Dillard responds positively to challenge

There never was a doghouse. Philip Dillard wants people to understand that.

"Did you see me on the news with anything negative? No. I didn't get arrested, I didn't go to jail or anything," Dillard said.

No matter what you call it, the senior linebacker certainly seemed to have fallen out of favor with his coaches this spring. Despite being the most experienced member of

Nebraska's linebacking corps, Dillard was practicing with the third- and fourth-string defense.

When fall camp began, though, Dillard was back in the mix for the starting middle linebacker spot. So what changed?

"I just changed my perspective on how I looked at things," he said. "Since all I could do is watch, I ran extra, I lifed extra, I ate right. I took everything as a humbling experience, and everything has been better since then."

NU defensive coordinator Carl Pelini and linebackers coach Mike Ekeler challenged Dillard to step up and get back in shape after he began spring camp weighing 248 pounds.

The demotion sent a clear message to Dillard, and he returned to the practice field this fall weighing 234 pounds.

"I didn't handle my business like a man should, and I got punished for it," Dillard said. "It didn't surprise me. I'm the one who didn't come in and do exactly what they asked me."

Pelini said Dillard is at his target weight and showed the commitment he and Ekeler were looking for.

"He's in great shape, and he's working hard," Pelini said. "He responded well to our challenge. He's faster and quicker and moves so much better."

Dillard brings invaluable experience to a young group of linebackers. He's played in 33 games in his career – which is equal to the combined playing experience of fellow linebackers Colton Koehler, Blake Lawrence and Mathew May.

"I've got one year left; I'm not going to sit around and mope," Dillard said. "All I can do is work hard and do what they ask me. I can bring a lot of emotion and physical play."

During the spring, Koehler and redshirt freshman Will Compton surpassed Dillard on the depth chart. The three have been rotating in and out of first string duties this fall.

"You want that competition, that was my drive," Dillard said. "I've been working hard, and I'm going to try to work harder. You work for everything, and having someone push you makes that even better."

To stay in contention for playing time this fall, Dillard will have to continue his off-the-field battle as well.

"This is the best shape I've ever been in, so I've got to eat right and not eat late," he said. "I've got to stay away from Rocky Road ice cream, too – that's my weakness. I can't drop by LaMar's either."

maxolson@dailynebraskan.com