Steven Sipple: Young Nebraska linebackers coach Rob Dvoracek responds to difficult question with mature answer

Nebraska linebackers coach Rob Dvoracek had a mature answer to what could be interpreted as a difficult question for him.

What goes through his mind when he hears that the Huskers’ inside linebacker group is generally considered the defense’s foremost question mark?

That’s been a common narrative this spring.

“I just take the approach that I’m not worried about the results of anything right now,” the 30-year-old Husker assistant said Saturday during a break in Nebraska’s youth camp in Omaha. “My approach is basically: What are we doing to get better today? I just worry about that.”

Come autumn, Dvoracek will be more mindful of results, he said.

For now, though, it’s about improvement.

His answer trends toward coach-speak but sounds just fine in the context of what we saw from Nebraska’s inside linebackers last season. Yes, it was a good year for Dvoracek’s crew as Javin Wright , John Bullock , Luke Reimer , and Nick Henrich ranked third through sixth on the team’s leading tackler chart.

Reimer and Henrich have moved on, which helps explain the “question mark” narrative attached to Dvoracek’s group. Of course, narratives tend to evolve, and this particular narrative evolved in a positive direction during spring practice in part because of the rapid growth of true freshman Vincent Shavers .

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Vincent Shavers helps bolster Dvoracek’s LB group

I’m not saying Shavers will become an immediate star in the Big Ten or even that he’ll crack Nebraska’s starting lineup. Not with veterans Wright, Bullock, and Mikai Gbayor on hand. Another battle-tested backer, Stefon Thompson (transfer from Syracuse), also has come on strong of late.

But Shavers clearly made a sizable impression this spring. At the very least he will supply depth to a position group that makes its living in the middle of traffic in the most physical conference in the country.

Which, incidentally, is why I hesitate to dive headfirst into excitement about Shavers, a Miami (Florida) Central product who was a late add to Nebraska’s class of 2024 after being committed to the Miami Hurricanes. He needs to fully understand Big Ten physicality, and prove he can handle it consistently.

That said, Shavers had a “great spring,” Dvoracek said.

“As coach (Matt) Rhule said, Vincent is the type of guy you want in your room,” Dvoracek said. “He’s going to play hard. He’s physical. He’s going to give max effort, and he loves to play the game.”

Finding players with Shavers’ combination of athleticism and love for the game, well, that can become extremely fruitful for a program.

“You can see it in how he plays,” Dvoracek said. “He plays violently and aggressively. He flies around. He’s going to have a bright future.”

The 6-foot-1 Shavers arrived in Lincoln weighing 205 pounds but is now tipping the scales in the 225 range, Dvoracek said.

OK, that gets your attention.

“He’s changed his body a lot,” Dvoracek said.

Bullock’s decision to return key for Dvoracek

It also got my attention in mid-December when Bullock, the Omaha Creighton Prep graduate, announced that he’ll play a sixth season for Nebraska.

His decision indicated confidence in Dvoracek, is my read.

In his first season at the position, Bullock played the second-most snaps of any Husker linebacker in 2023, recording 50 tackles and 1½ sacks in the process.

“It’s huge,” Dvoracek said of Bullock’s return to the fold. “He’s become a leader within the room. Last year, I think he was just trying to get comfortable playing the position. You know, he was with those older guys for awhile — Nick and Luke — and those guys had played a lot of ball. But John was kind of transitioning. He was like, ‘Hey, I’m the new guy,’ basically.”

Bullock made the transition to linebacker in the spring of 2023 after playing nickel back.

“Now, he’s taken it upon himself to be a leader,” Dvoracek said. “He’s helping all the young guys in the room. With his experience, he’s way more comfortable now than he was a year ago. He’s got way more confidence, trusts himself.

“It’s good having him be a leader within our room.”

Give Dvoracek credit for developing players

Think about it. Not only was Bullock in his first season as a backer last year, Wright also fits that description after moving over from defensive back.

Wright led Dvoracek’s room with 51 stops and two interceptions.

A senior from Chandler, Arizona, Wright ranks as one of the most intriguing players on the 2024 roster because of his frame (6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, according to Dvoracek), explosive athleticism, and bloodlines (his father, Toby Wright, is one of hardest-hitting defenders in Husker history).

“He’s athletic, he can run, and he can change direction,” Dvoracek said. “There aren’t many guys who look like that. I’m expecting a lot from him.”

Credit Dvoracek for developing Bullock and Wright into reliable Big Ten backers. Same goes for Gbayor, who made 24 stops last season, including three for losses.

Now, let’s see how far Dvoracek can push his guys. I believe Wright has the potential to become a star. Bullock’s physicality and motor are perfect for the Big Ten. Both veterans should be able to raise their game if only because they have a year at the position under their belts.

Meanwhile, the world — OK, our Husker world — wonders how quickly Shavers can become a major factor.

Yeah, Dvoracek’s group is being watched closely. The rest of Nebraska’s defense — the 11th-ranked unit in the nation last season in terms of yards allowed per game — has fewer questions overall.

Although Dvoracek must replace Reimer and Henrich, the backer position looks solid and has the potential to be much better than solid.

The group’s leader, Dvoracek, an unassuming sort from Allentown, Pennsylvania, flies under the radar, but I’m guessing that won’t be the case for too much longer.

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