Maurice Washington, who is facing legal troubles in his home state of California (including a felony charge of distribution of child pornography), will be a “limited participant” at practice. Head coach Scott Frost said that he “hopes for more clarity” soon and that the decision on Washington status with the team won’t be unilaterally decided. It will be made by the University and Frost once more of the details come to light.

Frost stated that he only knew that Washington was wanted for questioning but “knew very little beyond that” back when investigators first contacted the athletic department last fall.

Wan’Dale Robinson will primarily play at receiver but will receive reps at running back as well, according to Frost. Depth at running back will be thin. Without the incoming freshmen and Washington’s legal status in question, Jaylin Bradley and Wyatt Mazour are the only running backs on scholarship for Spring ball.

Both Frost and new defensive line coach Tony Tuioti seem impressed with one another. “Tony is a great addition,” Frost said on Tuesday. “Tony is as good a guy as we can hire to bring in here. We talked to a lot of people… we just felt like Tony was the best fit.”

The transition will be smooth. Tuioti coached in the 3-4 at Cal and he’ll coach the same scheme at Nebraska. He’s coached in the Big 10 as well, having been the director of player personnel at Michigan in 2016. He emphasized to reporters that he was focused on stopping the run on Tuesday. Not even the weather will come as a shock either, as his time in Cleveland coaching with the Browns had him prepared for the blisteringly cold Lincoln weather.

In other news and notes:

There’s a new cell phone policy set by the coaches that players must turn in their phones during meetings to help keep them focused.

Frost said he’s as “big of a Bill Moos (NU’s athletic director) fan as you’ll find. Frost said he might not be at Nebraska if not for Moos.

Adrian Martinez will need to embrace a leadership role “whether he wants to or not,” Frost said. The Heisman hopeful has been receiving plenty of buzz both locally and nationally in the lead up to his sophomore campaign. With only one proven player in his receiving corps in J.D. Spielman, Martinez will need to grab the reins on offense and not let go.

QB Luke McCaffrey has been catching people’s attention on the practice field already. Frost said the freshman from Highlands Ranch, Colorado “really surprised” him.

Jovan Dewitt, Nebraska’s special teams and outside linebackers coach is struggling with a type of cancer in his throat. “He’s certainly fighting a fight that’s bigger than any game we’ll fight this fall,” Frost said. Frost said in the short term, defensive coordinator Erik Chinander will step in and help out.

(Photo – Kenny Larabee)