{"id":5185,"date":"2023-05-16T10:16:48","date_gmt":"2023-05-16T15:16:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/?p=5185"},"modified":"2023-05-16T10:16:48","modified_gmt":"2023-05-16T15:16:48","slug":"steven-sipple-a-key-part-of-john-bullocks-recent-rise-why-frank-solich-loves-idea-of-fullback-camp-and-diligent-kirby-lands-dylan-raiola","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/steven-sipple-a-key-part-of-john-bullocks-recent-rise-why-frank-solich-loves-idea-of-fullback-camp-and-diligent-kirby-lands-dylan-raiola\/","title":{"rendered":"Steven Sipple: A key part of John Bullock\u2019s recent rise; why Frank Solich loves idea of fullback camp; and diligent Kirby lands Dylan Raiola"},"content":{"rendered":"

Things I know, and things I think I know: Getting football players in the right positions sounds simple enough. It\u2019s not always the case, though, as Nebraska linebacker John Bullock<\/a><\/strong> can attest. <\/p>\n

A junior from Omaha Creighton Prep, Bullock had been playing in the secondary for Nebraska until Matt Rhule\u2019s<\/a><\/strong> staff arrived following last season and moved him to linebacker. <\/p>\n

Tim Johnk says Rhule got it right. <\/p>\n

\u201cSafety\u2019s not a fit for John. He\u2019s a linebacker,\u201d said Johnk, who coached Bullock at Prep. \u201cThey had tried to make him a safety-nickel type of guy. That\u2019s not his skill set. He\u2019s better closer to the ball. He\u2019s a better run stopper. <\/p>\n

\u201cPart of the problem was he hadn\u2019t played much in the back end of a defense. He always had played inside or outside linebacker. He was able to run to the football with a little more freedom, whereas in the secondary you obviously have a lot more pass responsibilities. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just a different mindset.\u201d <\/p>\n

Bullock obviously enjoyed an impressive spring because last week Rhule told reporters that Bullock and fellow walk-on Nate Boerkircher<\/a><\/strong>, a sophomore tight end from Aurora, are being put on scholarship.<\/p>\n

For casual Nebraska football fans, Bullock\u2019s rise seemingly came out of nowhere. After all, he recorded his lone tackle of the 2022 season on special teams, a solo stop on kickoff coverage at Purdue. He played on special teams in every game of the 2021 season, recording five tackles. <\/p>\n

He saw no action at all in 2020 after redshirting in 2019.<\/p>\n

And now, he\u2019s risen to possible starting status. <\/p>\n

\u201cBoerkircher\u2019s played here and he\u2019s a starting-caliber tight end,\u201d Rhule said last week in reference to Boerkircher\u2019s six receptions for 52 yards and a touchdown last season.<\/p>\n

\u201cBullock, he\u2019ll have a chance to play in the NFL if things go right for him,\u201d Rhule added.<\/p>\n

What goes through Johnk\u2019s mind when he hears Rhule say Bullock possesses NFL potential?<\/p>\n

Keep in mind, Bullock was just an honorable-mention all-state player at Prep. <\/p>\n

\u201cDoesn\u2019t surprise me,\u201d the seventh-year Creighton Prep coach said<\/a> of Rhule\u2019s high praise. \u201cHe was a tremendous player for us. Should\u2019ve been named as an all-state player for us. He played on good teams here. It wasn\u2019t like he was playing on dog-crap teams. For whatever reason, he was a guy who flew under the radar a little bit.\u201d <\/p>\n

The Weekly Rundown: Matt Rhule on the big stage, in-state recruiting pressure and more fullback talk<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\n<\/a><\/span>\n<\/div>\n

John Bullock wasn\u2019t heavily recruited<\/h2>\n

According to Nebraska\u2019s official football media guide, John Bullock had scholarship offers to Augustana and Lindenwood. His height, or lack thereof \u2014 he\u2019s 6-foot and 210 pounds \u2014 might have kept some major-college coaches away.<\/p>\n

At any rate, Bullock chose the walk-on route to Lincoln. <\/p>\n

\u201cI knew he could play down there,\u201d said Johnk, who lettered as a Husker fullback from 1989 to 1991. \u201cJohn is a freak athletically. He had 20-some tackles against Elkhorn South as a senior outside linebacker. He was so good in space. He never missed a tackle.\u201d<\/p>\n

Like many student-athletes, Bullock had to adjust to college life. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe struggled in his first year or so in Lincoln,\u201d Johnk said. \u201cIt was probably a matter of some immaturity and going to college and being on your own. That happens to guys, right? But to his credit, he\u2019s matured. He\u2019s figured it out. He stuck it out. He\u2019s a tough-minded kid. He grew from it. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe used some of those tough times as opportunities for growth.\u201d <\/p>\n

Rhule quickly noticed Bullock\u2019s talents. The coach liked his speed. <\/p>\n

But Rhule also noticed Bullock might fit better at linebacker. <\/p>\n

It appears to be the case, although Bullock has plenty to prove. <\/p>\n

\n\n

One team. pic.twitter.com\/q4zQuvyo3z<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Nebraska Football (@HuskerFBNation) March 8, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/span>\n<\/div>\n

