Burkhead returns, adds depth to running-back position

Daily Nebraskan

W hen Rex Burkhead suffered a foot injury following the Nebraska win against Missouri in early October, he was told by the training staff that it would be six games before he would be able to play again.

Five-and-a-half weeks later, that prognosis changed for the true freshman running back.

"I ran on (the foot) Tuesday, and it went well, and I didn't feel anything," Burkhead said. "On Wednesday, I didn't even know I was going to practice, but the trainer called me up because I ran the day before, and he said I was cleared to practice."

Nebraska offensive coordinator Shawn Watson said the addition of Burkhead to the practice field last Wednesday gave the Cornhusker offense an extra spark.

"Everybody was excited to get him back out there. He's a spark plug," Watson said. "I can't wait to get out there and get to work with him this week."

Burkhead's 21 yards rushing on six carries against Kansas State on Saturday night didn't exactly jump off the stat sheet, but the NU running back said the last thing he was worried about were his personal numbers.

His return to the field resembled that of NU quarterback Kody Spano, who tore his ACL in August after coming back from the same injury earlier than expected. Spano was also said to have looked good in limited time at practice before reinjuring his knee.

Burkhead acknowledged the similarity between the two injuries, which caused him to be cautious on the field in practice.

"It did take a couple cuts (for me to get comfortable)," Burkhead said. "I was kind of hesitant on it at first because I was knowing it was there. It was in the back of my head."

Getting those reps in practice gave Burkhead the confidence he needed against Kansas State. That confidence carried over to his position coach Tim Beck, who said he wasn't concerned about Burkhead's return.

"He looked pretty good, didn't he?" Beck said. "He did a great job with our training staff, and they cleared him. We thought we'd get him back Monday for Colorado, but the doctor felt like three to four days wasn't going to make that much of a difference."

While the addition of Burkhead adds much-needed depth to Nebraska's running back position, Beck said he wasn't about to discredit what Dontrayevous Robinson has been able to do in Burkhead's absence. Beck was pleased with Robinson's performance through the past five weeks and said he isn't planning on reducing his role in the Husker offense.

"He did a really good job for us in there," B eck said. "I felt really comfortable with him, and he did a great job in (Burkhead's) absence. Sometimes it's hard to sub those guys — sometimes you lose track of that. He's still a vital part of that rotation."

Both Burkhead and Robinson had played in six games coming into the KSU game, with Robinson having a little bit more success, rushing for 170 yards compared with Burkhead's 139. Beck said splitting up reps between his three backs will be a good problem to have as the Huskers prepare for Colorado on Friday.

Head coach Bo Pelini said the return of Burkhead will do only good things for his team as they gear up for Colorado and the Big 12 Championship.

"He's a heck of a player," Pelini said. "And a leader for a freshman by the way he goes about his business and the way he plays football. It's pretty special; him coming back. He's a pretty special young man."

spencerschubert@dailynebraskan.com