It wasn’t all that different than how it was picking teams on the playground.

I got Marlon.

Fine, man. I got Quentin.

The old first-captain, second-captain routine.

Hey, if it worked for third-grade kickball, who’s to say it can’t work for a spring football game that about 80,000 people are coming to watch.

A new Husker coaching staff has introduced a new twist to this year’s spring block party on Vine Street, the rosters for Saturday’s Red-White scrimmage picked by a draft system.

And it was a trio of players who were heavily involved in the picking.

In one corner, the captains for the Red squad: quarterback Joe Ganz and linebacker Phillip Dillard.

Captains for the White team: receiver Todd Peterson and Barry … wait, no Barry. Defensive end Barry Turner apparently was still working out.

So secondary coach Marvin Sanders stepped in and provided his defensive background to help Peterson pick the White team.

Peterson’s picks came with a depth chart before him, along with information breaking down each position.

“We tried to keep it as even as possible,” Peterson said. “If Joe picked the starting center, I’d get the backup center. If I picked the right tackle, he gets the backup tackle.”

The draft went down Tuesday night. Mel Kiper Jr. did not attend.

Following Wednesday’s practice, defensive end Zach Potter didn’t know yet which team he was on. But he did know he liked the format.

“It will be a lot more competitive than it has in the last couple years,” Potter said. “I think it will be more fun for us and more fun for the fans. It’s not just a guaranteed Red win.”

For the record, Potter is on the Red team, joining the likes of Ganz, I-back Marlon Lucky and receiver Nate Swift. The team also has returning starters Lydon Murtha and Matt Slauson on the offensive line. Dillard and cornerback Armando Murillo are a couple of key figures on that side’s defense.

The White team will have quarterbacks Zac Lee and Patrick Witt — the two who seem to be dueling for the backup spot behind Ganz. Peterson’s team also includes Roy Helu and Quentin Castille at running back. Jacob Hickman, Mike Huff and tackle Jaivorio Burkes are on the offensive line. Turner, Ty Steinkuhler, Cody Glenn and Larry Asante are among the names on the defense.

Murtha, the senior left tackle picked by the Red team, said he looks forward to the competition.

“That’s the main thing — it’s not going to be a blowout. It’ll be a good game to watch,” Murtha said. “With all those people (in the stands), you want to put on a good show.”

There’s no sure right or wrong way to manage a spring game. Bill Callahan took a different approach the past four years, often playing all the top players on one team.

Because of that, the games were lopsided — perhaps a disappointment to fans, but fine with coaches who are usually just looking to get out of these big scrimmages with a hint of progress and few injuries.

Avoiding injuries is certainly something heavy on Pelini’s mind. “We hope to get our work done, but come out of it healthy,” he said Wednesday.

As was expected, the quarterbacks will wear green hands-off jerseys during the game.

Pelini was not yet exactly sure of how the game would be formatted. In previous years, the scrimmage has featured a running clock in the second half. That could be a possibility again this year, though it might not be decided until the game unfolds.

“Depends on the amount of plays. We’ll play that by ear,” Pelini said. “We don’t want it to go all day. It’ll be a regular clock early and then at some point, whether we run the clock in the second quarter, and then bring it back regular clock in the third quarter, I’m not sure yet.”

No odds yet on which team is the favorite.

Peterson wasn’t making any predictions, just jokes.

“I look good in white,” he said. “Very slimming.”

Reach Brian Christopherson at 473-7439 or bchristopherson@journalstar.com.