Going into his senior season, it’s boom or bust for Nebraska linebacker Josh Banderas.

The former U.S. Army All-American hasn’t had the production level he would’ve liked the last three seasons. He knows it, as does linebackers coach Trent Bray.

Banderas came into camp a healthier 240 pounds, compared to the 250 to 253 pounds he weighed a year ago. He’s playing faster at his new weight and that was evident by his performance in this past Saturday’s scrimmage.

The Lincoln native arguably made one of the better defensive plays of the scrimmage when he tackled sophomore running back Devine Ozigbo for a 4-yard loss in backfield on a first down running play.

Bray has been very pleased with the way his senior middle linebacker has played thus far.

“Josh is very motivated so you don’t have to challenge him that way,” Bray said. “What we want him to do is understand that when the players and the captains take ownership of a team, that’s when you have success. That was the thing for Josh, this is your team, you’re a senior, take control of it. It’s going to go the way you want to go.”

Bray added he’s noticed a big difference in his play at the lighter weight.

“He’s another guy that’s 240 pounds but he was 12 or 11 percent body fat so you talk about being lean and still having size, just moving right away he’s doing better,” Bray said. “His ability to have more endurance and play more plays at full speed increases as well.

“It’s really just changing the body to be more productive on the field. That’s been the biggest thing in the off-season that as a linebacker group we tried to change.”

Banderas, along with sophomore Dedrick Young and junior Marcus Newby manned the No. 1 linebacker positions on defense and they all had strong showing in the scrimmage on Saturday. Senior Michael Rose-Ivey has been limited with a knee injury at this point.

Besides that group, both junior Chris Weber and sophomore Luke Gifford have also been praised for their play in camp. Overall it’s been one of the more impressive groups on the defense.

“I am so encouraged by that linebacker group from what it looked like when we came here to what it is today,” head coach Mike Riley said following Saturday’s scrimmage. “There’s a lot of good leadership in that group.

“The depth, which was a question mark a year ago looks like it could be a strength for the Huskers. That’s exciting.”