LINCOLN — Nebraska's highly regarded rushing attack is now without its bulldozing veteran.

Junior Quentin Castille, a 235-pound I-back appropriately distinguished for his downhill running style, has been kicked off the NU football team for a violation of team rules, coach Bo Pelini confirmed Saturday.

The team's second-leading returning rusher had not practiced since Wednesday.

“It's pretty black and white, my expectations and what we lay out as a staff,” Pelini said after practice Saturday. “If someone doesn't follow those policies and guidelines, they're no longer going to be with the football team. And that's the case with Quentin.”

Pelini did not elaborate on the reason for Castille's dismissal. He told reporters that no Nebraska coach or player would discuss any further details regarding the situation.

Castille was outside Memorial Stadium Saturday morning, just minutes after the Huskers began their 18th practice of preseason camp. He offered no comment as he walked to his car.

This season, Castille was supposed to combine with junior Roy Helu to create a contrasting I-back tandem, one productive enough to concern opposing defenses and take pressure off first-year quarterback Zac Lee. Castille brought the physicality, while the agile Helu could provide explosiveness.

The two combined for 1,270 rushing yards last season. And in the Gator Bowl, when Helu was sidelined with an infection, Castille even proved he could carry the load by himself, rushing for 125 yards on 18 carries and helping the Huskers to a 26-21 win against Clemson.

But no player, no matter his talent level, is allowed to disobey team rules without punishment, according to Pelini.

“Nobody's above the football team,” he said. “I have a program to run, both short term and long term.”

Replacing Castille won't be easy, especially since he seemed to have finally found his place on the team after a somewhat turbulent summer.

In June, a Lancaster County judge issued a bench warrant for Castille's arrest when he failed to appear in court for fictitious license plates. The warrant was recalled a day later. Castille also missed a portion of the Huskers' summer conditioning.

But he began fall practices in good physical shape and seemed to be taking on more of a leadership role. He was a regular participant in media interviews, outspoken about his team-first aspirations for 2009.

“He's a good kid,” Pelini said Saturday. “He's just not going to be with our program anymore. I wish him luck in the future.”

Pelini didn't seem at all concerned about how his team will get by without Castille. He said there are potential replacements.

Sophomore Marcus Mendoza, a speedster who was officially moved from I-back to receiver during the spring, will be carrying the football out of the backfield again. However, Pelini said the position switch was in the works before Castille's dismissal.

For now, the clear No. 2 I-back behind Helu is true freshman Rex Burkhead, Pelini said. Burkhead ran for 1,762 yards and 28 touchdowns during his senior year at Plano (Texas) High School.

“He's smart. He's very talented. He's tough. He learns well,” Pelini said of Burkhead. “But we've got a long way to go before we play a football game.”

The other potential contributors have work to do too, but they have upside, according to Pelini.

Redshirt freshman Lester Ward, at 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, is a physical runner. Pelini mentioned that redshirt freshman Collins Okafor and true freshman Dontrayevous Robinson both had good moments during a two-hour scrimmage in Saturday's practice.

“We have a lot of depth at the running back position,” Pelini said.

Contact the writer:

402-473-9585, jon.nyatawa@owh.com

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