The Cornhuskers are 7-3 (4-2) with wins over Louisiana-Lafayette and Oklahoma and at Missouri and losses at Virginia Tech and to Texas Tech and Iowa State. The Cornhuskers are coming off of a season in which they went 9-4 (5-3).
QB Zac Lee is completing 60% of his passes for 1,692 yards with 11 touchdown passes (4 vs. Arkansas State) and 6 interceptions (3 vs. Iowa State). Lee split time with freshman Cody Green on Saturday (31-17 W over Kansas), going 5-9 for 35 yards and a touchdown. Green is completing 56% of his passes for 317 yards with 2 touchdown passes (1 vs. Louisiana-Lafayette and 1 vs. Texas Tech) and 2 interceptions (1 vs. Texas Tech and 1 at Baylor).
RB's Roy Helu Jr. and Dontrayevous Robinson have rushed for 1,121 yards on 205 carries (5.5 yards/carry) and 10 touchdowns this season. Helu Jr. has been battling a shoulder problem this season but appears to have gotten things figured out these last couple of weeks rushing for 294 yards and 2 touchdowns over the last two weeks. Robinson did not see action this season until the Iowa State game when he had his best game (77 yards on 15 carries and a touchdown). He also caught 3 passes at Baylor.
Helu Jr. and Robinson will run behind an offensive line that starts a sophomore (RT Marcel Jones), 3 juniors (LT Mike Smith, LG Keith Williams and RG Ricky Henry) and a senior (C Jacob Hickman). It is an offensive line that has allowed Lee to be sacked 12 times and Green to be sacked once.
WR Niles Paul and TE Mike McNeill have averaged 15.6 yards/catch on 50 catches for 778 yards and 6 touchdowns this season. Paul had a breakout game at Kansas where he caught 4 passes for 154 yards. He also has had 100 yard days at Missouri and vs. Iowa State. McNeill had his best game vs. Arkansas State where he caught 4 passes for 57 yards and two touchdowns. His numbers won't jump out at you but he is a very steady and consistent receiver.
Defensively, the Huskers are lead by DT Ndamukong Suh. Last season Suh became the first Nebraska defensive linemen to lead the Huskers in tackles since 1973. He is up for every defensive honor and can not only stuff the run but he also returned 2 INT's for touchdowns a year ago and he lines up on offense in goal line situations catching a touchdown pass a year ago. The secondary is where the experience on defense comes from. SS Larry Asante was second on the team in tackles last season (behind Suh).
