• Video: Nebraska coach Bo Pelini after Thursday's practice:

LINCOLN — Nebraska's inconsistent group of wide receivers is expected to get a much-needed boost of experience when senior Chris Brooks returns to the lineup Saturday for the first time in three weeks.

Brooks, who hadn't played since Oct. 17 against Texas Tech, practiced all week and will be available in Saturday's matchup with Oklahoma, coach Bo Pelini said.

Nebraska's coaches, desperate for consistency, benched senior Menelik Holt and sophomore Curenski Gilleylen the last time out against Baylor, choosing to play four wide receivers. Junior Niles Paul was the only non-newcomer.

Brooks has developed into a reliable target in his final season, catching 13 passes. Eleven of his receptions have resulted in first downs.

Brooks didn't make the trip to Baylor, but he's healthy now, Pelini said.

Freshman I-back Dontrayevous Robinson led Nebraska in receiving against Baylor, catching three passes for 22 yards. Khiry Cooper, a redshirt freshman, also had three receptions, but he finished with 12 yards. Paul caught two passes for 54 yards, including a 45-yarder.

Sophomore cornerback Alfonzo Dennard, who reinjured his left shoulder last week, will be in the lineup too, Pelini said. Dennard had a tackle and broke up a pass before he was injured.

Night kickoff was expected

Kickoff times often dictate the NU staff's in-season recruiting strategies, so with that in mind, don't expect Pelini to complain about Saturday's late-evening start.

Actually, Pelini said, he and the coaches anticipated a night start for the Nebraska-Oklahoma game. Saturday night's game will be televised by ABC, including KETV, Channel 7, in Omaha.

He expects eight or nine official recruiting visits this weekend in what could be the final post-sunset kickoff at Memorial Stadium in 2009.

Nebraska's final home game is against Kansas State on Nov. 21, but no game time has been set. The Huskers' remaining games also include a 2:30 p.m. kickoff on Nov. 14 at Kansas and a 2:30 p.m. CST kickoff on Nov. 27 against Colorado in Boulder.

So this weekend, the Husker coaching staff will take advantage of the extra time to make its pitch to the prospective athletes.

Numerous unofficial visitors will surely be on campus as well.

“Obviously, with a night game, it allows you to get more guys in,” Pelini said. “You've got to find weekends where you can get that done.”

The Huskers have 11 known members in their 2010 recruiting class.

Both quarterbacks might play

Pelini won't say which quarterback will start Saturday, but he didn't rule out the idea of playing them both.

Freshman Cody Green, who started in the 20-10 win over Baylor last week, seems to be the likely choice to lead the NU offense against Oklahoma. Green was 12 of 21 for 128 passing yards, with no touchdowns and one interception. He rushed eight times for 43 yards.

But Green had to earn that right in practice, Pelini said. There's always a possibility that junior Zac Lee, the Huskers' former starter, could win the job back.

Or maybe, both might see time Saturday.

Would Pelini ever consider alternating the two on a possession-by-possession basis? No, but they both could play, he said.

“I'm not afraid to use both guys in a game,” he said. “That all depends on how the game's going, you know?”

Pelini praises practice work

Pelini seemed upbeat as he met with news media members Thursday, apparently encouraged by the way his team prepared on the practice field for its showdown with the 20th-ranked Sooners.

Pelini said the Huskers practiced well after surviving that poor second-half showing at Baylor.

“It was good, a good week of practice,” Pelini said. “I thought it was a pretty crisp practice (Thursday), but we've still got some things to get ironed out.”

Four Huskers gain academic honors

ESPN the Magazine honored four Nebraska football players by naming them to its academic all-district team.

Sophomore defensive back Austin Cassidy, senior receiver Wes Cammack, sophomore offensive tackle Marcel Jones and junior linebacker Blake Lawrence were recognized.

Cassidy, named first-team all-district, will be on the national ballot for Academic All-America honors. He carries a 3.84 grade-point average in psychology.

Cammack is a native of DeWitt, Neb., and carries a 3.89 GPA in agricultural engineering. A Phoenix native, Jones carries a 3.35 GPA in construction management.

Lawrence played in three games this season before being forced to end his career for medical reasons. He is a marketing major with a 3.91 GPA and is scheduled to earn his degree in December in just 2½ years.

— Jon Nyatawa

Contact the writer:

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