Chris Weber started his career at Nebraska as a walk-on linebacker from Elkhorn just hoping to have a role on the team. On Friday, he’ll take the field for his final game as one of the Huskers’ most productive defenders this season, on and off the field.

The 6-foot-3, 240-pound inside linebacker has put up far and away the best individual campaign he’s had at NU, as he enters this week’s 2017 finale vs. Iowa boasting a team-high 88 tackles and eight tackles for loss, is second with five pass breakups and also recorded the first sack and interception of his career.

But what has made Weber so special is the fact that he’s arguably even more accomplished in the classroom.

Boasting a 3.96 GPA and having already been accepted into medical school at Nebraska, Weber is a three-time CoSIDA Academic All-District VII selection and a three-time Distinguished Big Ten Scholar.

He also recently became a finalist for the prestigious Campbell Trophy, awarded to college football's top student-athlete. If he wins, he’ll be just the third Husker to earn the honor, joining only Kyle Vanden Bosch (2000) and Rob Zatechka (1994).

“Listen, I can’t say enough things about Chris Weber,” NU defensive coordinator Bob Diaco said. “He’s such a special man. He’s going to serve as a leader in whatever organization he joins, whether it’s continuing in the business world or in football or in service.

“He is such a special guy. All top-charts intangibles and top-charts tangibles. Very smart, very tough, very caring, big heart, can see the big picture, artful communicator - just a special, special guy. I’m going to miss being around him for sure.”

Earlier this year at Big Ten Media Days in Chicago, junior safety Aaron Williams called Weber the smartest player he had ever been around.

That I.Q. for the game has allowed Weber to thrive during what has been a massively difficult transition for almost every other defensive player to Diaco’s 3-4 scheme this season.

Responsible to make all of the pre-snap calls and alignment adjustments for the entire defense, Weber has also been able to put together one of the best seasons by a Husker defender in years. With 12 more stops vs. Iowa, Weber would register NU’s first 100-tackle year since Zaire Anderson in 2014.

“Just from where I’ve come as a freshman, how I’ve grown up here,” Weber said when asked what he was most proud of in his college career. “I’ve come a long way and I really didn’t know what to expect when I came in as a freshman, if I’d ever even play here.

“Just the journey that it’s been, how I’ve grown up, the people that I’ve gotten to interact with. That’s what I’ll take away the most.”

Like all seniors getting ready to play their final game as a college football player, Weber said he wasn’t sure what his emotions would be like as he takes the Memorial Stadium field one last time.

“I guess I really don’t know how it’s going to feel running out on Friday,” Weber said. “I just want to play well, get a win, and go out the right way.”

- Robin Washut

When Adam Taylor committed to Nebraska in November of 2012, it looked like the table was set for him to become the next great Husker running back.

A four-star prospect ranked the No. 18 back in the country, Taylor was the best player on arguably the best high school team in Texas, as he ran for 2,754 yards and 45 touchdowns as a senior to lead Katy H.S. to a 16-0 record and a Class 5A Division 2 state title.

Because of Nebraska’s loaded backfield when he arrived, Taylor made the decision to redshirt his first season in 2013 and went on to earn Offensive Scout Team MVP honors.

From that point on, though, Taylor’s body would become his own worst enemy.

A brutal leg injury during fall camp ended his redshirt freshman season before it even began, essentially derailing what looked to be a such a promising career. Taylor played exclusively on special teams as sophomore, and then another injury setback limited him to just five games as a junior.

But while things never panned out on the field anywhere close to what Taylor and fans had hoped, it’s not as if the senior still hasn’t found a way to still make an impact.

“The senior who that have been most important to me in my process, I would say Adam Taylor,” junior running back Mikale Wilbon said. “He’s always been kind of in my corner, in my ear, just keeping me motivated, keeping me going.

“If I get discouraged about anything and he tells me the truth. Sometimes I don’t like it, but he’s going to tell me the truth and he’s been very encouraging to me.”

Despite a frustrating, injury-plagued career, Taylor has stuck it out in Lincoln and is on track to graduate in December with a degree in business administration.

The Houston-area native was also named to the 2017 Brook Berringer Citizenship Team and the Tom Osborne Citizenship Team for his extensive volunteer work in the community.

