During his freshman season, Nebraska I-back Ameer Abdullah got 12 carries in one game, fewer than seven in all the rest and a total of just 42.

So with 31 rushing attempts in the Huskers’ first two games, Abdullah is happy for the bump in workload (although regretful that some of it has come due to the injury to Rex Burkhead).

“I feel like I’ve held up pretty well,” Abdullah said. “I haven’t got a ton of carries. I only have 15 and 16, which isn’t a lot. A lot of backs are getting 30, 28, high 20s and things like that.

“I’m prepared for the heavy load. I’m prepared for the short doses. It doesn’t matter.”

Abdullah is averaging 6.5 yards per carry, had his first 100-yard game at UCLA and has scored two touchdowns. He also has four receptions with a score, but lost a fumble starting the second half Saturday night with the score tied against the Bruins.

In his own estimation, Abdullah rated his play as “pretty average.”

“I feel like here and there I had some pretty good plays, but obviously when you watch the film it’s never as good as you think and it’s never as bad as you think,” he said.