• Video: Nebraska assistants Ted Gilmore and Barney Cotton speak after Wednesday's Husker practice:



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LINCOLN — Nebraska's coaches are still working with Josh Williams to improve his physicality, but they had few complaints about the way the sophomore defensive end suddenly stepped into a first-team role Saturday.

Aside from a couple of typical first-game mistakes, Williams played well when he replaced sophomore starter Cameron Meredith in the second quarter of the 49-10 win over Western Kentucky, according to assistant coach John Papuchis.

Now Williams, who spent his redshirt year and last season growing into his 255-pound frame, has to learn how to use his size to his advantage, Papuchis said.

“You learn how to play in a way which suits your body type,” Papuchis said. “In high school coming up, he relied on his athleticism to make plays. Now he has to rely on being physical and using his technique. He's doing better at that.”

Williams had two total tackles Saturday in place of Meredith, who returned to practice this week after injuring his shoulder. It's likely that Meredith will play this weekend.

Marcel Jones' status is still day-to-day

Marcel Jones is back on the practice field despite a sore back, but it's still unclear if the junior tackle will see playing time against Idaho.

Jones didn't play in the opener. Offensive line coach Barney Cotton indicated Wednesday that Jones' status is day-to-day.

Jones started 11 games last year and played in 13 games as a redshirt freshman in 2008. He was expected to begin this season as Nebraska's top right tackle.

Senior D.J. Jones started at right tackle Saturday.

Evans taking in mentors' advice

Ciante Evans has taken advantage of having two pretty good mentors at his disposal in NU starting cornerbacks Prince Amukamara and Alfonzo Dennard.

“I watch what they do on a day-to-day basis, to see what I need to improve on,” Evans said. “And any question I might have about a game plan or something I don't know, I just go up and ask them.

“You can pick up anything from somebody that's such a high-caliber athlete as they are. I just try to learn technique and how hard they go and what I need to do to get up there.”

The Huskers have chosen to play Evans as a true freshman, and his first action came with about a dozen snaps Saturday night against Western Kentucky. The 5-foot-11, 185-pounder from Arlington, Texas, was credited with one tackle.

“That was always a goal in my mind to come up here and play,” Evans said. “But I would have been fine redshirting if the coaches asked me to.”

Dennard said Evans hasn't been afraid to come in and compete, and has let the rest take care of itself.

“He makes us better, and it makes everybody around us better, because we know he can come in and play,” Dennard said. “We're just doing all we can to help him out. I think he's going to be a solid player.”

Burkhead isn't only good hands man

Sophomore Rex Burkhead may have been the only one of the team's top three I-backs to catch a pass Saturday, but that doesn't mean that the other two won't be targets when the NU quarterbacks drop back in the future.

Actually, Burkhead may not even have the best hands among the backs, according to assistant coach Tim Beck. Sophomore Dontrayevous Robinson has earned that title so far, Beck said. And senior Roy Helu isn't far behind.

It just so happened that Burkhead was the one who caught two passes for 47 yards Saturday. Beck says to expect all of the backs to be involved in the passing game.

“That's the way the game (played out),” Beck said. “It wasn't by design to say, ‘Put him in for this.' They all can do that stuff.”

— Jon Nyatawa and Rich Kaipust

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• Video: In this week's edition of the Big Red Today Show, Rich Kaipust, Mitch Sherman and Jon Nyatawa break down the Huskers' win against Western Kentucky and look ahead to their matchup with Idaho.

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