I-backs’ superior performances ensure stiff competition for starters

No Helu, no problem.

Despite being held back by intentionally vanilla play-calling, Nebraska's collection of I-backs more than made up for the absence of its speedy starter in Saturday's Red-White Spring Game.

Though his stat line was rather pedestrian — seven carries for 33 yards — I-back Quentin Castille displayed the same explosive running style that netted him a career-high 125 yards in a Gator Bowl win against Clemson.

"He showed that off in the bowl game. He's got it," said offensive coordinator Shawn Watson.

Castille, who rushed for 467 yards and six touchdowns last fall, still prefers running over defenders than around them but feels more comfortable on the edge than ever before.

"I'm more confident in myself about it, but I'm still going to be that bruising back," Castille said. "But if (a play) calls for me to take it outside, I'll do it."

The fact that he was facing teammates Saturday didn't stop the 6-foot-1, 235-pound Castille from bowling opponents over.

Just ask safety Rickey Thenarse, whom Castille victimized during a play in the first half.

"It happens. I just get in that groove sometimes where that part of my running style takes over me,"

Castille said. "I don't try to hold back all the time."

When Roy Helu Jr. went down early in the Gator Bowl, Castille enjoyed a breakout performance highlighted by a career-long 58-yard run.

Helu, now 15 pounds heavier than his playing weight last season but noticeably faster, impressed coaches during spring practices until a minor hamstring injury forced him to the sideline.

Castille was relegated to a rather limited role in the game. He only played in the first half and, when he did see the field, ran simple counters and draw plays.

The simple play-calling was part of Watson's plan to conceal NU's real offensive plans from opponents and, as he put it, keep them from getting "out on the Internet."

"We held back a lot," Castille said. "When I was in, we ran three plays where it was the same running play and two different pass plays. We kept running those same plays and just flipped them."

Castille's increased speed is due in part to dropping five to 10 pounds in the off-season. He's now 30 pounds lighter than when he first stepped on campus in 2007.

"Quentin's lost weight and gotten himself down, and he's played really well for us," Watson said.

Behind Castille, a trio of young running backs took advantage of their opportunity to get an edge on the third-string spot, led by Collins Okafor.

Okafor, a redshirt freshman from Omaha, slipped through a hole on the right side of the offensive line and scored on a 33-yard scamper in the fourth quarter. He finished the day with a game-high 79 rushing yards on 11 carries as Castille's backup on the Red team.

"Collins Okafor impressed me," Watson said. "Collins has had a tough spring in that he's had so much to learn and he's really fought it. I'm really proud of him because he came out today and he's learning how to play at this level."

Austin Jones and Lester Ward combined for 91 rushing yards for the White squad, both making cases for the No. 3 role.

Jones, who earned the start, showed toughness on his inside runs and shifty running on a nine-yard shovel pass from quarterback Latravis Washington early in the first quarter.

Though Ward committed the game's only turnover — a fumble late in the second quarter — the 6-foot-3, 215-pound redshirt freshman led the White team with 53 rushing yards.

"I feel real, real good about them," Castille said. "All three of the younger guys, they're some good backs. They're more competitive than most people think, they really are."

This summer, NU will add touted freshmen Rex Burkhead and Dontrayevous Robinson to further deepen its stable of rushers.

"We got some talent coming in too, so there's going to be a lot of competition there at the running back position," Coach Bo Pelini said.

maxolson@dailynebraskan.com