Nebraska’s Stefon Thompson likely to replace Mikai Gbayor while on suspension for targeting
LINCOLN — Nebraska will see a stylistic shift in the opposing offense this week, and a forced personnel change could add another layer.
Linebacker Mikai Gbayor will likely miss the first half of the Huskers’ game against Northern Iowa after committing a targeting penalty in the second half against Colorado. NU has filed an appeal. Unless it’s successful, Stefon Thompson or Vincent Shavers Jr. will step into Gbayor’s place.
Thompson joined Nebraska over the offseason after four years at Syracuse, three of which he played under current NU defensive coordinator Tony White. He appeared in each of the Huskers’ first two games this season before his possible bigger role in a crucial game for the linebackers.
Northern Iowa has run the ball 85 times in two games and will give Nebraska a different look than the pass-heavy offenses of UTEP and Colorado. Both tried to spread the Huskers out and beat them with speed and athleticism. UNI will try to run it down their throat.
“This is a good preview to Big Ten ball, right?” White said. “They’re gonna line up. They got 12 personnel, big backs, can play-action you if you put too many dudes in the box, so never looking down the road, but it’s gonna give you a sense of, OK, you saw the pass rush, you saw some coverage stuff and now you get a chance to line up and set your pads against an opponent that wants to try to impose their will on you.”
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