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Nebraska shuffles O-line, Hickman moves to guard
LINCOLN -- If there was one position on the Nebraska football team that appeared locked up going into spring, it was Jacob Hickman at center.
But Hickman was working at right guard and Mike Caputo moved into the middle on Wednesday, a sign that the Cornhuskers coaching staff is not comfortable standing pat at any spot.
Hickman, a senior who started all 13 games at center last season, wasn't the only offensive lineman in a new spot as the Huskers began the third of four weeks of spring practice.
"We made a couple switches, and we may switch a couple more things before spring gets out," offensive line coach Barney Cotton said. "To be honest with you, I think you evaluate this thing up front until you get about a week before that first game."
Nebraska started the spring with Marcel Jones at right tackle, D.J. Jones and Ricky Henry sharing the right guard spot, Hickman at center, Keith Williams at left guard and Mike Smith at left tackle.
The new alignment has Marcel Jones at right tackle, Hickman at right guard with Henry behind him, Caputo at center, Williams at left guard and Smith at left tackle with D.J. Jones behind him.
Cotton said the moves were necessary because Caputo, a walk-on from Omaha, has proved to be one of the top five linemen. Hickman was the regular left guard in 2007 before moving to center last spring.
"Jake is probably the smartest guy we have up front," Cotton said. "He understands the inside line play. It hasn't been a difficult move for him."
The 6-foot-1, 275-pound Caputo played well in the five games in which he appeared last season, Cotton said.
Hickman said Caputo is a tireless worker in the weight room -- he gained 10 pounds in the offseason -- and soaked up everything he saw in film sessions.
"He's really earned what he's got," Hickman said.
Nebraska practice performance upsets Pelini -- Nebraska head football coach Bo Pelini isn't happy with his football team right now.
Pelini snapped during his post-practice meeting with reporters Wednesday, saying the Cornhuskers performed poorly as a group during the workout on the grass fields outside the Hawks Championship Center.
Pelini noted that the Huskers get only 15 practices in the spring and that Wednesday was a wasted opportunity.
Offensive lineman Jacob Hickman said he and his fellow seniors need to do a better job motivating the team when they sense practice isn't going well.
Hickman said Pelini gave the team a well-deserved "earful."
Kansas State completes second practice -- The Kansas State football team has completed the first two of its 15 spring workouts in Manhattan, Kan., Wednesday.
Head coach Bill Snyder has been pleased with what he has seen so far from his squad.
"I have been somewhat pleased with the progress from practice one to practice number two," Snyder said. "The majority of time is being spent on fundamentals and both practices have been without pads due to NCAA rule requirements.
"We have also implemented a vast amount of our offense and defense, which has challenged their learning and retention capabilities. They have done reasonably well with that, but greater tests await them."
The Wildcats have also put a focus on the kicking game so far in workouts and continued their emphasis on daily improvement both on and off the field.
Kansas State will conclude spring drills on May 2 with the annual Purple and White game.