Huskers Lean On Linebacker Polk

Nobody has ever accused Nebraska’s Carlos Polk of being shy.

Outspoken? Absolutely. Confident? Certainly.

But never shy.

The senior linebacker welcomes the attention he gets as one of the top defenders for the No. 1 Cornhuskers as he would an opposing running back--with open arms, a big smile and a lot to say.

“I’m a different type,” Polk says.

Polk is different. Not many 6-foot-2, 250-pound guys can catch a top running back from behind. Polk does--when they get that far. And despite his physical presence and booming voice, Polk says he’s only an intimidator when it’s needed. Otherwise, he’s just like a big kid.

Admittedly a little superstitious, Polk will even take on bad luck--he wears No. 13 and doesn’t seem to worry about any possible repercussions.

“You have to have fun. It is a game,” he said. “Have fun while you can.”

An All-Big 12 selection last season, Polk is the keystone of Nebraska’s defense as middle linebacker. He is one of five returning starters--the only one at the three linebacker spots--and is helping develop the rookies quickly, defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Craig Bohl said.

“I think every football team has different chemistries and make-ups to it. There’s different guys in the mix,” Bohl said. “I think he energizes our football team both offensively and defensively.”

Polk leads the Huskers (2-0) in tackles with 18 and is one of 70 linebackers on the preseason watch list for the Butkus Award, which goes to the nation’s top linebacker. That list gets trimmed to 10 in late October and Polk is a good bet to still be on it.

“I love the attention, but then again it tells me that there’s a lot of other guys who should get it too,” Polk said. “I might be getting the credit for it but it could have been a coverage sack. Maybe (linemen) Loran Kaiser or Jason Lohr had to get double teamed so I got freed up.”

Polk points to last weekend’s 27-24 overtime win at Notre Dame as an example. His 12 tackles were a career best and earned him Big 12 defensive player of the week honors, but Kaiser was right behind him with nine tackles.

“Probably three or four of them I owed him,” Polk said.

Polk was a backup his first two seasons, playing mostly on special teams. He emerged as a leader, both on and off the field, last year when he took over at middle linebacker. He was second on the team in tackles with 83, trailing only All-American defensive back Mike Brown. He was also second in sacks with 6 1/2.

Polk said he learned about leadership when he arrived from Rockford, Ill., in the summer of 1996 and former Husker linemen Grant Wistrom and Jason Peter nearly ran him into the ground.

“I said ‘This isn’t a workout, you guys are trying to kill me,’ ” Polk said. “If I messed up or missed an assignment they would get in my face and let me know about it. At the time, it made me feel like I was about two inches tall.

“After it was all said and done, I knew it helped me out and I thanked them for it.”

Now it’s Polk who is barking out the orders. He is surrounded by first-year starters in outside linebackers Randy Stella and Scott Shanle. Polk says they and the other young Huskers are picking up the defense quickly, without a whole lot of yelling on his part.

“You get a feel for guys. Some guys, they need to be yelled at. When I was younger, I needed to be yelled at,” he said.

The Huskers’ close call at Notre Dame, when the defense held the Irish to a field goal in overtime and allowed the offense to win it with a touchdown, was an invaluable lesson, Polk said.

“I think that game really brought us together. I don’t see a team beating us when we’re playing at this level,” he said. “Last year it took a loss to get that type of camaraderie”

Polk was referring to last October’s game at Texas, when the Longhorns kept it close in the first half and pulled off the upset. Nebraska didn’t lose again.

Polk predicts wins regularly and has never shied away from a microphone. He says what he thinks about the opponent, pushing it a little bit but not quite crossing the line to talking “trash.”

Bohl doesn’t worry about Polk saying too much.

“I think Carlos is a bright guy. He chooses his words wisely,” Bohl said. “He’s pretty effervescent, which is great. I think he represents our football program well.”

Polk, a sociology major who will graduate in December, likes to keep things light in the locker room. He isn’t afraid to belt out the occasional R&B; or oldies hit and has added the unofficial title of team singer to his responsibilities, although the rest of the Huskers would like to put it to a vote.

“I like singing. I think I’ve got a gift. Everybody else thinks I’m just torturing them,” Polk said. “It’s one of my flaws. I can’t sing--but I think I can.”

Polk can sing all he wants as long as he keeps playing and leading like he has been, Bohl said.

“He enjoys playing. He has fun. He’s encouraging. He has never asked somebody to do something he wouldn’t do,” Bohl said. “I’ve seen him run over and be a scout offensive guard. I’ve seen him run down on special teams and do all those things. He’s got a great sense of humor and he’s also got a very competitive spirit to him which people appreciate.”