LINCOLN — Add junior linebacker Alonzo Whaley to Nebraska's armada of Blackshirts. He found the black practice jersey hanging in his locker before Tuesday's practice after solid spot play in NU's 45-17 loss to Michigan.

This week, Whaley's splitting No. 1 reps with linebacker Sean Fisher. That, defensive coordinator Carl Pelini said, triggered the Blackshirt.

"If two guys are splitting reps equally or they're starting in a certain personnel group, we give them a Blackshirt," Pelini said, explaining the Huskers' 2011 philosophy more in depth than in previous interviews.

The key to Whaley getting more playing time? The junior said it was stronger work in the classroom, where he had been "lagging" when the season began.

"They knew I can play football," Whaley said. "But I just got a good grade report — I got my grades the way they're supposed to be. Bo (Pelini) is that type of guy. What they build here is 'we want to trust you off the field.' I think that had a lot to do with me getting a chance."

The 6-foot-1, 235-pounder isn't sure he'll start Friday. With a good week of practice, Carl Pelini said, there's a good chance he will against Iowa, which runs a pro-style offense.

"He's been too much of a thinker," Pelini said. "It slowed him down. Now I see him much more aggressive and playing more physical, tackling harder. Just more decisive in his movements."

David a Butkus finalist

Nebraska has its first Butkus Award finalist since 1994 with senior Lavonte David on the list of six named Tuesday by the Butkus Foundation.

"He's an amazing player. In my opinion he deserves to win it, but I don't understand the politics and all of that," Carl Pelini said. "He deserves to be a finalist and deserves to win it. I don't know that there could be any linebacker that's had the kind of seasons back-to-back that he's had."

David is joined by Dont'a Hightower of Alabama, Jarvis Jones of Georgia, Luke Kuechly of Boston College, Manti Te'o of Notre Dame and Courtney Upshaw of Alabama.

Last year's winner was Von Miller of Texas A&M.

Previous Huskers to be named Butkus finalists were Ed Stewart in 1994, Trev Alberts in 1993 and Broderick Thomas in 1988. Alberts won the award his senior season.

The winner will be announced on or before Dec. 7.

Praise for Iowa offense

Carl Pelini had plenty of compliments Tuesday for Iowa's offense — especially its downhill, pro-style running game that has sent running backs and offensive linemen to the NFL.

"They're really physical," Pelini said. They run a lot of one-back stretch game, but they do it downhill," he said. "I liken it to the NFL-style of downhill zone game . it's a good offense."

Iowa sophomore running back Marcus Coker — who has 1,297 yards and 12 touchdowns this year — is a power back with "good speed" and "good vision."

"He's a good downhill Pittsburgh Steeler running back . he finds those cutback seams. Anytime you've got a big back doing that, he runs through arm tackles. And that's what stretch plays create — arm tackles."

Trading one rival for another

When Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz makes the rounds in the Hawkeye State, he finds one of the most commonly asked questions — prior to this year, of course — was about the renewal of the Nebraska-Iowa rivalry.

But he wasn't terribly keen on it after NU beat Iowa 42-7 in 1999 and 42-13 in 2000. Those two Hawkeye teams — Ferentz's first two years — were a combined 4-19.

"The last series I didn't enjoy too much," Ferentz said. "We got spanked twice. I was not eager to regenerate that series. But in the world in college sports, things are changing."

So Nebraska enters the picture where Wisconsin, another Hawkeye rival, exits.

"We removed one to our east that had predominantly red uniforms, and we added one to the west with predominantly red uniforms," Ferentz said. "You go from one headache to another, is how I look at it."

Hawkeye Rally Thursday

A Thanksgiving Hawkeye Rally is planned at D.J.'s Dugout in the Old Market at 1003 Capitol Ave.

The event is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Thursday. Admission is $5.

For more information go to www.bravosportsmarketing.com

— Rick Kaipust, Sam McKewon

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