Daikiel Shorts Jr. has been on the job with Nebraska only about two weeks. But he’s also been a right-hand man for Dana Holgorsen both as a player and coach for a decade. So he actually knows better than anyone in the Husker program right now the way Holgorsen operates – and certainly what he wants out of his receivers.
«I think things have been going pretty good,» Shorts told Husker Radio Network’s Jessica Coody from Nebraska’s practice site in New York. «I kind of came here and just jumped right in. The guys have embraced me. They’ve been doing a good job. I think they’re pretty excited for the bowl game to say the least. So everything’s been going pretty good.»
Shorts said his players have worked pretty hard so far getting ready for Saturday’s Pinstripe Bowl against Boston College.
«Everything else we can kind of fix as we move forward,» he said. «But nothing to complain about as of right now.»
That’s really the main thing Shorts said he asks of his players: Just play hard. A lot of guys in that room have talent. «So if they practice hard and they play hard, I think we’ll be just fine.»
The receivers coach is pretty excited about where the offense is going. He knows it’s been a lot of change for the Huskers, but he sees guys embracing it.
He also said it tells a lot about Holgorsen that he could come in and call someone else’s offense and implement his own stuff with some impact.
Shorts said his history with Holgorsen made it a situation he couldn’t pass up as he came over from Kentucky.
Turns out one of his players at Kentucky, Dane Key, is going to join him in Lincoln. Shorts will also have Nyzeah Hunter, previously at Cal, to work with in his room starting next month.
Shorts was the one coach Holgorsen told Matt Rhule he needed to have in Lincoln.
«When he called me, obviously I loved my previous place. I worked for a really good head coach,» Shorts said. «But it was a no-brainer to get with Coach Holgorsen again. I think we work pretty well together so I’m definitely excited to get moving forward with him.»
Shorts said each coach knows what the other wants and they have a tight relationship that comes when you go through the ups and downs together.
«We’ve kind of been through a lot together, which makes it easier moving forward in the future. Everything ain’t going to be perfect. It isn’t always going to be good. But I think we know each other well enough that we know what we want to get done.»
Shorts chuckled when it was mentioned some might say «Oh, he’s the Air Raid» coach when it comes to Holgorsen.
«I think he just has a really, really unique offensive mind. First things first. He has a crazy offensive mind. And guys play hard for him. He knows how to get guys going. He knows how to challenge guys. He knows how to push them to get the best out of themselves. I think guys respect that. He doesn’t sugarcoat anything. He’s very blunt. He pushes guys and he challenges them. I think it makes everybody better. Not only players, but coaches as well.»