Burkhead shows versatility, brings back power run to NU offense

For a coach who rarely hands out praise, Bo Pelini sure had a lot to say about Rex Burkhead after Nebraska's win over Colorado.

"They ought to put his picture next to (football player) in the dictionary, because he just does so many things to help you," Pelini said. "He epitomizes what this program is all about."

That's some of the highest praise any Cornhusker not named Suh has earned from NU's coach in three years. After the game Burkhead had on Friday, though, he'd earned it.

With flashier playmakers Taylor Martinez and Niles Paul sidelined by injuries, the Huskers handed the keys of their offense to Burkhead and dusted off their power run playbook.

The sophomore I-back ran for 101 yards and a touchdown, threw for two more and made it clear Nebraska can score without Martinez in NU's Big 12 North-clinching 45-17 victory.

Burkhead continued to thrive as a versatile rushing threat in the wildcat formation, and NU offensive coordinator Shawn Watson introduced a new wrinkle in the offense by finally letting Burkhead throw out of the backfield.

On his first throw, he took a toss right and got Colorado's safety to jump the run. He lofted up a pass to receiver Brandon Kinnie, who beat one-on-one coverage for a 26-yard score.

"He'd thrown that pass all week long, just like you saw tonight," Watson said. "He can thread a needle, which he did on that one. That's a perfect throw."

His second one wasn't a perfect throw, but it was a perfect decision. Burkhead ran right and looked for Ben Cotton. He wasn't open, so Burkhead ran left. He stiff-armed a defender with his right hand, then moved the football from his left to his right and tossed a 4-yard touchdown to Kyler Reed.

As usual, Burkhead deflected any postgame praise and used his press conference podium time to commend everyone but himself. Watson called a great game. Kinnie made a great catch. Reed made a great adjustment. The offensive line did a great job.

Kinnie's trying to break him of that modesty. After Burkhead's first touchdown toss, the receiver approached Burkhead and asked, "Why are you so good, man?"

"He's a monster at everything," Kinnie said after the game.

Burkhead's ability to turn short runs into big gains on many of his team-high 19 carries had Husker quarterback Cody Green impressed.

"He ran like a man possessed," Green said. "For a guy his size, you kind of look at him and say, ‘Oh, what can he do?' That little guy has a knack for getting yards, not going down and playing so tenaciously."

The offensive game plan wasn't one prone to 80-yard runs and 10 yards per carry averages, but it moved the ball and didn't produce turnovers. Nebraska ran the ball 59 times and attempted only 19 passes.

"We wanted to come out here and pound the rock," NU offensive lineman Jeremiah Sirles said. "We wanted to not go back to basics, but use everything in our power game. We really came out there and controlled the tempo."

The offense did so by using two run plays over and over: Power 96 to the right, Power 97 to the left.

"Just straight ahead," Sirles said. "Plow your way. Make a hole and keep going."

Nebraska ran that play — both in standard formations and the wildcat – at least 20 times by Sirles's count. Burkhead couldn't remember how many times he heard it called.

"I don't even know — I lost track," he said. "It's great. The offensive line loves it, and as a competitor, you've got to love when your number's called."

That power run game produced a 10-3 win over Big 12 title game foe Oklahoma last season, but the Sooners' 47-41 win over Oklahoma State on Saturday means Nebraska might need to be ready for a shootout.

Paul won't be back for that game. Martinez might not, either. But Burkhead's do-everything versatility and reliability has his teammates confident a slowed-down offense can put up big points in Dallas.

"You've got to respect him in every way, with running the ball and throwing the ball," Sirles said. "That's a huge, huge, huge asset to our offense."

maxolson@dailynebraskan.com