Things started off poorly in the secondary on Thursday when Charles Jackson went out for the season with a knee injury. However, they only continued to worsen on Friday. LeRoy Alexander was definitely in the plans for the secondary for the famed blackshirts defense of the University of Nebraska this season, but the Huskers released a statement that he would be suspended for the entirety of the 2014 season instead. Let's look at what Alexander had previously done on the field for the Huskers.
He redshirted in his freshman year in 2012. Then in the 2013 season he finally reached the field both at safety and on special teams. He made one start at safety against Purdue and he recorded an interception. Corey Cooper is the other player that is going to start at safety and he led the Huskers in tackles last year with 91. Cooper is going to have to elevate his game to a higher level in order to make the Huskers a stronger contender in the new Big 10 West in 2014.
Here is the official statement from the Nebraska athletics department, "Nebraska sophomore defensive back LeRoy Alexander has been suspended from competition for the 2014 football season. Alexander will remain on scholarship as a member of the Nebraska football program and will be allowed to practice with the team. Coach Pelini and the Nebraska Athletics Department will have no additional comment on this matter."
The biggest question is exactly what Alexander did that caused the suspension. The University has declined to comment on it. Then, Alexander's Mother refused to comment on it, but the main point in this whole suspension is that Alexander had to have some sort of major issue because of the length of the suspension.
The main person who benefits from all of this is sophomore Nate Gerry. He had previously been a linebacker but moved back to safety during spring practice. His transition will definitely have to be a quick one in order for the Huskers to rise to the levels they are looking to achieve in the 2014 season.