Nebraska GM Pat Stewart on 'pleasant surprise' transfer, Rob Aurich's defense, new-look lines

But the junior receiver has been a “pleasant surprise” beyond that, Husker general manager Pat Stewart said Thursday night on the Huskers Radio Network.

Gilmer, 6-foot-2, 195 pounds, is “twitched up,” Stewart and gets in and out of breaks “really well.” His frame is “thicker” than Stewart, now his second year at NU as GM.

“He’s a bona fide leader on offense,” Stewart said. “Doesn’t have to say a lot but when he does it carries weight. That’s been a really pleasant surprise.”

Stewart said Gilmer, Nyziah Hunter and Jacory Barney “set the tone” in the receiver room with their work ethic. Stewart is “very bullish” on Barney as a returner and receiver.

“Really good route runner,” Stewart said. “Super tough, too.”

Quinn Clark is “everything you want it to look like” at receiver, even as he continues to adjust to tracking balls downfield.

More notes from Stewart’s chat:

»Stewart, who worked with coach Matt Rhule in the NFL’s Panthers organization, admitted a bit of initial skepticism at “some things” in new defensive coordinator Rob Aurich’s vision before understanding what Aurich wanted to do with personnel.

“I’ll be honest, there were some things we talked about early on where I was, ‘uh, I don’t know if I agree with that,’” Stewart said. “But the way we play, I see it. We’ll get better and better at assembling the personnel that matches what we’re going to do scheme-wise, and I think we’ve done a pretty job of that so far. I’m interested to see how they look defensively. I’m really excited for it.”

»Linebacker Owen Chambliss has been “rehabbing a little bit” a hamstring injury. He’s the quarterback of the defense, Stewart said, and is “really smart, really cerebral.”

Dexter Foster is physical and a “really good tackler,” Stewart said and good in coverage. He’s a “versatile” complement to Vincent Shavers.

»Cornerback Victor Evans III has “exceeded expectations” after transferring in from Florida International, and while Nebraska added Jamir Conn a few months before Stewart’s hiring, Stewart likes having Conn around. Conn’s character showed, Stewart said, late in the loss to Minnesota.

“It’s one my lasting images from last year, we’re getting beat by Minnesota, and Jamir’s still out there stroking people,” Stewart said. “He didn’t quit. That’s just who he is. He’s relentless.”

»What Nebraska coaches saw on film of Jahsear Whittington and Owen Stoudmire, Stewart said, is what they got in camp. Stoudmire, injured upon his arrival at NU, “did a great job” getting in shape, Stewart said and will “play a little bit more laterally along the line of scrimmage.” Whittington is “quick twitch” and will be a “factor against the pass.”

The market for defensive linemen was “deep” and “very competitive.” It’s not something Stewart sees changing.

“You want established players along your trenches,” Stewart said. “So the more guys we can bring in behind Jahsear and Owen, we’ll continue to do it, and develop the guys behind them and keep working at it.”

Nebraska does not have Myles Garrett, Stewart said, but does have 10-12 guys who can be “productive” in a mix-and-match system.

“There’s a bunch of complimentary pieces,” he said.

Defensive end Anthony Jones is “more twitchy” than Stewart expected and can be “versatile on the edge.”

Sophomore Williams Nwaneri has been “excellent” for “a lot of snaps in camp.” Now it’s a matter of consistency.

»Mobility was a kind of a “nonnegotiable” when Nebraska went looking for a quarterback, Stewart said. That’ll be the case going forward, as well, as NU recruits prep or transfer QBs.