• Nebraska coach Bo Pelini at the signing day press conference:



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LINCOLN — Nebraska coach Bo Pelini said quarterback Zac Lee is doing fine after January surgery, but likely won't be ready for the start of spring practice.

The senior had surgery to repair a torn flexor tendon in his right arm immediately after the Holiday Bowl. He was expected to face 10 to 12 weeks of rehabilitation.

“I don't know where he'll be at for the spring,” Pelini said. “I know he won't be there at least for the beginning.”

Also Wednesday, Pelini said quarterback Kody Spano is in “great shape'' as NU goes through winter conditioning. Spano in August suffered his second torn ACL since coming to Lincoln.

Roster will need trim

Pelini would not say what moves would take place, but said the Nebraska roster should be at 84 or 85 scholarship players when fall camp starts in August.

The NU roster on Huskers.com after signing day included 87 scholarship players, two above the NCAA limit.

“There are some medical issues and some things like that that have happened,” Pelini said. “I'm not talking about that today.”

Among those returning is safety Rickey Thenarse, who has been granted a sixth year of eligibility. Thenarse suffered a season-ending knee injury in September.

Pensick moves to OL

Cole Pensick will change positions for spring practice.

Pelini said the redshirt freshman from Lincoln Northeast will go from the defensive line to center. NU lost starter Jacob Hickman at center, but returns backup Mike Caputo.

Spring game tickets hot

It took Nebraska all of one day to sell nearly half the available tickets for its April 17 spring game.

More than 40,000 reserved seats were purchased before the NU ticket office closed Wednesday. More than 8,400 were sold in the first 15 minutes Wednesday morning.

Tickets are still available at Huskers.com or the ticket office, or by calling 1-800-8-BIG RED.

Suh goes with Nike

Nike on Wednesday announced a partnership with former Husker defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, winner of the 2009 Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award.

Suh will join selected Nike football athletes participating in a webcast Friday to kick off the 2010 Nike High School Combine Tour. Some NFL stars affiliated with Nike include LaDainian Tomlinson, Troy Polamalu, Adrian Peterson, Larry Fitzgerald, Tom Brady and Brian Urlacher.

Suh, the projected No. 1 pick in April's NFL draft, is from Portland, Ore. Nike is based in nearby Beaverton, Ore.

— Rich Kaipust

• The World-Herald's Mitch Sherman on the Nebraska 2010 recruiting class:



• The 2010 Husker recruiting class:

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