I wanted to do a feature on featured running back Marlon Lucky. Last year, he was so much apart of the offense. Last season as a junior, Lucky topped 1,000 rushing yards, finishing the year with 1,019 including nine rushing touchdowns.
His 84.9 yards per game ranked seventh in the Big 12 Conference and Lucky finished the year with five 100-yard games, while reaching at least 65 yards rushing nine times as a junior. In addition he set a record by catching 75 passes.
Those numbers will be down a bit this year, thanks in part to the expanded roles of sophomores Roy Helu and Quentin Castille. Lucky had 206 rushing attempts last year through 12 games and now with just four games to play, he has less than half the attempts with 103 carries and 480 yards. Yet, as Lucky has played in this system for four years, he’s more comfortable with the team, his role, and his performance.
In addition to still being the featured back, yet with a reduced role, he must also take on the role as a leader and mentor for the younger backs. A responsibility he takes with pride. It has to have been difficult for Lucky, while getting fewer reps and fewer opportunities to catch the ball, yet at the same time, needs to stay mature enough to lead the younger backs and set a good example. Where is Lucky’s confidence level at this point in the season?
Lucky and the Huskers, tied in the Big 12 north with Missouri and Kansas at 2-2 faced with a tough road game in Norman Oklahoma. 7pm kickoff on ESPN.