Filed by Mitch Sherman at 8:58 p.m.
Sophomore Alfonzo Dennard may debut as a starting cornerback Thursday night against Missouri.
Secondary coach Marvin Sanders said he's worked Dennard with the first-team defense over the past week. Dennard replaced Anthony West late in the first quarter of the Huskers' 55-0 win over Louisiana-Lafayette after the Ragin' Cajuns completed a 32-yard pass against West.
West has started 15 games in his career, as many or more than all NU defenders but Ndamukong Suh (28), Larry Asante (26) and Barry Turner (17).
Sanders said he feels good at cornerback with Prince Amukarama, Dennard, West, true freshman Andrew Green and sophomore Anthony Blue.
The coach would like to preserve Green's redshirt but that he'll play if injuries make it necessary.
“We're in the Big 12 season right now. Every down is crucial,” Sanders said, “so if we need him, I think he will understand that. He knows I will only play him if we need him.”
Blue, who missed last season with a serious knee injury and has been slow to return to top condition, impressed Sanders over the past two weeks.
The coach said he pulled Blue aside at practice this week.
“I told him, 'That's the Blue I've heard about,'” Sanders said. “He just said, 'Thanks coach,' and he went on about his business. I'm excited, because I think that young man is going to help us down the road. We're going to need him.”
Also of interest in the defensive backfield, safety Matt O'Hanlon granted his first interview this week since the Huskers' 16-15 loss on Sept. 19 at Virginia Tech. It was O'Hanlon, of course, who lost Danny Coale in coverage as the Tech receiver raced 81 yards to NU 3 to enable the Hokies' game-winning touchdown in the final two minutes.
O'Hanlon, a senior out of Bellevue East, said he took it hard.
“It was difficult,” O'Hanlon said. “You've got to move on, though, and I think I've done that. If anything, it's motivated me even more.”
As O'Hanlon dealt with the disappointment, several teammates spoke up for him, saying was not responsible for the defeat.
“That means the world to me,” he said, “to have guys come up to me and pat me on the back or speak up for me in the media.”
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