Nebraska’s football team handled practice on the first day of fall classes well, head coach Bo Pelini told the media Monday night after a two-hour workout on the grass fields just north of the Hawks Center.

“Normally you come out the first day of school and it’s not a real good practice,” Pelini said. “They came out with real good energy today…we got a lot accomplished today.”

That’s a far cry from Nebraska’s first-day-of-school practice in 2008, which Pelini, at the time, deemed “not nearly good enough.”

Pelini said NU remains in camp mode. No prep on Florida Atlantic yet. Maybe later this week. But the Huskers did add 30-plus players who weren’t part of the original 105-man roster. Pelini said the total count was at 142. Lines for drills were longer, but the practice seemed just as logistically smooth as it was for the last two weeks.

The Quentin Castille dismissal was address obliquely, as a couple question were posed to Pelini about running backs being aware of an opportunity.

“I would hope so, unless they’re blind,” Pelini said. “But it shouldn’t change the way they’ve been competing…it’s pretty obvious. We let you guys beat a dead horse. We don’t need to. Our players know what’s in front of them.”

Nebraska returns to the practice field Tuesday, same time, presumably same grass fields.

Notes:

*Pelini brushed aside the opportunity praise true freshman Rex Burkhead more than he already has for Burkhead’s quick move up the depth chart.

“We’ve got a number of true freshmen who are in the mix for playing time,” Pelini said. “Nobody’s earned anything yet.”

*Tight end Dreu Young continues to practice without pads. The doctors have to clear Young for more contact before he puts them on. Young had back surgery recently.

*Freshman right guard Brent Qvale has a shoulder injury and will be out 3-4 months, Pelini. Qvale had been impressive during his brief time in fall camp.

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Another day of fall camp in the books for the Nebraska football team equaled more changes and movement along NU’s offensive line Tuesday.

Position coach Barney Cotton opened his chat with the media after a 2 ½-hour workout on the grass fields just east of the Hawks Center with news that true freshman Brent Qvale, who had been working as the No. 2 right guard, will be held out for the remainder of fall camp with an undisclosed injury.

Only head Bo Pelini goes into any depth on injury issues, and he doesn’t speak on Tuesday.

In Qvale’s place: Redshirt freshman Quentin Toailoa, one of the few scholarship players to miss the original 105-man roster.

Qvale’s absence is another curve ball thrown at Cotton. Left tackle Mike Smith and right guard Ricky Henry have missed practices. True freshman Jesse Coffey is out for the rest of camp with an MCL knee injury. Even now, Henry, who is a contender to start at right guard, is “probably going a fourth of the time,” Cotton said.

“Sometimes your development is maybe not as fast as you would like,” Cotton said. “On the other hand, when you’ve got guys who aren’t out there for periods of time, you’ve got more depth.”

Cotton said he’s got a good idea of which ten players he’ll be using this fall on the line.

“We don’t necessarily know the order of which those guys are going to be placed on the depth chart yet,” Cotton said. “Little by little, it’s starting to fall into place.”

In the meantime, Cotton has experimented with a number of his linemen at different positions. Seniors Andy Christensen and Derek Meyer have worked at both guard positions. Marcel Jones, currently No. 1 at right tackle, has also worked at left tackle. Junior D.J. Jones was at left tackle briefly, but is now challenging Marcel Jones for the top job on the right side.

“Marcel and D.J. are locked in a good battle right now,” Cotton said. “It’s a very even competition.”

Center Jacob Hickman “experimented for one day” at right guard, Cotton said, but he’d prefer to keep the senior right where he is. Hickman previously started at right guard before moving to center, where a capable backup, sophomore Mike Caputo, now provides a viable starting option, if needed.

Continuity is important as the Huskers installed more of the two-minute offense and worked on third down situations Wednesday.

“Lots of running for the skill guys, lots of pass blocking and lots of pass rushing for the big guys,” Cotton said.

One skill guy held out: Junior running back Roy Helu, who walked among the rows during stretching encouraging linemen, and guided younger running backs to their spots. His injury, whatever it was, did not seem serious.

“Just the normal strain of practice,” Cotton said when asked why Helu wasn’t practicing.

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Nebraska’s football team finished the morning portion of its first two-a-day workouts of fall camp with a small scrimmage. And, at least in round one, the offense has the upper hand.

“The defense wasn’t up to par,” defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh said. “We had some good plays here and there, but, as a defensive unit, at least the first team, I don’t think we were there, especially because I know how we have been in the past.”

In a goal line scrimmage situation – often a favorite of coaches for the dramatic nature of it - the offense scored a touchdown, Suh said. The defense’s goal is a field goal or no points at all.

“(The offensive line) came off the ball firing,” Suh said. “When we’re down there, we’ve got to bow our heads back up and make sure they don’t score.”

Said No. 1 running back Roy Helu: “Good first-level offensive blocking…we’re making a lot blocks downfield, especially two to three yards back, which is very helpful for the type of running game we want.”

And this, with one of the potential starters on the offensive line, junior right guard Ricky Henry, held out again from practice. In his absence senior walk-on Derek Meyer, and massive true freshman Brent Qvale have filled in.

“I thought (Qvale) came out and made some strides this morning,” head coach Bo Pelini said.

Suh said another true freshman, linebacker Eric Martin, had a couple quality hits on defense.

When asked if Martin stood out again, Pelini answered: “Stood out again today? I didn’t he stood out before.”

Then he added: “He made a couple plays. He’s got a lot to learn. He’s getting a lot thrown at him. He plays hard, he’s tough, he’s physical, but mentally he’s got a long ways to go.”

Pelini said the morning practice was conducted at “a good tempo.” The first week in the book, the second-year coach stayed on message: “We’re progressing, but we have a long, long ways to go. We’re at the beginning of this process.”

Pelini said NU may scrimmage some this afternoon – that practice is closed to the media – and again Saturday morning.

Notes:

* Suh and Helu showed off the throwback jerseys to be worn on the 300th consecutive sellout on Sept. 26 vs. Louisiana Lafayette. Four members of the 1962 team – Dennis Claridge, Willie Paschall, Lyle Sittler and Dwain Carlson – were on hand to take pictures with Suh and Helu, and talk to reporters. NU athletic director Tom Osborne took in practice as well, and spoke with reporters afterward.

*On Henry’s absence, Pelini said: “It’s detrimental to anybody who misses time, but what are you going to do? You can’t put them at risk and lose them for a long time. (But) you can’t miss practices, Obviously he wants to be out there as much as anybody. But if you’re injured, you gotta get right.”

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