21.   He could challenge for a starting linebacker spot next season because he plays weakside linebacker, where senior Markus Steele is the current starter.

22.   He started one game this season at weakside linebacker -- against Troy State -- after playing middle linebacker in spring practices.

23.   He opened the season starting at weakside linebacker when Darrin Smith missed the first seven games in a contract holdout.

24.   If anybody goes, free-agent acquisition Marcus Buckley, working behind weakside linebacker Keith Brooking and reserve Chris Draft, is the leading candidate.

25.   If Nguyen is unable to play against Oakland this week, weakside linebacker Dexter Coakley will move into the middle.

26.   If Strong cannot start, freshman Matt Grootegoed will flip to weakside linebacker and junior John Cousins will start at strongside.

27.   If Edwards starts, he would have to beat out either senior Justin Robertson at weakside linebacker or senior Cameron at outside linebacker.

28.   In a move kept under wraps during two weeks of practice, the Cornhuskers moved senior strong safety Mike Minter to weakside linebacker.

29.   Jeffery, a reserve weakside linebacker and key contributor on the special teams, tore the anterior cruciate ligament and sprained the medial collateral ligament in his right knee.

30.   Junior college transfer Markus Steele is starting over Henry Wallace at weakside linebacker.