Nebraska Beats Missouri 31-17 Behind Roy Helu’s Record Day

Things looked pretty scary there for a second when the Cornhuskers' lead was cut to ten, but Roy Helu Jr. has come to the rescue once again.

Missouri took their second possession of the half all the way to the house to temporarily cut Nebraska's lead to 24-10. For the record, the drive ended with a 23-yard pass from Blaine Gabbert to T.J. Moe (great name), Gabbert's first of the day.

With Taylor Martinez out, the Cornhuskers went to Roy Helu Jr. on the next drive. Needless to say, he delivered.

Already with touchdown runs of 66 and 73 yards, Helu Jr. it the hole and went 53 yards for yet another touchdown. That gives him a career-high 228 yards on 10 carries (that's a 22.8 yard average, folks), the majority of which has come on those three runs. He ended up finishing the day with 307 yards rushing against the #6 ranked Missouri team.

Missouri came into the game allowing only 114.6 yards on the ground every game, and shut down DeMarco Murray last week. So much for that.

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High Hopes For Helu

There were moments last year when Roy Helu looked so effortlessly evasive, he kept you from remembering he was playing hurt.

There was the 63-yard burst through the heart of Oklahoma's highly-rated run defense in the second quarter of Nebraska's thrilling upset last November, when he cut sharply and accelerated to full speed before the Sooners could react.

A week later, he had that 30-yard, victory-sealing sideline scamper against Kansas, bursting by diving Jayhawks on a slow-developing, third-down toss play. Helu scored the game's final touchdown later on the drive, wincing in pain and clutching his shoulder as he trotted off the field.

The Kansas State game sticks out, too. Helu's longest run was 18 yards, when he tripped over Ricky Henry's foot at the line of scrimmage, but gathered himself, angled toward the sideline and stiff-armed a Wildcat free safety on his way out of bounds. He finished that contest just five short of a third straight 100-yard game.

Yes, Helu had his moments. There's no denying that.

It makes one ponder the season-long playmaking potential of a healthy Helu, the shifty and explosive I-back who tallied 1,147 rushing yards despite an injury-filled junior season.

But here's the reality check: Helu won't ever be 100 percent during the season. No top running back is.

His objective as a senior veteran is to figure out how to make contributions - like he did against Oklahoma, Kansas and Kansas State - every time out. Even when the pain seems unbearable.

"When he put his mind to the fact that he was going to go out and play no matter what, he was pretty good," running backs coach Tim Beck said. "In fairness to Roy, it was the first time he was a full-time, 20- to 25-carry guy. And I think it shocked him maybe a little bit."

So much so, that Helu went missing a couple of times last year.

He had five carries, 24 yards and two lost fumbles against Iowa State. He ran seven times for 24 yards the next week against Baylor.

In Nebraska's final two games of the season, Helu ran the ball 13 times for 36 yards. That's when Rex Burkhead took over, carrying the ball 27 total times against Texas and Arizona.

"I think (Helu) was trying," Beck said. "I think he wanted to succeed. He was pushing himself. ... I think he worried about the injury some.

"He's got to learn that he's never going to be completely healthy."

And that includes next season, even though Helu likely won't have to endure the same physical consequences of being the 2009 workhorse. His 220 carries last year were fourth highest in the Big 12.

But because Helu already has two capable ball carriers - Burkhead and sophomore Dontrayevous Robinson - alongside him in the top I-back rotation, the workload should decrease. Burkhead proved himself after returning from a broken foot last year. Robinson, who had 39 carries for 165 yards as a freshman, is developing into an all-around back.

The hope is that fewer carries will help Helu find more consistency as an every-down game-changer.

Beck has also encouraged Helu to tweak his approach at the point of attack. Helu should be more decisive early, Beck said.

It's all worked so far this spring. Senior Niles Paul said Helu's been playing well.

"I see him out there, he's running hard, making those cuts," Paul said. "He's back to the old Roy Helu that everybody loves."

And as a result, Burkhead's still characterizing the No. 1 I-back spot as Helu's to lose.

"It's his starting job and we're all competing for it," Burkhead said. "It's his right now. He's kind of where we want to be."

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A New Helu?

He looks the same - a big smile as he trades a quick laugh with teammates. And, to a series of questions, Nebraska senior running back Roy Helu said he’s “about the same” as the 2009 version. Weight? Same. Goals? Same? Leadership? Same.

Competition? “They’re all good,” Helu said. “It’s always like that.”

But Helu’s position coach, Tim Beck, doesn’t quite agree.

“Roy’s been different this offseason,” Beck said. “And I like the way he’s working.”

The spurs: Sophomores Rex Burkhead and Dontrayevous Robinson are charging hard for playing time. Both are faster and carrying more weight. Both are downhill runners who attack the line of scrimmage with a single cut. Both are versatile enough to stay on the field in any situation.

Six months ago, Burkhead and Robinson were true freshmen in fall camp, staring up at the incumbent Helu, who sat alone atop the depth chart after head coach Bo Pelini booted Quentin Castille from the team.

“Even when I thought I wasn’t complacent, I guess I was complacent,” Helu said. “That’s human nature when you’re the older person in the group and there’s no one there to push you.”

Out of the 2009 gate, Helu didn’t seem satisfied. He was dazzling in games vs. Florida Atlantic (152 yards) and Virginia Tech (169). Suffering from the swine flu, he helped NU ice Missouri on the road with a 41-yard run. Through five games, Helu led the Big 12 with 552 rushing yards.

