Larry Asante has waited three years for Saturday afternoon.
A Coffeyville (Va.) Community College transfer, Asante opted to go the junior college route out of high school.
Now his hard work, fueled by a desire to reach the toughest level of competition, has paid off.
This weekend, in Nebraska's opening game against Nevada, the 6-foot-1 sophomore will take the field as starting strong safety.
"It's been a long time coming, a long time coming," Asante said. "I've been out of high school three years now, going to (junior college). It's going to be a real emotional game for me, so I can't wait."
During his time in Lincoln since spring practices, Asante has grasped the tradition of the Blackshirts - something he recognized when he was just 14 years old.
Watching the Cornhuskers' national championship game against Miami in 2002, Asante said he was struck by the strong Blackshirt tradition. While he didn't necessarily understand it then, he's able to define it now.
"It's a job," Asante said. "From Saturday to Saturday you have to go out there and perform to be a Blackshirt. It was something I really wanted to be a part of, and luckily I'm here now."
Deemed by many as a "big hitter" upon his entrance to the Nebraska program, Asante won't deny a hunger to lay out a Nevada player on Saturday - he made a call to NU defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove to send him on the opponent's quarterback during the game at Tuesday morning's press conference - but he has also matured in his on-field decision-making process.
To him, there's little freedom within Nebraska's defensive mind-set, since filling gaps and covering assignments are more important than going after one big hit.
"I can't wait `til Saturday," he said. "But you can't go out there and make plays. You have to play your assignment. If the hit comes, the hit comes. I'm not going to go out there on the field and go in for a big hit every single time. You have to protect the integrity of the team and put the team first."
But this new philosophy, which differs from his junior college days of roaming the backfield, has also given Asante a new freedom. He can now depend on the talent around him to make plays as well.
Asante is joining a group of fairly experienced secondary starters, including seniors Cortney Grixby at cornerback and Tierre Green at free safety. Newcomer Armando Murillo moved ahead of senior Andre Jones to finish out the back four.
Grixby and Green will offer more than just talent. They give Asante and Murillo something of a safety net, repeating calls and positions.
"Cortney and Tierre, they have a lot of knowledge when it comes to the game, so when you're out there on the field - you know your assignment - but they are constantly reminding you what to do so you're not out on an island," Asante said.
Overall, NU Coach Bill Callahan said he was confident in his selections at the secondary positions, saying its depth has increased considerably since last year.
"You look at it from the standpoint of last year, there's no question about (an improvement)," Callahan said. "There's no doubt that we have more depth, and that's a real asset, a real benefit to our football team."
As Asante enters his first season with Nebraska, he constantly recalls growing up and dreaming of being a Cornhusker. Now he has a chance to show everyone what he's worked so hard to accomplish.
"It's been a great honor coming to Nebraska to play football here," he said. "I watched Nebraska as a kid growing up. I didn't necessarily understand its tradition, but I understand it now, and I'm happy to be a Blackshirt."
katelynkerkhove@dailynebraskan.com
is a member of the 
