Less might be more for Rex Burkhead.
A season ago, Burkhead accounted for 73 percent of the carries by Nebraska’s running backs. His 284 attempts, which were two shy of the school record, resulted in Burkhead gaining 1,357 yards and scoring 15 touchdowns.
He did so with nary a complaint, not even after hearing his number called 35 times against Michigan State or a school-record 38 times against Iowa. Nebraska’s Mr. Dependable took every licking administered by opposing defenses in stride.
“You feel it,” Burkhead said, referring to the workload’s toll on body and mind.
“You don’t want to have that as an excuse or complain about it. I’m not going to lie to you; you feel it, but you try your best to push through it and perform like you always have.”
Burkhead (5-11, 210) heads into his senior season knowing that Tim Beck, Nebraska’s second-year offensive coordinator, is committed to taking some of the pressure off him. Beck might have to alter his plans just a bit after highly regarded sophomore Aaron Green decided to transfer at the end of the spring semester.
But Beck still has Ameer Abdullah, another fleet sophomore with unlimited potential, to spell Burkhead at I-back. Then there’s 250-pound Mike Marrow, an Alabama transfer who can play fullback and short-yardage tailback, and incoming freshman Imani Cross.
“It will definitely help in games, recovering from week to week and just staying fresh,” said Burkhead, referring to Beck’s desire to cut back on his carries. “You have to have multiple backs because it is a long season, especially in the Big Ten Conference.”
Burkhead earned first-team all-conference honors last season after finishing third in the league in rushing and 19th nationally.
He also was a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award, as well as an Academic All-American.
Burkhead, who logged seven 100-yard games as a junior, has amassed 2,654 rushing yards and has a chance to finish in the top five on the school’s career rushing chart.
“He’s a tremendous football player and great leader, and the kind of person you want to model your program around,” coach Bo Pelini said.
“But I think Rex will be the first one to tell you there are a lot of things he can do better. The more he plays, the more he grows in the game. He works so hard that I don’t see any reason why that won’t continue to happen.”