Zavier Betts paused, looking for the right words.
What changed in the freshman wide receiver's approach, a reporter asked him Wednesday, from spring ball to this fall?
Suddenly the answer flashed into his mind, like he hopes to flash open against opposing defenses this season.
"I’d say my desire to get better has grown a lot more since the spring," Betts said. "In the spring it was there, but it wasn’t as big and as deep as it should have been. And then over the summer I kind of found ways to improve that.
"So from then to now, I want to get better more."
Betts, after a record-setting career at Bellevue West, and a debut season in Lincoln that saw him flash his talent from time to time, didn't get the reps he wanted during spring ball.
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It was his own fault, he said, for not building on his 12-catch, 131-yard debut season that included a 45-yard catch-and-run for a score against Penn State.
"I didn’t do as well in the spring as I should have," Betts said. "So that was on me."
It's easier to get better, though, when your teammates are pushing the right buttons. Multiple times in recent weeks, some of Nebraska's most experienced players have mentioned Betts by name when talking about teammates poised for a breakout season.
That includes the guy who will be throwing Betts the ball.
"We’ve had a decent amount of personal conversations about what he means to this team, and what he can do for the unit and the team as a whole," NU quarterback Adrian Martinez said. "I think he’s a difference-maker. And not only him, there are other guys in that room as well.
Parker Gabriel and Steven M. Sipple talk Husker football in the latest Two-Minute Drill from Memorial Stadium.
"But I think letting guys know how much they mean to not only me as a quarterback but to this group — and that it’s bigger than just the individual — goes a long way."
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Betts has taken those words to heart as he tries to take a step forward in a Nebraska receiver rotation that many expect to be improved come this fall.
"Hearing it from my teammates and inside the program, that’s probably the best way for me to hear it because I like the positive feedback," Betts said. "And knowing that I’m doing better and they see that, and they’re acknowledging it, makes me feel good. So I want to play better and play harder for them."
Those are the opinions that matter, Betts said, not those that come from outside the program's walls about whether he can replicate what he was able to do up the road at Bellevue West.
Betts doesn't pay attention to much of the talk outside Memorial Stadium, save for one influential voice that helped set him on the right path this summer.
Parker Gabriel and Steven M. Sipple break down the four most notable takeaways after hearing from the Nebraska football team.
"I had a lot of conversations with my dad (over the summer). My dad’s kind of the one who points out some of the smaller details in my routes or in my releases that some of the coaches may not pick up on," Betts said. "So having conversations with him kind of gives me an outsider’s look, so that I can see what I can fix and what I can get better on."
Betts took the advice from his father, and the words of his teammates, and spent the summer running routes alone on a field near his house. He pays close attention to the other guys in his position group for things he can use himself.
Now, it's a matter of making it pay off.
"This year I know pretty much all of my stuff, compared to last year when I didn’t know anything and I had to ask questions about every play," Betts said. "So the fact that I know the majority of my stuff and can run it without asking questions makes me feel a lot better, and lets me run my routes a lot faster."
Photos: Huskers hit the field Wednesday morning for practice No. 5
Nebraska wide receiver Latrell Neville (7) runs a route during football practice on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, at Hawks Championship Center.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Nebraska running back Sevion Morrison (red jersey) blocks Luke Reimer during football practice on Wednesday, Aug. 4, at Hawks Championship Center.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Nebraska tight end James Carnie (81) eyes an incoming pass during football practice on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, at Hawks Championship Center.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Nebraska wide receiver Omar Manning (5) in action during football practice on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, at Hawks Championship Center.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Nebraska wide receiver Shawn Hardy (80) defends Omar Manning (5) during football practice on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, at Hawks Championship Center.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Nebraska wide receiver Kamonte Grimes (13) during football practice on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, at Hawks Championship Center.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Nebraska tight end Chris Hickman (87) eyes an incoming pass during football practice on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, at Hawks Championship Center.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Nebraska wide receiver Omar Manning (5) runs a route during football practice on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, at Hawks Championship Center.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Nebraska running back Jaquez Yant (red jersey) blocks Eteva Mauga-Clements (22) during football practice on Aug. 4 at Hawks Championship Center.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo
Nebraska wide receiver Latrell Neville (7) runs during football practice on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, at Hawks Championship Center.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Nebraska wide receiver Kamonte Grimes (13) during football practice on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, at Hawks Championship Center.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Nebraska running back Markese Stepp (red jersey) blocks Nick Henrich during football practice on Wednesday, August 4, at Hawks Championship Center.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Nebraska players runs sprints during football practice on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, at Hawks Championship Center.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Nebraska wide receiver Latrell Neville (7) during football practice on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, at Hawks Championship Center.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Nebraska running back Jaquez Yant (0) goes up against blocker Seth Malcom during football practice on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, at Hawks Championship Center.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Nebraska running backs Marvin Scott (bottom) and Sevion Morrison (28) in action during football practice on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, at Hawks Championship Center.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Nebraska running back Jaquez Yant (0) runs a drill during football practice on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, at Hawks Championship Center.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Nebraska wide receiver Will Noxon (12) runs sprints during football practice on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, at Hawks Championship Center.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Nebraska running back Sevion Morrison (28) prepares to run a drill as coach Scott Frost looks on during practice Aug. 4 at Hawks Championship Center.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star file photo
Nebraska wide receiver Omar Manning (5) runs sprints during football practice on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, at Hawks Championship Center.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Outside linebacker Randolph Kpai (30) watches teammates run drills during football practice on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, at Hawks Championship Center.
GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Safety Isaac Gifford (right) runs drills during football practice on Aug. 4 at Hawks Championship Center.
GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star file photo
Outside linebacker Pheldarius Payne (0) runs drills during football practice on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, at Hawks Championship Center.
GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Defensive lineman Ru'Quan Buckley (63) runs drills during football practice on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, at Hawks Championship Center.
GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Safety Isaac Gifford (23) runs drills during football practice on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, at Hawks Championship Center.
GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Defensive lineman Deontre Thomas (97) runs drills during football practice on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, at Hawks Championship Center.
GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Defensive lineman Ru'Quan Buckley (63) runs drills during football practice on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, at Hawks Championship Center.
GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Defensive lineman Deontre Thomas (97) runs drills during football practice on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, at Hawks Championship Center.
GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Cornerback Tyreke Johnson (1) is shown during football practice on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, at Hawks Championship Center.
GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Nebraska offensive lineman Jailen Weaver (50) runs drills during football practice on Aug. 4, 2021, at Hawks Championship Center.
JOURNAL STAR FILE PHOTO
Defensive lineman Ru'Quan Buckley (63) runs drills during football practice on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, at Hawks Championship Center.
GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Defensive lineman Jailen Weaver (50) runs drills during football practice on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, at Hawks Championship Center.
GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Defensive line coach Tony Tuioti encourages players during during football practice on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, at Hawks Championship Center.
GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Defensive players run drills during football practice on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, at Hawks Championship Center.
GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Nebraska defensive line coach Tony Tuioti runs drills during football practice on Aug. 4 at Hawks Championship Center.
GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star file photo
Defensive back Koby Bretz (26) runs drills during football practice on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, at Hawks Championship Center.
GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Inside linebacker Garrett Snodgrass (41) runs drills during football practice on Aug. 4 at Hawks Championship Center.
GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star file photo
Inside linebacker Nick Henrich runs drills during football practice Wednesday at Hawks Championship Center.
GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Outside linebacker Pheldarius Payne (0) runs drills during football practice on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, at Hawks Championship Center.
GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Defensive line coach Tony Tuioti leads drills during football practice on Aug. 4 at Hawks Championship Center.
GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Defensive lineman Deontre Thomas (97) runs drills during football practice on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, at Hawks Championship Center.
GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Defensive lineman Ru'Quan Buckley (63) runs drills during football practice on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, at Hawks Championship Center.
GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Safety Isaac Gifford will likely be in line for more playing time this weekend at Wisconsin.
GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Defensive lineman Deontre Thomas (97) runs drills during football practice on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, at Hawks Championship Center.
GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Defensive line coach Tony Tuioti watches the team warm up during football practice on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, at Hawks Championship Center.
GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Nebraska coach Scott Frost briefly addressed Wednesday's report that indicated he was a "key proponent" in trying to back out of the Oklahoma game.
GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Defensive lineman Deontre Thomas (97) runs drills during football practice on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, at Hawks Championship Center.
GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Cornerback Tyreke Johnson grabs a drink of water during football practice on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, at Hawks Championship Center.
GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Defensive linemen Damion Daniels (93) and Deontre Thomas (97) runs drills during football practice on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, at Hawks Championship Center.
GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Nebraska coach Scott Frost watches his team run drills Aug. 4 at Hawks Championship Center.
GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star file photo
Defensive lineman Ru'Quan Buckley (63) runs drills during football practice on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, at Hawks Championship Center.
GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Outside linebacker Pheldarius Payne (0) runs drills during football practice on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, at Hawks Championship Center.
GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Contact the writer at cbasnett@journalstar.com or 402-473-7436. On Twitter @HuskerExtraCB.
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