OMAHA, Neb.—Future Nebraska opponents can learn from Baylor’s mistake when it comes to plotting strategy to keep defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh under control.
The lesson: If you devote too much manpower to Suh, fellow tackle Jared Crick will make you pay.
Crick stepped out of Suh’s considerable shadow Saturday to turn in one of the greatest performances by a Nebraska defensive lineman.
The sophomore from Cozad made a career-high 13 tackles and set a school record by sacking Baylor’s Nick Florence five times in a 20-10 victory in Waco, Texas.
“I had 25 to 30 family members in the stands, so it was definitely exciting,” Crick said. “I went out and played a little harder. It was a great day.”
The Bears tried to tie up Suh by having center J.D. Walton shade over to help the guards. That allowed Crick and linemates Barry Turner and Pierre Allen to all but roam free.
“They were double-teaming Suh most of the game, so that gave me the opportunity to go one-on-one,” Crick said. “It opened the lanes for me to kind of free rush. That’s all it really was, us front guys getting a push. It could have been anybody to get all those stats.”
The 6-foot-6, 285-pound Crick didn’t draw much notice last season, making a total of two tackles in nine games as a backup to Ty Steinkuhler.
Crick has been a force this season but has not received nearly as much recognition as Suh, a leading candidate for the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award as the nation’s top lineman.
Against Baylor, Crick commanded the spotlight. He had at least one sack in each quarter, he broke up a pass and he recovered a fumble.
He became the sixth Nebraska player to record five sacks in a game, and the first since Mike Rucker did it in 1996.
Crick had two other tackles behind the line of scrimmage, giving him a school record-tying seven tackles for lost yardage.
“How about that?” defensive coordinator Carl Pelini said. “Was that a monster game by him? I’m proud of him. He just plays his tail off, doesn’t he? He’s strong, he’s fast. He keeps getting better.”
Crick has 49 tackles this season to share the team lead with Suh. He ran his sack total to 8.5, the most by a Nebraska player since Adam Carriker finished with 9.5 in 2005.
Crick’s big numbers against Baylor caused teammates to raise eyebrows.
“He tore it up, huh,” defensive back Eric Hagg said. “Oh, goodness. That’s what I’ll get in a season probably. That’s crazy.”
The Huskers held their seventh straight opponent under 300 yards. Baylor’s offense didn’t score a touchdown against a Nebraska defense that ranks in the top 10 nationally in four major statistical categories. The Bears’ lone TD came on an interception return.
Nebraska’s win came after stunning home losses of 31-10 to Texas Tech and 9-7 to Iowa State.
“Obviously those back-to-back losses are very tough on us,” Crick said. “It’s always good to get a win no matter the circumstance.”
Crick and his defensive mates will have to be as good or better this week when 20th-ranked Oklahoma visits. The Sooners (5-3, 3-1) are averaging 424 total yards, 277 passing, and 33 points a game.
“It’s going to be intense, I can tell you that much,” Crick said.
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