Ben Stille said he expressed sincere surprise when he saw a black practice jersey hanging in his locker Tuesday morning.
For the first time in weeks, Nebraska football coaches had awarded new Blackshirts for those defensive players they felt deserving. Defensive linemen Khalil Davis and Carlos Davis, cornerback Lamar Jackson and safety Tre Neal also earned new Blackshirts.
Then Stille, a redshirted sophomore defensive end from Ashland, remembered what his head coach, Scott Frost, had preached about accountability. He remembered the words from the mouths of former Blackshirt players Jason Peter and Grant Wistrom when they addressed the team in August.