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LINCOLN — The honors seemingly won't stop pouring in for Nebraska's dominant defensive tackle.

Senior Ndamukong Suh was named Wednesday as one of the 12 semifinalists for the Lombardi Award, a year-end honor given to the nation's top offensive or defensive lineman.

Suh has a team-high 32 tackles, with seven tackles for loss and three sacks. Last week against Missouri, he had six tackles, forced a fumble and recorded an interception.

He's been tabbed the country's defensive player of the week by the Walter Camp Foundation and the Football Writers. The Big 12 named him its defensive player of the week as well.

Four finalists for the Lombardi Award will be announced on Nov. 10.

West keeps competing despite reserve role

Don't count out junior Anthony West just because he lost his starting cornerback job. He hasn't quit working, according to Carl Pelini.

West started 11 games last year and four more this season before sophomore Alfonzo Dennard took his No. 1 cornerback position in late September.

West is still playing cornerback and is actually learning the nickel back position, too, behind junior Eric Hagg, Pelini said.

“He's one guy that can play both positions and execute both well,” said Pelini, the Nebraska defensive coordinator. “He's a great kid. He works hard.

“That's what competition is. Who knows? Maybe it's tomorrow he wins the position back.”

Pelini said junior Dejon Gomes will likely start Saturday's game against the pass-oriented Red Raiders as Nebraska's primary dime cornerback. Gomes replaced sophomore Lance Thorell early last week and finished with an interception and five tackles in the 27-12 win over Missouri.

Thorell could get snaps at that spot as well, though, according to Pelini.

Beck seeks backup behind hurting Helu

Starting I-back Roy Helu wore the green no-contact jersey again Wednesday, something NU assistant coach Tim Beck said isn't the worst thing as the Huskers look for his new backup.

“I know what he provides for us,'' Beck said. “I don't need him to come out here and run all those plays. I've got to find out what these guys can do right now.''

With Helu nursing a sore shoulder and Rex Burkhead out indefinitely with a foot injury, Beck was studying Lester Ward, Austin Jones, Marcus Mendoza, Dontrayevous Robinson and Collins Okafor again Wednesday. They're also being shuttled back and forth to the scout-team offense to run Texas Tech plays against the first-team defense.

Asked if any of the I-backs has separated himself, Beck said he would have to evaluate the practice tape first.

“To be honest with you, I don't know if it's not all of them,'' Beck said.

Intense celebration was no surprise

NU tight end Mike McNeill wanted to celebrate his touchdown last Thursday at Missouri, but maybe not this way.

McNeill hauled in the 8-yard pass from Zac Lee to give the Huskers a 20-12 lead. Before long, here came guard Keith Williams — with about a 15- or 20-yard head of steam — to crash into McNeill and send him almost 5 yards backward.

Nebraska center Jacob Hickman had said before the season that the usually low-key Williams is one of the craziest linemen after Husker scores.

“It was the hardest I was hit the entire game,'' McNeill said. “I saw a picture online, and my head was like snapped all the way back.''

Texas Tech QB plan still mystery to NU

Still no word Wednesday on whether Texas Tech intends to start Steven Sheffield or Taylor Potts at quarterback Saturday.

And Carl Pelini, just like head coach Bo Pelini, said it really doesn't matter to the Huskers.

“They're both very talented guys,'' Carl Pelini said. “They both have strong arms. They're both good quarterbacks. I don't know who's going to play, but I do know we're going to be facing a talented quarterback regardless of which one goes.”

— Jon Nyatawa and Rich Kaipust

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