• Photo Showcase: NU football practice, Sept. 21

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LINCOLN — There are no plans to decrease the number of touches for Taylor Martinez, even though the week-to-week physical pounding could put Nebraska's top quarterback at risk.

In all three of the Huskers' contests so far this year, Martinez has led the team in carries. He ran 19 times against Washington, a total high enough to lead the NU ball carriers in all but four games last year.

But coach Bo Pelini said he isn't worried about how Martinez, at 6-foot-1, 205 pounds, will handle a season's worth of contact.

“That's why you have three guys, and three guys you have confidence in,” Pelini said. “When you're going to run the quarterback some, he's going to take some hits. I know he's tough.”

For the season, Martinez has carried 40 times for 421 yards and eight touchdowns.

Green to get first-half series

Pelini doesn't seem discouraged by sophomore quarterback Cody Green's fumbles against Washington on Saturday.

Like he did in the first two games, Green took over for Martinez in the second quarter. But on his first snap, Green got stripped, a giveaway that set up a Husky touchdown.

But Pelini said Tuesday that Green was doing the right thing — until he fumbled.

“I liked what he was doing when he fumbled,” Pelini said. “He was running hard. The guy just pulled it out. What he was doing was giving extra effort. You can't fault a guy for that.”

Pelini added that the staff's plan to give Green a series in the first half remains unaltered.

Division I-A foes are NU goal

If it can be avoided, Pelini said he would rather not add another FCS opponent to Nebraska's future schedules.

He told reporters Tuesday that he respects South Dakota State and never tried to end the one-game contract with the Jackrabbits. But from a competitive standpoint, it appears that Pelini would prefer to play teams only in the NCAA's top division.

“Sometimes there are conflicts,” Pelini said. “You never say never, but that's not what we're looking to do.”

The Huskers' game Saturday against South Dakota State was agreed upon before Pelini took over as head coach.

Dennard nearly got burned on pass

The first time cornerback Alfonzo Dennard got a pass thrown his way last week, he almost got burned.

It was midway through the third quarter when Dennard was stride-for-stride with Jermaine Kearse as Washington's top receiver ran a deep post route down the middle of the field. But as the ball was in the air, Kearse suddenly separated himself.

“He just adjusted to the ball better than I did,” Dennard said. “I was on him, but then he adjusted to the ball. I was going so fast, I couldn't stop and plant my feet.”

Kearse dived, but he couldn't catch the long throw. Two plays later, Dennard intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown.

“I'm glad he didn't catch it,” Dennard said. “That was a play that kind of scared me.”

Walk-on Ebke spent semester at SDSU

Saturday's game will be a reunion of sorts for junior Jim Ebke, a Husker walk-on who spent one semester at South Dakota State.

Ebke left the Jackrabbits' program about four months after he joined it in the fall of 2007. He said he doesn't know many players on the SDSU roster, but the coincidental matchup certainly has given him a brief chance to reflect.

Ebke said he has no regrets whatever.

The former Lincoln East quarterback, the Gatorade Nebraska player of the year in 2006, said he transferred back home because he was eager to be closer to family. Plus, he had always wanted to be a Husker.

“It was being from Nebraska, having the dream of always playing here,” he said.

After playing quarterback and safety for NU, Ebke moved to linebacker two weeks ago.

— Jon Nyatawa

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• Video: Highlights from Nebraska's Tuesday football practice:



• Video: Nebraska's Bo Pelini:



• Video: Nebraska's Shawn Watson:



• Video: Nebraska football player Brandon Kinnie:



• Video: Nebraska football player Jared Crick:

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