If Nebraska’s latest game is an indication, Marlon Lucky will get the starting nod Saturday night against Southern California and receive the majority of action in the Huskers’ four-man I-back “committee.”

The nationally televised game might seem slightly surreal for the kid from North Hollywood, Calif., who grew up attending games at the Trojans’ home field, historic Los Angeles Coliseum.

If Lucky is churning inside, he doesn’t show it.

“It’s a game,” the low-key sophomore said. “I’m going to go in there, ignore everything else and get focused for the game.”

The approach has served Lucky well this season. The 6-foot, 210-pound speedster has been Nebraska’s most productive I-back through two games, carrying 31 times for 182 yards (5.9 per carry) and two touchdowns to pace the committee.

In last week’s home victory over Nicholls State, Lucky rushed six times for 40 yards during the opening series and finished with team highs of 18 carries for 103 yards.

Last season, playing sparingly as a true freshman, Lucky rushed 43 times for 129 yards (3.0 per carry) and didn’t catch a pass (he has four receptions for 55 yards this year).

Lucky has benefited from improved footwork, said Nebraska offensive coordinator Jay Norvell. Proper footwork is crucial for an I-back’s overall timing, the coach said.

Lucky said he has improved his field vision, explosion and blocking skills.

“He’s a lot more comfortable doing all of our runs now,” Norvell said. “That’s because of repetitions. He’s gotten a ton of reps with that first unit. He feels confident behind that first-string line and with (quarterback) Zac Taylor. It’s starting to show on the field.”

Said Lucky: “I’m very confident right now. I’ve gotten in the playbook a lot, so I know the plays and I know the strategy.”

Perhaps the next stage in Lucky’s development is improving his big-play ability — breaking through the second level of the defense and rattling off 40-plus-yard runs. His longest run as a Husker is 13 yards.

Nebraska I-backs are taught to read safeties, Norvell said. What’s more, Husker coaches emphasize the importance of “finishing” plays. For instance, if an I-back catches a 5-yard swing pass in a no-contact practice, he’s required to sprint some 50 yards down field.

“With really good players, you don’t have to teach them too much,” Norvell said. “They know how to break tackles and finish runs, and Marlon has that in him.”

USC coaches evidently felt the same way. During the latter part of Lucky’s senior season in high school, Trojans head coach Pete Carroll and several members of his staff showed up for a North Hollywood High playoff game in a late bid to lure Lucky to USC. However, the young running back held firm on his November 2004 commitment to Nebraska.

“USC showed me some love, and it was cool,” Lucky said. “But I had already committed.”

Lucky said he prefers Lincoln’s relatively slow pace to Los Angeles’ glitz and glamour.

“I just wanted to get out of the city and get far from my family — try to live on my own,” Lucky said.

Come Saturday, Lucky will compete against a Trojan defense that last season ranked 31st nationally defending the run (allowing 130.5 yards) and 48th in total defense (360.9). With five returning starters on defense, the Trojans opened the season Sept. 2 with a 50-14 win at Arkansas.

“I think they’re very comparable defensively to some of the top teams in our league, like Oklahoma — a lot of speed at linebacker, a good pass rush and athletic kids in the secondary,” Norvell said. “We’ll have to do a great job of executing to be able to move the ball and score points on these guys.”

As for bold predictions and trash talk about USC, you won’t hear it from Lucky.

“We’re just happy we have them on our schedule this year,” he said.

If nothing else, it means Lucky gets a free trip home.

“I won’t get nervous until the day of the game,” he said. “I’m excited to go.”

Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.