The Nebraska football team started its week of preparation for Friday’s Heroes Game matchup against Iowa Hawkeyes on Monday. The team practiced in jerseys and helmets for approximately 90 minutes, splitting time between the Hawks Championship Center and outside on the Ed and Joyanne Gass Practice Field.

Friday’s game will kickoff at 10 a.m. (MST) and will be broadcast on AM 1400, KCOW, Alliance.

Offensive Coordinator Tim Beck addressed the media after practice, and talked about the challenges ahead for the Husker offense against the Hawkeyes defense.

“They are different schematically than Minnesota, they are well coached and very sound defensively.” Beck said, “They play a system their guys know, they are good at what they do.”

Beck also talked about the emergence two offensive threats in the passing game this year, Kenny Bell and Jamal Turner.

Bell, a sophomore from Boulder, Colo., has shown he can be an offensive star for the coming years for the Husker offense. Bell has recorded 44 catches this season for 789 yards and eight touchdowns, which all are career highs.

“Kenny has incredible ability,” Beck said. “He can be a great wide receiver for a long time.”

Turner has also impressed Coach Beck so far this season, recording 23 catches for 332 yards and two touchdowns. Most importantly Turner has caught 14 catches in the past five games, while scoring both of his touchdowns.

“His (Turner) route running skills are improving,” Beck said. “I don’t know if something has clicked so he understands how to get open now, it’s not just about getting open it is setting guys up and changing speed and using release technique.”