Lucky content with growing into NU system
BY STEVEN M. SIPPLE / Lincoln Journal Star
Tuesday, Sep 20, 2005 - 10:54:06 am CDT
He was deemed a can’t-miss impact player by Internet recruiting analysts. They said he would play immediately at Nebraska and make a huge splash. Husker freshman I-back Marlon Lucky heard the buzz but never really bought into it, he said. He chuckles now when reminded of it.
“I knew I was going to be behind Cory and Brandon,” said Lucky, referring to senior starter Cory Ross and sophomore backup Brandon Jackson.
“I knew I was going to have to be patient, coming into a big offense — it’s one of the biggest offenses in the NFL, college, anywhere,” said Lucky, referring to Nebraska coach Bill Callahan’s relatively complex West Coast system.
The 6-foot, 210-pound Lucky said he’s OK with his limited role during Nebraska’s first three games, though he admits his patience is tested at times.
“Cory and Brandon, they’ve been here longer than me, so they know the offense more than me,” Lucky said. “I’m just watching them. And when I get in, I just do my thing.”
In Nebraska’s three victories, Lucky has rushed 16 times for 43 yards (2.7 per carry), while Ross has carried 72 times for 356 yards (4.9) and Jackson 12 for 25 (2.1).
Another true freshman running back, 6-foot, 230-pound Cody Glenn, made his first appearance of the season Saturday against Pitt, carrying four times for 20 yards, mostly in short-yardage situations.
NFL DraftBlitz.com last year ranked Lucky as the nation’s No. 3 “impact freshman” for 2005, while Rivals.com and SuperPrep Magazine rated him as the nation’s No. 2 running back. One analyst projected Lucky to reach the level of impact Adrian Peterson had last season as a true freshman at Oklahoma.
Not yet. Indeed, Lucky said he’s been learning the playbook a little at a time. The North Hollywood, Calif., native said his most significant improvement has come in pass blocking.
“When I came in here, I didn’t know what to do pass blocking-wise,” he said.
The challenge is to read from which direction or directions the blitz is coming so he can protect quarterback Zac Taylor.
“It’s crazy,” said Lucky, who’s feeling more comfortable as a blocker.
Lucky also has improved on his footwork and reading of defenses, Nebraska coach Bill Callahan said.
“Marlon is seeing new fronts week in and week out,” Callahan said. “I think he has a better understanding now of what we’re doing than when he first came in here. And he’s becoming more complete as a pass receiver and special-teams player — just his overall game is starting to pick up.”
Lucky and Frantz Hardy are jointly listed as Nebraska’s No. 2 kickoff returners behind the tandem of Tierre Green and Jackson. Lucky has neither returned a kickoff nor caught a pass.
During the offseason, Lucky spoke of playing a dual-threat role similar to that of Reggie Bush at Southern Cal. It still may happen, but not until Lucky becomes more comfortable in the offense.
Lucky’s first career carry, in the Sept. 3 opener against Maine, went for 2 yards. His long run is 8 yards.
“I was kind of shaky,” he said of his debut. “I wasn’t that nervous. But I was kind of shaky.”
Lucky likes his classes (astronomy is the most challenging, he said). He likes Lincoln. He enjoys the tunnel walk before games. He positions himself in the middle of the pack. Behind the veterans.
