 "Photo: Chris VanKat")
MANHATTAN, Kan. - Three games into Nebraska's Big 12 Conference season, Brandon Jackson is upping the ante.
In the Cornhuskers' 21-3 victory over Kansas State on Saturday, the junior running back did what his three counterparts -sophomores Marlon Lucky and Cody Glenn and junior Kenny Wilson - have yet to accomplish.
While all four running backs have broken the 100-yard rushing mark - Lucky accomplishing the feat twice - none have come close to 100 yards in the first half.
Well, except Jackson, who ran for 91 yards on 15 carries in the first half against the Wildcats.
But following the Nebraska victory, Jackson was more than willing to compliment his NU offensive linemen and their blocking for his success.
"They were key just like last week (against Iowa State)," Jackson said. "They hit their blocks, they pushed them back, and they did it just enough to get me the seams so I could bust out."
With Jackson's statistics to prove their execution against the Wildcats - and the general success of NU running backs this season - the Husker O-line seems to be backing up its preseason statement of depth.
Against KSU, junior Brett Byford started in place of senior Kurt Mann, who is still recovering from mononucleosis. Mann entered the game in the second quarter, playing for the first time since Nebraska's 49-10 win over Louisiana Tech on Sept. 2.
Also recently out with a knee injury he sustained against Iowa State was left guard Greg Austin. Sophomore Andy Christensen stepped into the injured senior's starting spot Saturday.
Though it was his first career start, Christensen denied any sort of nervousness against the Wildcats, saying he has been groomed for the moment with plenty of playing time during the past couple weeks.
"It felt pretty good," Christensen said. "I wasn't nervous. The last couple games I've gotten in on the second series, so I've been used to getting into games early. I just went out there and played."
Both Jackson and Christensen agreed the Wildcats' front four were fairly aggressive, flowing quickly to the ball on their pass-rush and stoutly defending against NU's attempted runs.
But for Jackson, this just meant running outside the Husker tackles and racking up yards with backside cut options.
Notching a 48-yard run, his longest of the night, on the fifth play of the first quarter, Jackson said the backside cut proved the most effective against Kansas State.
"Coach (Randy Jordan) talks about how we should stay on our track and look for the backside cut, and it was there," Jackson said. "I tripped over myself, or I could have had a touchdown, but you know it's all about moving the ball and getting the first down."
Jackson said the overall consistency of the line is proof of the Huskers' depth, adding that each of the linemen stepping in have done so without any drop-off in ability.
But Christensen was less apt to praise his unit, saying that while there have been good plays, a lot of work remains.
"The offensive line - it starts up front," Christensen said. "Tonight we did a good job opening holes on some plays, but there's always stuff we can work on. We're going to get better. We want to get those backs some more yards in the future."
