BOULDER — On Oct. 16, did Baylor’s explosive zone-read tandem of quarterback Robert Griffin III and tailback Jay Finley give Colorado’s defense an early dress rehearsal for what to anticipate Friday at Nebraska?
Griffin rushed for 137 yards and passed for 234, while Finley burst for 143 yards on just 14 carries in Baylor’s 31-25 victory at Folsom Field.
“Maybe that will help us,” CU senior linebacker B.J. Beatty said this week. “But there’s a difference. Baylor had two guys. Nebraska has more of a three-headed monster.”
That’s Nebraska redshirt freshman quarterback Taylor Martinez, who has rushed for 974 yards and 12 touchdowns while throwing for 1,435 yards and nine touchdowns; starting senior I-back Roy Helu Jr., who has run for 1,043 yards and 10 scores; and the Big 12’s top backup runner, sophomore Rex Burkhead, who has 721 yards and six scores.
Burkhead is now listed as a co-starter with Helu at I-back on the Nebraska depth chart. Helu set a school record with a 307-yard rushing performance Oct. 30 against Missouri. But Burkhead (nine carries for 74 yards) outgained Helu (9-52) on Saturday in the 9-6 loss at Texas A&M.
“With Nebraska, you can’t key on one guy or even two. You have to key on all three of those guys because they’re so talented,” Beatty said. “We have to make sure we stick to our assignments and not make mistakes.”
Huskers’ top receiver out.
Senior wideout Niles Paul, who leads Nebraska in catches (39) and yards receiving (516), was ruled out for the game against Colorado by Huskers coach Bo Pelini on Wednesday because of an unspecified foot injury that occurred in Tuesday’s practice.
Citing sources, the Omaha World-Herald reported that Paul has a broken foot and will be out at least a month.
Nebraska’s Coloradans.
Eight players with Colorado ties are listed on the NU roster, including two starters: senior defensive end Pierre Allen (Thomas Jefferson High School) and redshirt freshman offensive left tackle Jeremiah Sirles (Bear Creek). Others are senior defensive back Adam Watson (Niwot), junior fullback Ryan Hill (Arvada West), junior linebacker Austin Jones (Smoky Hill), redshirt freshman linebacker Colby Starkebaum (Sterling), freshman wide receiver Kenny Bell (Boulder) and freshman offensive lineman Mike Moudy (Douglas County).
Allen, 6-feet-5 and 265 pounds, ranks sixth on the team in tackles (47) and is second (10) in tackles for loss. He is completing his third season as a starter.
Tom Kensler, The Denver Post
