LINCOLN — Jared Crick already has navigated the path Baker Steinkuhler is traveling.

As a redshirt freshman in 2008, Crick settled for scraps as Nebraska starting defensive tackles Ndamukong Suh and Ty Steinkuhler played nearly every snap. Crick then hurled himself into the offseason knowing that a spot was being vacated.

Baker Steinkuhler is a redshirt freshman this season and taking what he can get behind Suh and Crick. Ahead is his opportunity with Suh preparing for his final game in the Holiday Bowl.

Considering what Crick has become for the Huskers, it’s interesting to hear what he thinks of the player who might be lining up next to him in 2010.

“I think Bake is better right now than what I was last year,’’ Crick said. “I mean, you definitely see it in the stats. And definitely he has the attributes. The long arms. The strength. He’s a big kid.’’

Steinkuhler, the younger brother of Ty and the son of former Husker great Dean Steinkuhler, has made 17 tackles and deflected two passes while playing in 12 games, far exceeding what Crick did the season before.

Crick also says Steinkuhler has a “long ways to go,’’ and that’s where the 6-foot-6, 290-pounder would be best advised to keep following Crick’s example.

“I took it upon myself to become the player I was last offseason,” Crick said. “I just kept going, kept going. And I think Baker definitely has the work ethic.

“A couple more years of coaching, and maybe another offseason, and he’s going to be a great one.’’

Crick landed a starting job as a sophomore, and made first-team All-Big 12 in voting by league coaches. His 70 tackles rank fourth on the team, and he trails only Suh with his 9½ sacks and 16 quarterback hurries.

Steinkuhler won’t be handed a starting job, with NU also returning Terrence Moore, Justin Jackson and Thaddeus Randle at defensive tackle. Moore battled injuries in his sophomore season and played in just three games.

“We’re definitely looking forward to Baker and T-Mo (Moore) coming back next year and doing some great things for us,” Crick said. “It’s going to be fun come spring to see the guys who are going to come in and make plays for us.”

Steinkuhler won’t be expected to make as many as Suh if he wins the job. Nobody would be, after Suh was a Heisman Trophy finalist and claimed the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award among his many honors.

In fact, the task of replacing Suh would seem daunting, but Crick said he doesn’t see Steinkuhler obsessing over it.

“He hasn’t really said too much about it,” Crick said, laughing. “I don’t think he really cares. He just knows he’s got to come in and perform, no matter what. But that’s very big shoes to fill with Suh.’’

There’s work for Crick there, too. Suh was an anchor and leader. Something Crick wants to be as he heads into next season without Suh beside him.

Of all the things Crick absorbed from Suh, one of the biggest was that Suh always practiced what he preached. Walked the walk.

“Everything he says he’s going to do, he’ll do it,” Crick said. “You just earn trust that way. After seeing him do it time after time, you trust in what he says. I definitely want to be like that.”

Contact the writer:

444-1042, rich.kaipust@owh.com

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