HOPPEN: Crick ready to play, even with the hype

Jared Crick has undergone an astronomical transformation from a year ago.

When he started his sophomore campaign, he was a relative unknown. He was starting for the first time, in the colossal shadow of Ndamukong Suh. For the most part, Husker fans didn't know what to expect from the Cozad, Neb., native.

Even halfway through the 2009 campaign, Crick was the least heralded of the defensive lineman. Then Baylor happened. Five sacks and one conference player of the week award later, he was a national star.

But with Suh now throwing around NFL quarterbacks, can Crick match the hype heaped on him this offseason? After being named first-team All-Big 12 by the coaches last year, several publications have made Crick a preseason first-team All-American this year.

"I've said it before: The expectations for him are very high. He played at a really high level last year," coach Bo Pelini said. "I think that the whole Suh thing became so magnified, it concerns me a little bit, and the expectations for a guy like Crick to get stats. He could be a little overwhelmed."

Let's face it: Suh spoiled us. He gave us otherworldly production from a position that is typically used to occupy blockers and free up linebackers. These guys don't typically collect double-digit sacks or lead a team in tackles. Is it really fair for us to use Suh as a template for what we expect from Crick?

The answer is murky — a combination of yes and no. No, we cannot expect Crick to duplicate Suh's numbers. We may never see another defensive tackle put up numbers like his. Suh had the ability to seemingly take over games by himself and embarrass waves of offensive lineman (just ask the Texas line). It's just unrealistic to believe any player will live up to his level.

But yes, we can expect a big season from him, because while Crick oozes talent, it doesn't affect his work ethic. Coaches and teammates alike say he's put in one of the better offseasons of any Husker.

"I think he's going to have a really great year because I think he's had a really good fall camp," Pelini said. "How that is going to measure up to what the expectations are outside, that's not something that he needs to concern himself or we need to concern ourselves with."

And don't you think somewhere in the back of his mind he wants to prove that all that production didn't just come from playing next to Suh? There's some added motivation.

The extra media attention placed on one guy can sometimes result in jealousy from teammates, but again, it's not the case here. Fellow linemen have done nothing but shower praise on Crick.

"Crick deserves all the hype that he's getting," Pierre Allen said. "He's a great player."

Through the media storm and swirl of questions, Crick has expertly deflected any and all praise to his coaches, their scheme or the guys around him. But the talk ends for four hours Saturday when he finally gets to go out and show Husker fans what they want to see.

"I'm real excited," Crick said. "It's definitely going to be a good feeling going out and hitting some other team."

Dan Hoppen is a Junior News-Editorial Major. Reach Him at Danhoppen@dailynebraskan.com