Top 5 Big Ten Position Battles Heading Into Spring Practice

Nov 22, 2014; Lincoln, NE, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers receiver De

2. Nebraska Cornhuskers-Running Back

The bailout player for the Nebraska Cornhuskers football team over the past three years, Ameer Abdullah, is finally gone, and new head coach Mike Riley and company are left with the burden of finding his replacement before taking any further steps.

Obvously, Riley could change up the system and find by-committee starters, especially since he came from a more pass-friendly area in the Pac-12 North, which Oregon State was a part of. But even with a pass-offense, a coach’s dream is that running back that is a great runner and makes lots of plays out of the backfield in the flats to bail out quarterbacks and coaches from bad decisions.

Abdullah was just that.

The closest to Abdullah is Imani Cross, who has more than 5 yards per carry and more than 1,100 yards as he enters his senior year this year. Riley could probably use him to make an immediate impact.

The Cornhuskers picked up two running backs in this year’s recruiting class, but they also have more diverse players such as Terrell Newby, Adam Taylor, and other guys to compete this spring.

The best bet is probably on Cross to be the starter, but it is not a sure one.

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