Freshman Academic All-American and First-Team Freshman All-America,” he said.

Practice Notes:

- Coach Bill Callahan confirmed that tight end Hunter Teafatiller would be suspended for the Nevada game. Teafatiller was involved in two alcohol-related incidents this summer. On May 26, he received numerous tickets – including for negligent driving and being a Minor In Possesion of alcohol - after he crashed his SUV. On Aug. 4 police arrested him on suspicion of DUI.

- Fifteen Huskers received Blackshirts before Tuesday's practice, including backups Andre Jones, Phillip Dillard, Lance Brandenburgh and Zack Bowman, who's likely a backup only for now.

Dining Guide

• Lincoln
• Omaha
• Greater NE

Calendar

• Lincoln
• Omaha
• Greater NE