Frank Solich says fullbacks are \u201cdifferent breed\u201d<\/h2>\n

Count former Nebraska head coach Frank Solich<\/a><\/strong> among those who like what Rhule is doing with the Huskers\u2019 offense. Yes, this is partially a fullback discussion. Frank loves a good fullback. He was an exceptional fullback himself for the Huskers \u2014 a 5-foot-7, 152-pounder.<\/p>\n

Using a fullback in an I-formation, as Rhule does at times, creates the sort of mindset that Solich prefers in a football team. <\/p>\n

\u201cYou become a tough-ass team,\u201d Solich told me Monday. \u201cYou come at people. You wear them down. You want to be the best team in the fourth quarter. There\u2019s just something about the fullback \u2014 the running game \u2014 that\u2019ll set a tone for your players.\u201d<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve heard similar sentiments from Rhule. <\/p>\n

His teams at Temple were physical and tough-minded, said Solich, who faced those teams as Ohio\u2019s coach. <\/p>\n

\u201cI think they\u2019re headed in the right direction with what they\u2019re doing,\u201d Solich said of Rhule\u2019s early days at Nebraska. \u201cIt looks like they\u2019ll have a combination of things offensively. I don\u2019t know for sure. Some of the offense will be without a fullback. But there\u2019ll be some offense with a fullback. I think it can fit very well in today\u2019s style of football.\u201d<\/p>\n

By the way, Solich (predictably) is a big fan of Rhule having a fullback camp at Nebraska next month. <\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s smart,\u201d Frank said. \u201cFullbacks are a different breed. Sometimes when you just have everybody at a camp, at all positions, those kind of guys get overlooked. To me, they\u2019re specialists. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a position that really demands respect from the rest of your team.\u201d<\/p>\n

To me, it sounds like a column for next week: Frank taking a deep dive on fullbacks.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s awfully nice to have him back in the fold. <\/p>\n

\n\n

Athens,GA is Home!!! I\u2019m a Dawg!! Go Dawgs pic.twitter.com\/VWN9Vf55sy<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Dylan Raiola (@RaiolaDylan) May 15, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/span>\n<\/div>\n

Tip your cap to Kirby Smart for landing elite QB<\/h2>\n

During his introductory news conference at Georgia in late 2015, Kirby Smart <\/a><\/strong>told reporters he wanted to use every minute he had toward recruiting. <\/p>\n

According to ESPN, Smart then looked down at his watch and said, \u201cAs a matter of fact, I\u2019m ready to go right now.\u201d <\/p>\n

Make no mistake, the man\u2019s a primo recruiter \u2014 savvy, diligent, charismatic. <\/p>\n

My heavens, he worked 11 years for Nick Saban<\/em>. <\/p>\n

Dominic Raiola, in our many conversations during his son Dylan Raiola\u2019s<\/a><\/strong> recruitment, spoke highly of Georgia and the way it recruited his son. Smart played a lead role (as one might expect). Even so, that part of the equation impressed Dominic. In fact, the day Dominic told me of Smart\u2019s very<\/em> heavy<\/em> involvement \u2014 it was months ago \u2014 I knew Nebraska faced an uphill climb to land the QB.<\/p>\n

As this ESPN article<\/a> points out, Georgia\u2019s program under Smart \u201cis looking more like vintage Alabama than Alabama does right now \u2014 physically imposing, stingy on defense and possessing a relentless attitude that\u2019s a reflection of its head coach.\u201d <\/p>\n

Yes, tip your cap to Kirby. He would be awfully hard to turn down right now. <\/p>\n

In that regard, the timing simply wasn\u2019t right for Nebraska.<\/p>\n

\n\n

Headed to the CFL! <\/p>\n

Congratulations on signing with the @Wpg_BlueBombers<\/a> Damian!<\/p>\n

ForeverABull l @Djackson_38<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/tyPQNeK3jp<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 UB Football (@UBFootball) May 8, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/span>\n<\/div>\n

Damian Jackson lands in CFL <\/h2>\n

Make no mistake, Damian Jackson <\/a><\/strong>trained hard in hopes of making an NFL roster. <\/p>\n

However, the former Husker (2017 to 2021) and Navy SEAL got a nice \u201cW\u201d by landing in the CFL. <\/p>\n

He recently signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s going to be a D-end and a long snapper,\u201d says Chris Slatt, who trains Jackson (and others) in Slatt\u2019s south Lincoln workout facility. \u201cI think one thing that hurt him is he had never snapped in a \u2018live\u2019 game.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBottom line, I think Canada is a great fit for a 30-year-old guy who literally started playing football six years ago. I\u2019m really proud of him. He made himself into a Division I player and then turned himself into a professional long snapper.\u201d<\/p>\n

Amazing story. Good luck to the young man. <\/p>\n

Never miss breaking news or another HuskerOnline article again. Click HERE to sign up for HuskerOnline\u2019s Daily and Breaking News Newsletters.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

The post Steven Sipple: A key part of John Bullock\u2019s recent rise; why Frank Solich loves idea of fullback camp; and diligent Kirby lands Dylan Raiola<\/a> appeared first on On3<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Things I know, and things I think I know: Getting football players in the right…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5185","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5185","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5185"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5185\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5185"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5185"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5185"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}