Nebraska Linebacker Vincent Shavers Jr.: We Want to Blitz, Force Fumbles and Play Violent

Shavers has plenty of praise for coaching staff and their new schemes.

Nebraska linebacker Vincent Shavers Jr celebrates after a stop on third down. | Amarillo Mullen

Nebraska junior middle linebacker Vincent Shavers Jr. seemed thrilled to talk about the Huskers’ new scheme on defense and what they want to accomplish.

He also likes that new defensive coordinator Rob Aurich is a former linebacker at Minnesota Duluth.

“He played that position in college so I felt like that transferred over like him coming in playing linebacker like he used to play in this position you know what’s going on so I feel like that probably like made him work with us a lot,” Shavers said at a media availability Tuesday.

“I feel like that’s great because he called the plays and he worked with us. So, I feel like that’s kind of great to me.

“Just seeing that really shocks me a lot. It really opened my eyes. Like he played linebacker and he’s coaching the defense and calling the plays and he worked with us.”

Physicality, violence and turnovers

Shavers said the Huskers are emphasizing physicality and violence on the field and creating turnovers. Nebraska ranked 13th in the Big Ten in forcing turnovers in 2025.

“I felt like that’s a big step,” Shavers said. “Like coach Aurich came up with that so we got this little thing with our coaches, like certain coaches, we dap up and then we punch through their arm. 

“Just a mental thing like if you want to win games you got to turn the ball over. You got to force fumbles. You got to make plays on impact on the ball. So I feel he been putting out a lot in our heads with just punching out the ball and just being physical out there on the field.”

Nebraska linebacker Owen Chambliss has become a leader on the Huskers' defense. | Nebraska Athletics

Nebraska wants to be a physical defensive presence. Transfer linebackers Owen Chambliss (San Diego State) and Dexter Foster (Oregon State) seem to have helped solidify that part of the Huskers’ defense.

“Them boys nice, especially Owen,” Shavers said. “Owen, nice. I like how he communicate on the field, off the field, he stay on top of everybody. He a leader in my eyes.

“And Dex. Dex physical and violence. I like how he play with his hands … Contact, he run his feet very good. He violent. So, I like how both of them boys play.

“I feel like it’s going to fit the scheme very good. I like the defense we’ve been running. I like how the defense is just not even like as a whole unit. I like how we just playing as one. Like everybody flying to the ball.

“We playing physical, violence. Everybody communicating. We all on the same page. So, I like how the scheme working and I feel like it's going to be, we’re going to be … a great defense.

“I love Owen. I mean what I say. He a leader and he smart, very smart, like I'm talking about smart-smart like call a play out before it even happen. We just be in the game, he call out whatever … the play comes, so I feel like me and him going to click very good.”

Shavers healthy in 2026

Shavers played all 13 games in 2025, with 12 starts. He suffered a thumb injury with seven games to play and and wore a cast/club. Shavers had 61 tackles with 7.5 for loss, one sack and one forced fumble.

“I felt like at the linebacker's position, you need both your hands,” Shavers said. “Back with the club [protecting his thumb], it was kind of hard.

“I ain't going to lie. Like it was a struggle. Like just getting off a block, setting the edge. I feel like if you got both of your hands, you could be a dog that could change how you perform. I feel like with a club, it slow you down for how you can play on certain movement and certain schemes of the defense.

“So, I feel like me having both my hands feel like I'm back.”

Bllitzing Huskers

“I feel like blitzing is going to take us to another level,” Shavers said. “I work with Aurich, but I'm going to start working with Manny [edge coach Roy Manning]. It's coming soon.

“He get on us a lot about countering. Like you make a move, but when you get past that quarterback, you got to counter to make the sack. That's how you get a lot of sacks in college football, like a layup. 

“So, I feel like that’s what I’ve been learning a lot, just countering my moves, finishing a move, finishing the rep.

Nebraska linebacker Vincent Shavers Jr., defends against Utah quarterback Devon Dampier in the Las Vegas Bowl. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

“What’s stood out to me the most is he [Aurich] move me around the field a lot. I like that and I like how he saying pressure to go get the quarterback. We ain’t playing patient yet. We playing fast, physical football out there and violent.

“He's funny. He bring that juice. Not even on the field, but off the field, too. He bring that with the meetings, he be juiced up. So, I love Coach Aurich.

“I love how he come attack every day at practice and meetings just like detailed. He wanted to be detailed and technical and be all on the same page and communicating. So I feel like that move us a lot as a linebacker room one step ahead.

“I love Coach [Matt] Rhule. Coach Rhule’s a role model on the field and off the field. I look at him as like a father.”

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