“They have us signed up to go throw at Arizona State on spring break,” Davis said. “If we get a couple practices in, we’ll be ready to go.”

New challenge for Alex Davis

Life as a defender has taken on a whole new perspective for Alex Davis.

The redshirt sophomore from Riviera Beach, Florida, had gone through high school and spent his first two years at Nebraska learning how to play defensive end. He knew he would be rushing on just about every play.

But now he’s farther from the line of scrimmage as a short-side linebacker — or linebacker to the boundary, to use Riley’s vernacular. He’s standing for snaps instead of putting his hand on the turf.

The 6-foot-5, 255-pound Davis said his position change as part of Nebraska’s new 3-4 scheme has been exciting. Now he’s exploring the ins and outs of his new role.

“I’m still learning the game,” Davis said. “It’s not a setback. I just feel this is another position to learn. I’m still doing the same type of thing (like being an end). It was really exciting when I first heard about it.”