Nebraska coach Matt Rhule met with the media on Monday to preview this Saturday's game against Washington (4-3, 1-3). The Huskers (5-2, 2-2) are coming off a bye week and enter the weekend on a two-game losing streak after starting the season with five straight wins.
Washington defeated Purdue 38-28 last Friday for the Huskies' first Big Ten win of the season. Washington lost its first three conference games after starting the year 3-0.
This will be the 11th meeting all-time between these two schools. Nebraska leads the series 5-4-1, with the Huskers winning the last matchup 51-28 in 2011.
Injuries have plagued the Huskers over the last several weeks, especially at running back. Freshman Jamal Rule has been limited the last three weeks after suffering
an ankle injury in Week 4 against Michigan State.
This season, the freshman has 391 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 6.5 yards per carry. Since Rule's injury in the Michigan State game, quarterback Anthony Colandrea has led the Huskers in rushing three of the last four games.
Coach Rhule told the press that the young running back is back and ready to roll in a primetime matchup under the lights.
“I think we’ve all seen what Jamal can do when he’s rolling. This bye week comes at a really good time for Jamal and a really good time for even Mekhi (Nelson). He doesn’t complain about it but I mean he hurt his ankle going into whatever game it was, I think maybe Maryland and he’s just fighting through it. With (Vincent) Genatone going down, Isaiah Mozee obviously went down last week, the bye week's great for him and just kind of that whole running back room. Seven weeks in the Big Ten, you're gonna have some bumps and bruises but hopefully those guys will all be flying around tonight.”
Nebraska vs. Washington kicks off at 7 p.m. CT and will air on BTN. The Huskers have announced a blackout theme and will wear black alternate jerseys for the second straight season.
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This article originally appeared on Cornhuskers Wire: Nebraska ready for leading rusher to return against Washington
