After all the shuffling, it couldn’t have gone much better for Tierre Green.
In just three weeks of spring practice, the sophomore went from backup running back to backup right cornerback to starting left cornerback.
After Saturday’s Red-White game, there was little doubt that Green fits into the Cornhusker secondary.
“He’s had a great spring,” NU Defensive Coordinator Kevin Cosgrove said. “Naturally, you struggle a little early when you first go out there, but I really like the way he competes. He’s a physical corner.”
Green started the spring listed at No. 2 on the depth chart behind Cortney Grixby at left cornerback. After injuries to right corners Donald DeFrand and Titus Brothers, Green made the move to the right side.
Saturday, Green and the White secondary held the Red offense to just 18-45 passing for 240 yards in a 42-14 win. Green finished the game with two pass break-ups and two tackles.
“I’ve improved – I can say that,” Green said. “There’s a lot of stuff that I could still work on. I’ll never settle for where I am. I have to be looking to get better.”
The White secondary scored one for the highlight reel in the second quarter when strong safety Daniel Bullocks intercepted a Joe Dailey pass and returned it 58 yards for a touchdown.
Bullocks and Grixby led the White secondary with four tackles each.
“It was nice to see Daniel (return the interception),” Cosgrove said. “He stepped in front and took it to the house. It was pretty good.”
Cosgrove also said progress is being made across the board in the secondary.
The lack of depth at corner and free safety was one of Cosgrove’s main concerns heading into spring practices. NU lost starting corners Lornell McPherson and Fabian Washington and safety Josh Bullocks. Both Washington and Bullocks entered the NFL draft after their junior years.
In 2004, NU finished last in the Big 12 Conference giving up 267 yards per game.
Junior Andrew Shanle took over for Josh Bullocks this spring at free safety after playing mostly special teams duty in the last two seasons.
The situation at corner got even worse when DeFrand went down with a foot fracture March 20. The NU coaching staff is optimistic for DeFrand’s return in the fall.
Brothers, who started at corner for the Red team Saturday, has battled nagging injuries all spring. With the depletion of the right corner position, Green has had the opportunity to work with the first-team defense and is making the most of that opportunity.
“He’s continued to develop throughout the spring,” Cosgrove said. “We look for good things from him in the future.”
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