Be on the lookout for true freshman running back Marcus Mendoza in Saturday’s game against Texas A&M.

Nebraska coach Bill Callahan wouldn’t guarantee Mendoza would play but said there’s “a good chance.”

Mendoza hasn’t played yet this season.

“We think he gives us a spark, he gives us a different style of back,” Callahan said.

Mendoza, a 5-foot-10, 185-pound running back from Houston, was among players who enrolled early and participated in spring practice.

Mendoza ran for nearly 700 yards and caught 20 passes for 250 yards as a senior in high school.

“We can utilize him as a wide receiver, we can throw to him out of the backfield,” Callahan said. “He has a little bit of Cory Ross in him, his shiftiness, kind of a level where he’s a little bit lower because he’s smaller. He can be way one way and dart the other, and you really don’t see him because he can hide behind that offensive line.”

Callahan said true freshmen Anthony Blue and Eric Hagg could also see more time on defense.

Staying focused: Callahan said the players have been particularly impressive in dealing with all the outside distractions.

The coach said players have been spirited in practices in recent days and are looking forward to Saturday.

"They know this job comes with a lot of media following. They're pretty savvy,” Callahan said. “They're pretty experienced at all of this: Good, bad or indifferent. They've handled it really well. I'm really proud of them.”

By the numbers: 104 - What Nebraska ranks in total defense out of 119 major college football teams. The Huskers are giving up an average of 457.1 yards a game. The most yards per game previously given up in a season by a Husker defense is 379.5, in 1948.

Scouting report: LB Bo Ruud

As a senior captain, Bo Ruud has had the fun task of answering plenty of questions about the struggles of this year’s team.

Not exactly touchy-feely questions, either. Like when someone asked if Ruud and the players felt any responsibility for Steve Pederson being fired as athletic director.

“We do not play football to keep people’s jobs. We play football because we love playing it and we want to do our best,” Ruud said. “Trying to win championships is why we play. We do not play for money or for people’s jobs. That is something you do on a professional level. This is college. I have never heard a coach say to me, ‘You better win or someone is going to get fired.’ That has never come up. We do not think about that. We do not play for that. We play to win.”

Ruud and his defensive comrades will face a tall task again this week from a Texas A&M team with a mobile quarterback. The Aggies also run the option. Oklahoma State gouged the Huskers several times with the option last week.

“It is something that you do not want to spend a lot of time preparing for, because teams may or may not do it one to three times a game,” Ruud said of the option. “You have to practice it, but how much time to do you want to practice on it?”

Opponent watch: Colorado

The Colorado athletic department is retiring its buffalo mascot Ralphie IV.

Ralphie V might make his debut next month.

According to the Boulder Daily Camera, “the younger Ralphie V will take over running duties at football games, possibly as soon as this season’s Nebraska game, and the veteran Ralphie will be used for more laid-back appearances befitting retirement.”

- Brian Christopherson and Brian Rosenthal