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LINCOLN, Neb.—Andy Christensen says he never doubted he would return to the Nebraska football team after being acquitted of first-degree sexual assault last year.

“I try to live my life the right way, and I know I didn’t do anything wrong. I guess the court system proved it,” Christensen told The Associated Press on Wednesday. “It was scary, but it’s in the past. I’m just looking forward to our season right now. I’m done with that stuff.”

Christensen, who hasn’t played in a game since September 2007, is battling Ricky Henry for the starting right guard job. The 23-year-old Christensen said he’s been taking most of the practice snaps with the No. 1 offense this week.

Offensive coordinator Shawn Watson said the 6-foot-3, 310-pound senior looks to be in the best shape of his life.

“He’s matured, really matured,” Watson said, “and I think he’s found a good place in his personal life and his playing life here with us.”

Coach Bo Pelini suspended Christensen before 2008 spring practice after Christensen was accused of molesting a woman at a Lincoln bar. He was reinstated after a jury found him not guilty last fall.

He was jailed over the holidays as part of his sentence for two charges related to the case—resisting arrest and criminal mischief—and he remains on probation until early 2010.

The experience was sobering.

“I don’t go out anymore,” Christensen said in his first public comments since his arrest. “I hang with my friends on weekends. They might go to the bar. I’ll drop them off and go back home a lot of the times. I try to cut all the bad influences out.”

Christensen graduated in 2008 with a degree in construction management, and he’s on track to finish his master’s in the same field next May.

He already has missed almost two full seasons because of injury, and he sat out last year because he was physically unable to play after the six-month suspension. Christensen said he ballooned to 330 pounds while he was away from football.

Driven to play one more season, he spent the spring and summer resculpting himself.

“One of the main reasons I came back was the guys on the team,” he said. “You just can’t replace the camaraderie. It’s strong, and it’s something you can’t really explain. I also wanted to come back and end things the right way.”

It would have been a surprise if Christensen had decided to not come back, offensive line coach Barney Cotton said.

“You only get one chance to play football, and that’s when you’re young,” Cotton said. “If it was me, the thought of going to work or giving it one more shot at playing ball, I’m playing ball. I think he’s made the right choice. He’s a good guy to have in the (locker) room.”

Christensen, from the Omaha suburb of Bennington, verbally committed to former coach Frank Solich in 2003 and signed as a member of ex-coach Bill Callahan’s first recruiting class. He redshirted in 2004, sat out the entire ’05 season with a shoulder injury and started eight games for the 2006 team that won the Big 12 North.

He suffered a season-ending knee injury in the third game of 2007, against USC, and then was suspended. He suited up for a few home games after being reinstated last season but didn’t get on the field.

Christensen is beginning his sixth year in the program after the NCAA granted him extra eligibility because of his injury history.

“If I would have played last season, I would have let myself down and probably the team,” he said. “Now I’m in position to contribute and be competent.”

Christensen said he hopes fans welcome him back, but he isn’t worried if some don’t.

“I’ve had all the support in the world,” he said. “I never lost any friends over any of this. I learned to keep people who care about me close, and I learned the people who care about you most won’t leave you in tough times.”

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