• Watch video of Ndamukong Suh at the Tuesday press conference:

LINCOLN — Jared Crick has gotten used to hearing it.

When the Nebraska sophomore makes plays, like his first-quarter sack against Missouri last week, people usually react the way ESPN play-by-play man Chris Fowler did.

“That was Jared Crick,” Fowler said, “the other talented defensive tackle for the Huskers.”

Such is life next to a defensive lineman who is hearing his name being thrown around in Heisman talks.

The 6-foot-6, 285-pound Crick, out of Cozad, Neb., is holding his own lining up next to dominant defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. Crick is sixth on the team in tackles and is second behind Suh in sacks. He's also tied for third with four tackles for losses.

“This guy's underrated because Suh's so good,” Fowler said.

Crick's effort against Missouri may have been overlooked because of the magnitude of Suh's performance — four quarters that Crick describes as a “freak game.” But Crick's seven tackles, one sack and a fumble recovery shouldn't get lost in the mix. Teammates and coaches have pointed to his play as a major reason defenses must stay true up front, allowing Suh to avoid automatic double teams.

“He's progressed tremendously,” Suh said, “and it's something that I expected from him, really from day one.”

Crick has found himself talking to members of the media about Suh more times than he can remember. Just Tuesday he was interviewed by Sports Illustrated and ESPN.

What's it like to play next to him?

“It's always the same answer: It's awesome,” Crick said. “Just a guy like Suh having my back every single play, just gives me the freedom to go out and play my game without any worries.”

Crick said he's actually beginning to see more double teams than he did to begin the season, an indication that he has done his job with his one-on-one opportunities early on.

“At the start of the year, it was almost every play,” Crick said. “But now I'm getting more respect. A lot more centers are starting to come toward me.”

And he should get used to it. With two more years under the tutelage of coach Bo Pelini, who has a recent history of developing defensive linemen into absolute forces, Crick has some major upside, Suh said.

“He's only, in my eyes, going to get better,” Suh said, “and I foresee him being a tremendous player in the future. Not only further along in this season, but for years to come.”

For the immediate future, though, the two are combining to give Nebraska one of the top defensive lines in the country.

“No one is going to run on us, especially up the middle,” Crick said. “You stop them up the middle, the D-ends contain and it's a (tackle for loss) if you play it right. We pride ourselves on stopping the run first and then earning the right to rush the passer.”

Contact the writer:

850-0781, nickrubek@hotmail.com

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