Overview
After a successful first season, coach Bo Pelini earned a contract extension and raise. Nebraska followed a fast start with a three-game losing streak but then bounced back to win six of its last seven games. Replacing quarterback Joe Ganz and the team's top two receivers will be challenging but the Cornhuskers appear close to re-establishing the dominant running game that helped produce so many victories over the last four decades. The defense has an anchor in senior tackle Ndamukong Suh and the unit is improving its speed and athleticism.

Who's missing
Gritty and productive quarterback Joe Ganz is gone. Running back Marlon Lucky, who was a solid runner and an excellent pass receiver, must be replaced. The offensive line is missing Matt Slauson and Lydon Murtha on the right side. The top pass receivers from last season, Nate Swift and Todd Peterson, also won't be back.

Who's moving
Nebraska moved linebacker Latravis Washington to quarterback. Despite the limited adjustment time to a new position, in the spring game he completed 13 of 21 passes for 190 yards and a touchdown. Nebraska's quarterback depth was thinned when Kody Spano underwent knee surgery. Running back Marcus Mendoza was moved from I-back to wide receiver.

Fresh face
If there are concerns about turning over Nebraska's offense to a quarterback who has one regular-season completion, the Cornhuskers' coaching staff is keeping it private.

Junior Zac Lee has established himself as the replacement for Joe Ganz. Lee's improvement during the offseason compelled Patrick Witt, last season's No. 2, to transfer out of the program. The 6-2, 210-pound Lee has a strong arm and is considered a better runner than Ganz.

"He obviously had Joe around a couple of years to learn from and (Ganz's) demeanor has transferred over to him," offensive coordinator Shawn Watson said. "He's a very cool customer now."

Lee, who is the son of former NFL quarterback Bob Lee, plans on using the summer to work with his receivers and assume more of a leadership role with the offense. "If guys see me working hard, hopefully, they'll be inspired to work hard, too," he said.

"I thought Zac played well and he had a great spring," Nebraska coach Bo Pelini said. "He did a lot of good things and he managed some things well. He just carries himself and he's a very confident kid. He did a lot of good things and he's clearly ahead."

"He's very athletic. He can run. Obviously we think he can add an element there. Joe also showed he could run last year, but I think Zac's maybe a little bit faster. Hopefully it'll just make us that much more multiple."

Spring buzz
* The offense was limited in the spring game. Quarterback Zac Lee wore a no-contact green jersey and didn't run with the football. Top running back Roy Helu Jr. didn't play because of a sore hamstring. The projected starters on the offensive line were split between the Red and White teams.

* Nebraska's spring game 77,670 (at $10 per ticket) to Memorial Stadium. That was the second-highest attendance for a spring game this season. Alabama drew an 84,050 to Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama did not charge for admission. The Cornhuskers' Red-White game also drew nearly 100 high school prospects.

* Menelik Holt is the top returning wide receiver (30 receptions, one TD). He and Niles Paul are expected to be the top candidates to replace last year's leading pass catchers, Nate Swift and Todd Peterson. Paul didn't play in the spring game after he was suspended for the team after he was charged with driving under the influence. Others who could be in the mix for playing time at wide receiver are Chris Brooks, Antonio Bell, Marcus Mendoza, Wes Cammack, Will Henry, Curenski Gilleylen, Tim Marlowe, Steven Osborne and Khiry Cooper, who is playing baseball this spring.

* Cody Green, a 17-year-old freshman quarterback, graduated from Dayton (Texas) High School early and enrolled at Nebraska so he could participate in spring practice. In the spring game, he completed eight of 15 passes for 81 yards. "When I went around to select a kid that we wanted to recruit in this class, that's what turned me on about Cody was his competitiveness," offensive coordinator Shawn Watson said. "He's a locked-in guy. He wants to compete at the highest level. He wants it. So that's why he's here and it's really going to benefit him and us in the fall."

Coach speak from Bo Pelini
On the running game, particularly running backs Roy Helu Jr. and Quentin Castille:
"I love our talent at the running back spot. ... I think they proved to be a pretty good 1-2 punch at the end of last year. ... I like our offensive line. We need a couple guys to come through. We're not as deep as I'd like to be right now, but the kids are coming and we became deeper as the spring went on. I like what we have going, and I think we're going to have a formidable running game."

On where the team is after spring practice:
"We're nowhere near being the finished product, and we're nowhere near being game-ready right now. But we made a lot of strides in a lot of areas. A lot of guys stepped up. The competition's been good. All this does is set you up to have a good fall. That's what spring practice is about - give them a base, give them a foundation, teach 'em, then when you get to the fall you start honing in and you start making more locked-in personnel decisions."

On the progress made by the defense:
"We are way ahead of where we were at this point last year. They have a better understanding of what we want. It's more second nature. We're going to be more multiple. We'll be better against the no-huddle. I'm excited."

2009 Schedule