“When he’s healthy, he’s one of the best backs in the nation,” Burkhead said

But on that long run at Mizzou, Helu badly sprained his shoulder. The rest of the season was marked by strong performances - 138 yards vs. Oklahoma and 156 at Kansas - and disappointing ones - two fumbles vs. Iowa State and just 24 yards at Baylor.

Helu finished with 1,147 yards and nine touchdowns - both career highs. But over NU’s last four games, Helu rushed for just 46 yards per contest, averaging 3.5 yards per carry. He didn’t catch a pass, either.

Burkhead, recovering from a broken foot in near-record time, seized the spotlight in wins over Colorado and Arizona in the Holiday Bowl.

Helu hardly played in San Diego - three carries, eight yards.

“It was one of those things where it happens,” Helu said of the Holiday Bowl. “That was the way it was supposed to be. Couldn’t control it.”

The last impression of 2009, of course, lingers into 2010. Which is OK, Beck said. Helu needed that “competitive drive” of knowing Burkhead and Robinson could eat into his playing time.

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Roy Helu Helps Push Nebraska Into First Place in North

Nebraska's difference maker is finally getting producing as expected.

The resurgence of I-back Roy Helu Jr. has added a key element to a sputtering Nebraska offense.

Helu's big game helped power the Cornhuskers to a 31-17 comeback victory over Kansas Saturday afternoon.

The Cornhuskers are a different team when Helu is running the ball well. He showed it Saturday when he rushed for 156 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns. He added another TD on a fumble recovery earlier in the game.

After struggling during a two-game losing streak earlier in conference play when Helu was banged up, the Cornhuskers erupted for two late touchdowns in the fourth quarter after Kansas had assumed the lead.

Helu's heroics sets up a winner-take-all battle for the North Division next week in Lincoln between the Cornhuskers and Kansas State. If Nebraska wins, it's headed to the team's first Big 12 title game since 2006. And if Kansas State wins, the Wildcats are headed to Arlington on Dec. 5 for their first Big 12 championship game since winning the title in 2003.

The loss to Nebraska continues a frustrating spiral for Kansas, which started the season 5-0 and has lost its last five games. The Jayhawks need a victory either next week at Texas or Nov. 28 against Missouri in Kansas City to become bowl eligible.

It is Kansas' longest losing streak since the Jayhawks lost the final seven games of Mangino's first season in 2002 and the first game of the 2003 season.

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Helu Must Prove Himself

Nebraska’s Roy Helu Jr. likely won’t voluntarily say he wants to be regarded as one of the nation’s premier running backs.

He’s far too humble for such bravado. But if you take a second to ask. …

Yes, of course he wants that, he said Monday.

Humility is an endearing trait, and Helu oozes it, but there’s nothing wrong with a teaspoonful of ego now and then. In fact, I think many Nebraska football fans just might relish the thought of Helu saying, if even to himself, “Hey, I’ll carry this team when necessary.”

A 6-foot, 215-pound junior, Helu flies under the national radar, and rightfully so, although that might be about to change. The fact Helu wants it to change might help matters.

“He’ll get to that point (among the elite) — I really believe that,” Nebraska running backs coach Tim Beck said. “If he continues to work hard and be grounded and do the things he needs to do, he’ll play well throughout the season, which is going to help our team. And if your team’s winning and he’s playing well, and carrying the load for us, he’s going to get recognized.”

Helu could take a sizable step in that regard with a big performance Saturday against 13th-ranked Virginia Tech. The game has all the trimmings. Sold-out stadium. Traditional powers. National television.

Yards probably won’t come easily for No. 19 Nebraska, considering Virginia Tech has produced a top-seven defense each of the past five seasons. Helu will be tested thoroughly. Hey, nobody said becoming a star was easy.

The thing is, Helu’s progress as a running back and Nebraska’s progress as a resurgent program are basically intertwined. Let’s face it, it’s difficult for programs to win “measuring-stick” games without a strong running game. Is Helu up to it? Is Big Red up to it? My gut says “yes.” But proof is needed.

Helu’s most meaningful college performance arguably was against Kansas last season (115 yards rushing, 61 receiving). Or maybe Colorado (166, 49). Neither team was ranked. And look what’s become of the Buffs. What a meltdown.

Virginia Tech’s defense doesn’t melt down. It throws down.

Helu understands that. Please rewind to Monday. He wasn’t exactly satisfied with himself.

“The type of running back I want to be can’t settle for mediocrity, and that’s the type of back I was last week,” he said in reference to Nebraska’s 38-9 victory over Arkansas State in which he rushed 14 times for 60 yards and caught four passes for 44.

He missed holes and aborted a few plays instead of letting them develop.

“Roy doesn’t need to be Superman,” Beck said. “He just needs to go out and play.”

Beck appreciates that Helu has worked to get stronger physically.

“What I think, though, is he’s really matured to try to develop his game to be the best all-around back in everything he does — protections, running inside and outside, catching the ball,” Beck said. “Before, he just wanted to play. It was, ‘How do I get on the field?’ ”

Now, it’s: How often should NU take him off it, especially against defenses the caliber of Virginia Tech’s?

How much can Nebraska ask of true freshman I-back Rex Burkhead?

“Rex is mature beyond most freshmen,” Beck said. “If we end up having to play 60 snaps, we’d be fine. I think he’d be good.”

Nebraska might need “great” Saturday. It might need Helu to step up and stamp himself as one of the nation’s finest. Proof is needed.

“He’s confident,” Beck said. “I think Roy knows his abilities. We all know. I mean, he doesn’t have to tell us.”

Here’s a perfect chance to show us.

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