“That’s a good guy,” Wilbon said of Taylor. “All the things he’s been through - the injuries, some things in school, and then just a few months ago, Houston just had the hurricane (Irma). He’s been through a lot and for him just to stay positive…

“He’s got a good character and I want to just rub some of that from him to me. He’s been a good guy just towards me, my family and this program.”

- Robin Washut

Diaco spent four years of his collegiate playing career in Iowa City.

He started 23 games over his junior and senior seasons and was a two-time All-Big Ten selection at linebacker. For two years after that, he served as a graduate assistant under former Iowa coach Hayden Fry.

But Friday, for the first time in Diaco’s coaching career, he’ll see the black and gold on the other sideline.

“I haven’t even had an opportunity to go back (to Iowa City),” the former Hawkeye said. “The last time I was even in the stadium or around the stadium or around the team was in ’97, maybe ’98.”

Although Diaco was never in Iowa City at the same time as Hawks coach Kirk Ferentz, he said the two have stayed in touch, partly as a result of coaching at one another’s alma mater. (Ferentz played his college ball at Connecticut.)

Diaco said he has great respect for the entire Iowa program, but insists Friday’s game isn’t about him at all.

“For me, personally, what’s it going to be like (facing Iowa)? It’s the seniors. It’s the Nebraska football team. It’s the Nebraska football players,” Diaco said. “I have no other energy really left for any other feeling or emotion or anything.”

The architect of the Husker defense has never coached or played against Iowa or Nebraska. In Nebraska’s first six seasons in the conference, Diaco was as far removed from the Heroes Trophy series as a Big Ten football alum can be.

Yet after Tuesday’s practice, he echoed the sentiments of head coach Mike Riley in referring to the Hawkeyes as a rival. In immersing himself in red, he’s gotten a feel for what it truly means to see the black and gold on the other sideline.

“When you’re out and about, and based how the games have gone the last few years,” Diaco said, “I think it’s a very important game for the people of Nebraska – our players, our team and the people of Nebraska.”

- Matt Reynoldson

Diaco and linebackers coach Trent Bray emphasized that Iowa doesn’t run many plays, but they run them very well.

“It’s a carbon-copy, digital stamp over the course of the last 19 years since that coach (Kirk Ferentz) has been there,” Diaco said. “Big, physical, strong offensive line, large group of tight ends, a couple running backs and a quarterback that drives it.”

It’s no secret that Iowa wants to run the football against this Nebraska team. The Huskers are last in the Big Ten in scoring defense and second to last in the conference in rushing defense.

However, since the Hawkeye’s ran for 243 yards against Ohio State, they’ve only combined to rush for a combined 107 yards in their past two outings.

“They fit what they do into whatever the defense does,” Diaco said. “They seem to find the dent or the crack or the crease in the defense.”

In the Huskers' five Big Ten losses, they’ve given up an average of 47 points per game.

The good news for NU is that outside of wins over Ohio State and Illinois, the Hawkeyes have scored 19 or fewer points in their five other league contests. In fact, Iowa’defense has outscored its offense in its past two games.

“It’s whatever team shows up,” Bray said. “They want to run the ball, they want to run the ball right down at you, they are a good group of O-line and big skill players.”

- David Eickholt

***Head coach Mike Riley said wide receiver J.D. Spielman was still listed as questionable with a shoulder injury he re-aggravated during last week’s loss at Penn State.

***Spielman hasn’t practiced all week, but Riley said they were willing to wait as long as the needed to in order to give Spielman enough time to get ready to play.

***If Spielman can’t play, Keyan Williams and Gabe Rahn would be the next players up at slot receiver.

***Riley said running back Devine Ozigbo (ankle) should be OK to play on Friday and has had a full week of practice.

***Safety Aaron Williams (neck) and linebacker Chris Weber (neck) should also be good to play vs. Iowa.

***After holding the last practice with Nebraska’s 22 seniors on Thursday, Riley said the relationships he’s built with the group over the past three years is a perfect example of one the best aspects of coaching. He said the bonds he’s developed with those seniors will last a lifetime.

***Riley said that while Iowa is known for being a basic, power-running offense, the Hawkeyes’ system featured “a lot of stuff” with their play-action and run games.

***Nebraska will honor the late Bob Elliott during Friday’s game, and Riley said he’s still saddened that he didn’t get the chance to work with Elliott longer. Riley said he immediately connected with Elliott from the day they met, and he thought they would have become very good friends in time.