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Official Husker Locker Blog
2009 Oct 13
Huskers Lose Burkhead to Foot Injury
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Nebraska’s running backs corps just got a little thinner for Saturday’s Texas Tech game.
NU head coach Bo Pelini announced Tuesday at his press conference that true freshman Rex Burkhead injured his foot in practice Monday and would not play against the Red Raiders.
“He’s going to be out for awhile,” Pelini said. He did not specify how long. “…Anytime you have a good football player out, you’re gonna miss him. We’ll be all right. I feel worse for the kid. He’s a prideful, tough kid.”
Sai quarterback Zac Lee: "It'll be a blow. But we've got other guys we have confidence in. I'm pretty confident they'll make the best of their opportunity."
That does not necessarily mean starter Roy Helu – who seemed to suffer a shoulder injury late in the Mizzou game – will get more of the work at the position. While Pelini said Helu had “no issues” in returning to practice Monday, but Austin Jones, Lester Ward, Collins Okafor, Traye Robinson and Marcus Mendoza have moved up the depth chart.
“Still gonna have other guys in there playing,” Pelini said. “Whoever earns it.”
Said Lee: Roy's stud. Roy can take whatever we can put on him, honestly. But it's always nice to have a second guy."
Of Nebraska's 120 running back carries, 114 of them were by Burkhead or Helu. Jones has three, while Ward, Mendoza and Okafor each have one.
See also: 50 Husker Fans, 50 States: Pittsburgh
NU head coach Bo Pelini announced Tuesday at his press conference that true freshman Rex Burkhead injured his foot in practice Monday and would not play against the Red Raiders.
“He’s going to be out for awhile,” Pelini said. He did not specify how long. “…Anytime you have a good football player out, you’re gonna miss him. We’ll be all right. I feel worse for the kid. He’s a prideful, tough kid.”
Sai quarterback Zac Lee: "It'll be a blow. But we've got other guys we have confidence in. I'm pretty confident they'll make the best of their opportunity."
That does not necessarily mean starter Roy Helu – who seemed to suffer a shoulder injury late in the Mizzou game – will get more of the work at the position. While Pelini said Helu had “no issues” in returning to practice Monday, but Austin Jones, Lester Ward, Collins Okafor, Traye Robinson and Marcus Mendoza have moved up the depth chart.
“Still gonna have other guys in there playing,” Pelini said. “Whoever earns it.”
Said Lee: Roy's stud. Roy can take whatever we can put on him, honestly. But it's always nice to have a second guy."
Of Nebraska's 120 running back carries, 114 of them were by Burkhead or Helu. Jones has three, while Ward, Mendoza and Okafor each have one.
See also: 50 Husker Fans, 50 States: Pittsburgh
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Home > Blogs > Official Husker Locker Blog > Huskers Lose Burkhead to Foot Injury
Okafor is a monster and he is ready to perform, he played extremely well in the red white game, give him the ball and he will move the sticks!
– Oct 15, 2009
Question is...who steps up? Mendoza, Ward, Okafor, Jones? One or two of these guys playing time just increased dramatically. Hope they are ready...
– Oct 13, 2009
Gotta be kidding me. That kid's got more try in him than most. We'll be fine. Kinda interested to see who gets some snaps.
– Oct 13, 2009
What a shame. Burkhead loooked like a good strong runner at Missouri.
– Oct 13, 2009
Ouch! I do believe one of the other backs will step up and seize this opportunity though. Get healthy Rex!
– Oct 13, 2009
Glad Helu had "no issues". But gotta wonder if Helu could easily re-injur his shoulder during a game. Then we do we go to?
– Oct 13, 2009
Damn Damn!
– Oct 13, 2009
Damn.
– Oct 13, 2009