With their performances in Saturday's Red-White Spring game, Chris Butler and Judd Davies wouldn't mind if every game they played produced the same results.
Butler ran wild over the Red Team defense on Saturday, putting up 118 yards on 16 carries as the White squad's primary offensive weapon.
Davies wasn't in the spotlight as often for the Red team. But he capitalized on all of his chances, scoring touchdowns on both his rushing attempts.
Neither Davies nor Butler, both redshirt freshmen, were listed on the spring depth chart, proving just how much talent the Cornhuskers have at the I-back and fullback spots.
Butler's scored two touchdowns, one on a 1-yard dive and the other a 40-yard sprint down the west sideline.
Butler's impressive showing on Saturday wasn't even at 100 percent. He's been bothered by an abdominal injury for the entire spring. Butler said he only performed "at 80 percent on a good day" this spring with the injury. Butler is having surgery today.
"I began feeling it later on in the game," Butler said. "But you get the adrenaline rushing and the crowd and all that, and you kind of overlook it.
"I didn't let it stop me. Sometimes you get in a situation where you know you have something against you, but I didn't let it stop me."
This is the second straight spring game Butler has shined in. In last year's game as a redshirt, the Hoover, Ala., native, rushed for 57 yards and scored on a 47-yard touchdown run.
Running Backs Coach Dave Gillespie wasn't surprised Butler performed so well. But the top three spots at I-back are still occupied by Dan Alexander, Correll Buckhalter and Dahrran Diedrick. And Thunder Collins, held out of spring football for academic reasons, figures to have a shot with the top units next fall.
But certainly things can change.
"I don't know if you ever can say that any position is untouchable," Gillespie said. "But certainly Dan and Correll have their merit. But without yet evaluating the spring game, those three are certainly the top three. The other spots are up in the air."
Those spots may be even more up in the air at the fullback position, as Tyrone Uhlir has sat out the spring with an injury, and Davies, from Millard North High School, performed efficiently, with both rushing attempts ending up as touchdowns.
"Any time you touch the ball, the goal is to get in the end zone," Davies said. "Especially with the fullback position, you don't get that many touches."
Davies said he gained confidence this spring, but he wasn't totally satisfied with his all-around performance and was humble in the post-game press conference.
"I still got a lot to learn, but I'm getting better going into the fall," Davies said.
Coach Frank Solich said Davies doesn't give himself enough credit, especially after a two-touchdown performance.
"Judd doesn't have as far to go as maybe he thinks he does," Solich said. "He's tough, and he's got great size, strength and he can do a lot for us. He's going to be a great player for us."
The talent Davies and Butler have are important that far down in the depth chart, Gillespie said, especially at the I-back spot, which receives a lot of wear and tear during the season.
"An injury or two occurs there, and someone jumps right in," Gillespie said. "And that's a spot where you just can't have any guy. You've got to have a guy with ability."
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