Husker West eyes switch from cornerback to safety

Anthony West lost his job.

But instead of wallowing in self-pity, he's trying to earn a new one.

The senior started 16 games opposite Prince Amukamara and Armando Murillo at cornerback over the past two seasons.

Then junior Alfonzo Dennard supplanted him midway through last year.

Now, West has set his sights on a starting spot at safety, something he said requires staying positive even after the disappointment of 2009.

"I can't get down on myself.

I can't get down on the coaches or anything like that," he said.

"It's just a mindset I have to have to stay focused and push through it."

Even Dennard, the man who stripped West of his starting job last year, said he admires the way his teammate has rebounded.

"It shows that he never gives up," Dennard said.

"I wish I had that, too."

"I've been looking up to A-West since I got here."

That respect is mutual.

West complimented Dennard's ability to smoothly move into the starting lineup at midseason.

"He was obviously able to take on that role and jump into it and, for the most part, do a good job of doing it," West said.

Dennard's been impressed with West as well, saying his play at safety is approaching that of 2009 starters and current pros Larry Asante and Matt O'Hanlon.

Defensive coordinator Carl Pelini echoed Dennard.

He said West has been a quick study at the new spot and might have finally found his natural position at safety.

"He can't get enough route combinations thrown at him, because every time he gets a new one, he learns from it," Pelini said.

"It will take two or three weeks, but he's a smart player. I think he understands it."

Wide receiver Niles Paul, who has matched up against West in practice throughout his college career, also sees his teammate progressing.

West's combination of ability and work ethic is invaluable to NU, Paul said.

"I've seen a guy who's willing to do whatever he can to get on the field, and he's doing a good job," Paul said.

"I see him filling the holes and doing everything he's supposed to do."

Still, West isn't guaranteed a spot in the starting lineup when the Cornhuskers open the season Saturday against Western Kentucky.

He's facing competition from fellow seniors DeJon Gomes and Rickey Thenarse, junior Austin Cassidy and sophomore P.J. Smith.

And while West's transition to safety started last spring and his gone relatively smoothly, Pelini said it's still a difficult move to make.

"It's completely different," he said.

"Playing with your face to the line of scrimmage is very different from playing corner."

But West said the switch has given him a deeper understanding of the defense as a whole.

Having now played all over the secondary, he said players seek him out with questions about their roles on different plays.

Another advantage to his switch, Pelini said, is versatility.

While he wouldn't necessarily slot him as a nickel back entering the season, the defensive coordinator said he'd feel comfortable moving West back to the corner if injuries required it.

Right now, though, West just wants a spot in the lineup.

Even Dennard, who took his spot in the starting lineup last year, said that's right where West belongs.

"He's just trying to get back on the field," Dennard said.

"He's doing really good at safety, and we're going to need him."

mitchsmith@dailynebraskan.com