Nebraska football finished its final practice before the Red-White game on Saturday. The Huskers are still working on the format, but head coach Scott Frost said to expect football.

Scott Frost, Erik Chinander, several defensive assistants and several defensive players stopped to speak with the media. Here’s what they had to say:

Chinander was public last week that Wednesday's practice wasn't good enough. "I think they responded really well," he said this time. "They came out today and it was a much different attitude. [It was] a very spirited practice on both sides, and I thought we came out and were firing on all cylinders. The guys were excited, good emotion, good communication. A lot of carry-over from drill to team – that's what wasn't happening last year. They were just trying to get lined up and execute, but there's a lot of carryover happening right now and a lot of good stuff, so I was happy."

Barrett Ruud isn’t sure how the inside linebacker group will divide up on Saturday. The Huskers have some depth issues at the spot, even more so after Nick Henrich suffered a shoulder injury. Ruud said it might be a deal where players have to switch uniforms at halftime, but he’s mostly concerned with everyone having a good time and putting on a show for the fans.

Ruud said several of the linebackers have really progressed. The first one the linebackers coach mentioned was Mo Barry, who he feels has made a pretty substantial jump this spring from where he was at last year. Ruud said Miller has improved with the bulk of the reps he’s taken and that Joey Johnson has come on strong as well.

Both Barrett Ruud and Travis Fisher spoke of how impressive the spring game atmosphere was last year and how it helps in terms of recruiting for the 2019 class. Both are anticipating a similar environment for Saturday and there’s no shortage of 2020 and 2021 targets expected to be in town.

Tony Tuioti told the media if a player wants a Blackshirt from him they better run to the ball. Otherwise they’ll be standing next him on the sidelines. Tuioti said he wants to see fire from the defensive linemen and effort every single time out.

Something to keep an eye on for several future Huskers: Fisher said Myles Farmer, Noa Pola-Gates and Quinton Newsome will be starting out at cornerback. However, he's often talked about the value of cross training them for other positions as well, so it's likely several of those guys will be learning safety too.

Ruud has spoken recently with Jackson Hannah and the linebackers coach said he thinks Hannah, along with all the other non-midyear signees are ready to get to Lincoln and get working.

Nebraska head coach Scott Frost said the team will be split into two, with players who are limited on one team, with their backups behind them. Frost said a number of players will be limited or out for Saturday’s spring game.

Freshman Wan’Dale Robinson will be limited or out, Frost said. Frost also confirmed that freshman Nick Henrich will undergo surgery to correct a shoulder injury suffered this week that will keep him out until fall camp. Freshman tight end Chris Hickman also won’t be available. Hickman hasn’t practiced all spring because of a shoulder injury. Frost said sophomore running back Maurice Washington won’t participate in the spring game.

“As a head coach, I want to see a great spring game and see guys perform, but we want to get out of it healthy as well,” Frost said.

Frost said he won’t have an active coaching role in Saturday’s game. He said he will let Nebraska’s assistants handle the coaching responsibilities on Saturday, similar to how he did things last year.

Sophomore defensive back Cam Taylor said he has been working primarily at corner and nickel, but has also worked in at safety as well. Taylor said he has no preference on where he ultimately plays, but said he feels much more comfortable on the field compared to where he was last season.

Senior Eric Lee has been working at safety for much of the spring. Lee said he welcomed the change and the only new wrinkle has been making calls for the defense. Not only that, he's playing well there, according to secondary coach Travis Fisher. He said Lee jumped in like he's been playing the position for a while. Fisher was impressed with Lee's tackling during games last year, and moving him to safety has also opened up more practice reps for Cam Taylor at corner.

Right now with Cam'Ron Jones, Fisher wants him focused on the classroom most of all.

Fisher said he's going to make his schedule today on players he wants to visit after the Spring Game. "There's a lot of guys that I want to see, a lot of guys that I'm on." But he likes to wait until guys he's interested in have the pads on in spring practices before he sees them.

Husker junior safety Deontai Williams said he's a team guy and all he wants to do is win, which made it easier for him last year when he wasn't seeing as many snaps with seniors in front of him. "I was picking their brains and all that, and I'm putting that in my game too so I can be a better player."

Fisher doesn't hesitate in saying junior Marquel Dismuke is another guy he's really pleased with at safety right now besides Williams. "I'm very happy with Marquel."

Williams thinks Nebraska is looking like a team that can compete for a conference title. "Actually go to the playoffs, too, how we're looking right now. But we still got to buy in and stay humble and keep working."

Chinander said when you're good on the defensive line, the rest of the defense can usually catch up to it. "So I think that kind of happened. We're good up front, the back end is playing really [well] right now ... But I don't know if I thought we'd be quite where we are at. I'm pleased. I don't think we're ready to go play in the College Football Playoff right now by any stretch of the imagination, but I'm pleased with where we're at. I think it's good progress."