A Lucky Breakout? - After erratic sophomore year and turbulent off-season, Nebraska running back looks to step it up against USC

"It's just like another game," he said. "It's nothing special."

Nor does the opportunity to play on national television, a chance to showcase his talents, appear to impress the Cornhuskers running back.

"It would probably put my name out there," he said. "But whatever comes, comes."

For now, the junior seems more interested in securing a reputation on his own team, erasing the faint disappointment of seasons past, making good on expectations that followed him out of North Hollywood High.

Nebraska probably will need his best effort. The underdog Cornhuskers lost to USC last season because of the unfortunate combination of a conservative offense and a failure to run the ball effectively.

"Coach is going to bring it all out for this game," Lucky said. "Throw it, run it. We've got to find their weakness."

Two years have passed since the 6-foot, 210-pound back arrived in Lincoln as a highly touted recruit. Much was made of the fact that he chose Nebraska over USC and Coach Pete Carroll, who had courted him. It was a rare instance in recent seasons when a top high school running back decided not to sign with the Trojans.

As a freshman at Nebraska, Lucky played mostly on special teams, carrying the ball only 43 times for 129 yards. Last fall was supposed to be different.

The early weeks of the 2006 season included 100-yard games against Nicholls State and Troy. But, returning home to face USC in the Coliseum, the sophomore rushed 10 times for 27 yards and things soon turned south.

Brandon Jackson had pushed him out of the starting lineup by midseason and it didn't seem to help when Lucky gained a respectable 88 yards against Auburn in the Cotton Bowl.

By February, local papers were publishing reports that he had been found unconscious in his apartment, suffering from an undisclosed medical condition.

In an interview released by the athletic department, Lucky called the off-season a "big turning point. I was doing horrible here. All the stuff was too fast for me and I had to slow down. . . . I need to be more mature about everything and take life seriously."

None of this came up during a recent news conference. When contacted by The Times for further comment, the running back sent his response through a Nebraska spokesman.