Blaise Gunnerson poised for leadership role in redshirt sophomore season
It’s Blaise Gunnerson’s time. Time to make his mark on a program he has been a part of since 2020. Time to play, lead and help hold the standard for Matt Rhule’s first Nebraska squad.
He’s bought in on the team’s “1% better every day” mantra. Gunnerson keeps it simple.
“Be better than you were yesterday,” he said. “You don’t have to overcomplicate it, that’s what it is. You’ve got to look at yourself in the mirror and be ready to go every day.”
Gunnerson is in the midst of mastering a new defense. The redshirt sophomore is entering his fourth season with the Huskers and describes Tony White’s 3-3-5 as an aggressive, attacking scheme. At this point, Gunnerson is almost an underclassman in name only. His communication places him among a group of players catching White’s eye.
“You need that with the way we’re practicing,” White said. “You don’t have all the coaches in one area. You have all the coaches spread out. We’re all trusting everybody to do their jobs. It comes down to reinforcement from the players, and the first people you hear – Luke (Reimer), (John) Bullock, Blaise (Gunnerson) – are coaching the guys as well. That’s total team buy-in right there. That’s going to help in the long run.”
Gunnerson hopes to help guide Nebraska’s youthful defensive line room
The Huskers’ defensive line unit is relatively young this season. Ty Robinson and Nash Hutmacher are the only returning upperclassmen who saw significant playing time in 2022. Gunnerson appeared in every game totaling five tackles during the previous season. He also contributed on special teams.
Conversely, there are seven freshmen listed on the roster and five others either new to the Huskers or the position itself. For athletes like Gunnerson, setting the standard becomes incredibly important.
“They’re young yeah, but they’re mature, they’re mature for what they are,” Gunnerson said. “I think us as leaders, we have to look at every single detail and make sure we’re on the right path. We can’t leave a box unchecked. We have to make sure that we’re doing the right things every day. I’ve been proud of how they’ve worked. I’ve been proud of how they watch film and I think they’re gonna be in a good place.”
Throughout the offseason, lifting and mobility have been key points of emphasis for the defensive line according to Gunnerson.
The fitness and dietary regimen designed by strength coach Corey Campbell and nutritionist Kristin Coggin have played a major role, too. It’s why Gunnerson is one of several Huskers to undergo a significant physical change in recent months. The Carroll, Iowa, native went from 251 pounds to 265 and he describes it as better weight now than what he held previously.
Getting to that level requires discipline.
“Coach Campbell is not watching me eat at night,” Gunnerson said. “He’s not watching Nash (Hutmacher) eat at night. So holding ourselves to the high standard, making sure we’re eating the right things and eating healthy. They’ve been feeding us the right way.”
Defensive line coach Terrance Knighton knows why that physical standard is so important. It’s because of the way he wants Nebraska to operate in the defensive trenches.
“We’re going to be relentless,” Knighton said. “Guys are going to have to run to the ball no matter where the ball is. We’re going to attack in waves. We’re going to play a lot of guys so everyone has to be in shape and playing 100 mph. You have to train that way, you have to practice that way.”
Now it’s up to Gunnerson, along with Robinson and Hutmacher, to help keep those principles throughout the season ahead.
“Leadership’s not easy,” Gunnerson said. “You’ve got to challenge yourself each and every day. You’ve got to look at yourself in the mirror because I can’t be telling some of these younger guys to be doing things a certain way and then when I’m at home alone, not do that thing. That’s messed up and that’s not holding myself to a high standard. So finding that balance and doing everything the right way every single day, it’s gonna lead those young guys onto the correct path.”
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