Nebraska football: Rex Burkhead will fight it out with old teammate for carries
Former Nebraska football star Rex Burkhead thought he might be the man when he went to the Patriots. Now he’ll battle with Jeremy Hill once again.
When former Nebraska football star Rex Burkhead probably thought his competition with Jeremy Hill was over when he left the Cincinnati Bengals. Burkhead had been competing with Hill and other backs for carries and the former Husker was usually finding himself third or fourth on the depth chart.
While he certainly hasn’t been the only running back getting carries with the New England Patriots he certainly seemed a little bit freer to show people what it is he can do.
The signing of Jeremy Hill by the Patriots doesn’t change what Burkhead can do, but it does add another question market to the equation. Last season, the former Husker carried the ball 64 times for 264 yards and five touchdowns.
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The carries and yards were actually down from his last season with the Bengals thanks to injuries to Hill, among others. Where he really shone was as a kind of dual-threat and a receiving back.
While he actually had fewer carries than he did in his final year with the Bengals, he had a career-high in catches with 30. Those 30 carries went for 254 yards and three touchdowns.
Considering that particular skill isn’t one that Hill possesses, it’s a safe bet Burkhead could still put together a decent season. At the same time, if Jeremy Hill can get healthy, he could be quite the weapon.
The former Nebraska football star is going to have to deal with fighting it out with Hill for carries. The good news is that Rex Burkhead is someone who has never shied away from that kind of competition.