Lincoln – Fifteen Husker defenders took on a different look at Tuesday’s Nebraska football practice, donning Blackshirts for the first time in 2007. The coveted practice jerseys signify first-team defensive status and were placed in each player’s respective locker before they arrived on Tuesday.

Six Huskers earned the prestigious honor for the first time in their careers, including newcomers Armando Murillo (cornerback) and Larry Asante (safety), along with juniors Ty Steinkuhler (defensive tackle),  and Zach Potter (defensive end) and sophomores Ndamukong Suh (defensive tackle) and Phillip Dillard (linebacker).

“We put them in their lockers last night,” Defensive Coordinator Kevin Cosgrove said. “We’re just respecting the great tradition we have here with the Blackshirts at the University of Nebraska.”

Other players receiving Blackshirts were junior defensive end Barry Turner, senior linebackers Lance Brandenburgh, Corey McKeon, Steve Octavien and Bo Ruud and senior defensive backs Zack Bowman, Tierre Green, Cortney Grixby and Andre Jones.

Cosgrove noted that he saw some extra bounce from the Blackshirts during Tuesday’s 2 ½ hour practice inside the Hawks Championship Center.

“I think there are some guys who didn’t think they were going to get one, but we as a staff believed they earned them,” Cosgrove said. “Now it’s up to them to prove that they should keep them.”

Also announced on Tuesday, junior running back Marlon Lucky was named one of 51 candidates for the Doak Walker Award, a recognition reserved for the nation’s top running back. Lucky was named the a starter for Saturday’s season-opener against Nevada on the Nebraska depth chart, which was also released on Tuesday morning.

The Huskers will continue preparations for Saturday’s 2:30 p.m. season opener with Nevada with a Wednesday afternoon practice.