With 4th all time rusher Roy Helu graduating, the weight of his production in the offense falls predominately on the experienced shoulders of Rex Burkhead.
Burkhead, the Plano, TX native, will be a junior this year, his first time to be in the spotlight without sharing it with Helu. Burkhead played as a true freshman as the primary back up for Helu and as a return specialist. His freshman year was cut short by five games due to a foot injury. He piled up 360 yds, on 81 carries, with 3 TDs during his freshman campaign. Burkhead’s best game came in the last game of the regular season against Colorado where he rushed for 100 yds. on 18 carriers. Burkhead quickly became a sensation to Husker fans, because he was blue collar player that would take the hit to you and you would almost never take him down behind the line of scrimmage.
Burkhead had high expectations coming to his sophomore season and he answered the challenge. He knew he earned himself more playing time since he proved himself from the year before. Burkhead was not the starter when the season started, he would split time with Helu. Burkhead and Helu were used intermittently in the offense and it had a great deal of success. He ran for 951 yds. on 172 carries, with 7 TDs, he also caught 15 passes for 148 yds, and complete 3 passes on 4 attempts for 3 TDs. Burkhead has the most production came on first downs and in the fourth quarter after the defense had began to tire while he was relentless. He ran for 487 yds. on 87 carriers and 3 TDs, on 1st downs, that is 51% of his total rushing yards. In the fourth quarter he ran for 289 yds, on 49 carriers for 1 TD, showing that when it counts he is ready to win it.
Burkhead was called to run the Wildcat formation last year due to injuries with Taylor Martinez. Burkhead thrived running the Wildcat, he threw 3 TD passes and at times, the Burkhead run offense looked better than the one led by Martinez. Burkhead’s ability to run the Wildcat made him even more versatile which made him receive more playing time. He took many snaps out of it against Iowa State which led him to his career high in rushing yards in a single game of 129 and he added two touchdowns.
With Martinez not being a traditional drop back passer and needing more time to develop his arm. Burkhead will get the call more to put the team on his back to carry them to victory. With freshmen, Aaron Green and Ameer Abdullahm, coming onto the team, they will provide the speed to bring a change of pace to Huskers run game. Sophomore Braylon Heard will also be in the running after being academically ineligible last season due to a low ACT score, he is now fully enrolled and ready to compete. It is plain and simple, the more times Burkhead touches the ball, the more likely the Huskers will win their games.
Written by Greg Ling