There’s no need to panic. Nebraska backup quarterback Harrison Beck will be just fine, Bill Callahan said Tuesday.

Callahan, the Nebraska head coach, wasn’t necessarily referring specifically to Beck’s sore shoulder, either.

Of more concern, perhaps, is that Beck missed a good chunk of spring practices and had to sit Saturday’s Red-White game because of his shoulder. To that end, Callahan said not to worry about the six practices Beck missed, or the rate of his progress.

“I feel confident we’ll make that (practice time) up in a heartbeat as we get into training camp,” Callahan said on a Big 12 coaches’ conference call, noting Beck’s progress is moving on schedule.

“He’s a young football player. He’s still a freshman. Some people have a hard time understanding that.”

Beck, who will be a sophomore on the field this fall, tweaked a hamstring in the spring’s first major scrimmage. He then developed soreness in his shoulder, although two MRIs — including one performed after the Spring Game — revealed no damage or tears. Doctors, Callahan said, recommended rest and rehabilitation.

“Physically speaking, he did lose some reps,” Callahan said. “We got a half a spring out of him. He had continued to improve. We wanted to see him more in pressure situations, and unfortunately, it didn’t work out.

“He received all the mental reps. He was in every meeting. He was still with Coach (Jay) Norvell for every installation, every play that was put in. From the mental aspect of it, he’s still learning and still being drilled.”

Why all the fuss over a back-up? Nebraska does, after all, return starter Zac Taylor, a senior-to-be who figures to be among the league’s top quarterbacks.

But should Taylor suffer injury — he was sacked 38 times last season — a significant gap exists between him and the backups. In Saturday’s game, Joe Ganz was 5 for 19 passing for 25 yards, and Beau Davis was 0 for 6 with an interception.

Also, Beck was regarded as one of the premier recruits in Callahan’s 2005 class, and followers are eager to see results. Especially when considering the Huskers will be ushering in a new starter in 2007.

Beck appeared in two games as a true freshman, going 1 for 10 with an interception. His one completion, though, rescued Nebraska in a come-from-behind victory over Kansas State after Taylor had been injured.

Of course, Nebraska is recruiting high school quarterbacks for its 2007 class, including Texas standout Jarrett Lee, who was among 80 recruits in attendance for the Spring Game. But will Nebraska be searching for another junior college quarterback … another Taylor?

Callahan said NU coaches haven’t made any decisions in that regard, saying they’d simply be keeping their options open.

For now, Beck is on schedule.

“I’m still confident he’ll still come through for us,” Callahan said. “There is no doubt in my mind.”

Reach Brian Rosenthal at 473-7436 or brosenthal@journalstar.com.