FOOTBALL NOTES: Huskers prepping for season opener

Preparation for WKU begins

Nebraska began preparing for its Sept. 4 season opener against the Hilltoppers at practice Thursday.

Coach Bo Pelini said the new coaching staff at Western Kentucky makes developing a game plan a challenge.

"We're kind of doing some homework," Pelini said. "Some of it's guesswork as to what kind of defense they're going to run."

Gilleylen, Bell limited by injuries

Wide receiver Curenski Gilleylen, widely considered the No. 4 receiver behind Niles Paul, Brandon Kinnie and Mike McNeill, has missed multiple days of practice with a tweaked groin, wide receivers coach Ted Gilmore said. Prior to the injury, Gilmore said, Gilleylen was enjoying an outstanding fall camp.

Gilmore also said he was impressed by freshman Kenny Bell, who has been limited in practice with a hamstring injury. Bell has put on 20 pounds since arriving in Lincoln at 160 pounds, but Gilmore said continuing to bulk him up will be key.

"He's fast, he's quick, he's got good hands," Gilmore said, "but we've got to get a little meat on him."

The next Todd Peterson

True freshman wide receiver Tyler Evans, a Waverly native, is already gaining comparisons to Todd Peterson.

As a high school quarterback, Evans earned a 4.0 GPA and was recruited by Princeton. Those smarts have impressed Gilmore in camp as he adapts to a new position.

Gilmore said he thinks Evans has a chance to have a career like Peterson, who earned second-team Academic All-American honors and caught 108 passes for 13 touchdowns from 2005 to 2008.

— COMPILED BY Mitch Smith