CHICAGO — Nothing about Nebraska’s offseason was done without a clear, calculated purpose. That was the resounding message delivered by senior defensive back Andrew Marshall as he took the podium on Thursday afternoon at Big Ten Football Media Days in Chicago.
Marshall, who transferred from Idaho a season ago before starting all 13 games and earning All-Big Ten honorable mention honors in 2025, enters his second year in Lincoln as one of the Big Red’s unquestioned veteran leaders. In his eyes, the grueling work put in behind closed doors over the past seven months is poised to fuel a major defensive surge for the Huskers this fall.
«We’ve Trained, Lifted, and Recovered with Intent»
For Marshall, operating with relentless purpose is second nature. After making 14 starts at Idaho before proving his talent in the Big Ten, he quickly established himself as a focal point of Nebraska’s secondary. Now, he sees that same blue-collar, laser-focused mentality spreading across the entire roster.
“This has been a very intentional offseason for us,” Marshall stated. “The whole offseason, we put our heads down and just came to work. You’ll see the fruition of that during the season. We’ve practiced, we’ve trained, we’ve lifted, we’ve eaten, we’ve recovered with intent, and you’ll definitely see that by the way we attack.”
A Mindset Flip: Fixing the Run Defense
Despite facing heavy scrutiny last autumn, Nebraska still finished in the nation’s top 30 in total defense and ranked third nationally in pass defense. However, the Achilles’ heel was painfully clear: the Huskers ranked a dismal 100th nationally against the run.
Marshall emphasized that fixing the run defense required a complete psychological reset—one built on physical toughness forged during brutal summer workouts:
- Toughness in the Workouts: «In the offseason, you’re not really hitting, so toughness comes in the workouts. Are you attacking the workouts, or is the workout attacking you? We’ve definitely had a flip in our mindset,» Marshall explained.
- Belief in the Portal Additions: Pointing to defensive front retooling via the transfer portal, Marshall expressed total confidence in the upgraded roster: «We’ve got guys that are going to go and get after it. I’m ready for everything because I know the training and the effort we put in; it’s all going to come together.»
reuniting with Rob Aurich: «Tenacious and Relentless»
Outside of San Diego State transfers Owen Chambliss and Dwayne McDougle, no Husker understands incoming defensive coordinator Rob Aurich’s system better than Marshall, who played under Aurich at Idaho. When asked to sum up what fans can expect from Aurich’s defensive identity, Marshall offered a two-word forecast:
«Tenacious. Relentless. Like, we’re coming after you play in and play out. From the first play of the first quarter to the last play of the fourth quarter. We’re going to attack you, and you’re going to feel us, really.”
Marshall also shared a telling glimpse into Aurich’s obsessive preparation habits: «Outside of football, he’s a great dude. Speaking of football, he’s a football fanatic. I’ll be watching film late at night, and I’ll walk past his office, and he’s kicked back with a hat covering his eyes, sitting there just watching film.»
If Aurich’s film-room obsession and Marshall’s secondary leadership translate onto the field, the Huskers are well-positioned to make the exact leap they’ve been chasing in 2026.