Barrett Ruud understands the potential drawbacks of a National Football League career.

He's heard former Nebraska players say the NFL is a business and that despite the inherent glamour and riches, playing often feels like a job.

Ruud's ready to learn for himself.

"I've heard people say that NFL stands for ‘Not For Long,'" Ruud said. "I'd like to play for a while. I can't think of a better job after college."

NFL Draft experts predict the Nebraska middle linebacker will have success competing at the sport's highest level.

The 6-foot-2, 240-pound Ruud is ranked No. 1 on ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr.'s list of the top five draft-eligible inside linebackers. Lance Mitchell of Oklahoma is rated No. 2.

Gil Brandt, senior analyst for NFL.com, said Saturday that Ruud "will play in the NFL and play for a long time."

The NFL Draft is  April 24-25.

"His season ended last Friday," said Brandt, referring to Nebraska's loss to Colorado. "And his dash for cash started last Saturday."

Although Ruud this week was willing to talk about his playing future, he was reluctant to delve into the 2004 season. It was all too painful, the 5-6 finish and the home loss to the Buffaloes that wiped Nebraska from the bowl picture for the first time in 36 years.

Ruud failed to materialize for the postgame session with reporters.

"It was kind of a mix of depression and frustration," Ruud said of his mood after the game. "I just kind of sat there in the locker room for a while, and then I just wanted to get out of there. I probably wouldn't have been a very good interview anyway.

"I went home and sat on the couch for a couple of hours and tried to forget things."

Ruud didn't want to forget

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everything. He'll always remember the relationships he formed at Nebraska, he said. And he made his share of on-field memories en route to a school-record 432 tackles during his four years in the program.

Ruud played for three defensive coordinators at Nebraska and experienced mixed results. Last season, under Bo Pelini, the Husker defense finished with a No. 11 national ranking and forced a school-record 47 turnovers.

This season, under Kevin Cosgrove, Nebraska ranked No. 57 nationally as of Saturday and forced only 20 turnovers, one shy of a school-record low.

"I'm not blaming anybody," Ruud said. "It's tough. When your defense finishes in the top 15 one year, and then there are changes, it's tough for everyone involved.

"We have a lot of players coming back, and hopefully it'll improve."

Ruud was a picture of stability amid massive change that engulfed the Nebraska program in the last three seasons. He either started or played the majority of the snaps at middle linebacker in every game since the start of the 2002 season, playing through various bumps and bruises.

His durability is a trait that won't be lost on NFL personnel types.

Ruud anticipates playing either middle linebacker or weakside linebacker in the NFL. If Ruud is able to cover receivers well "in space" — or in the open field — his chances of thriving in the league increase, according to experts.

"Everybody's playing that Tampa Bay cover-two where the middle linebacker has to cover down field," Brandt said.

Brandt, who spent three decades as a top Dallas Cowboys executive, encourages draft prospects to remain in shape after their college seasons end.

Ruud said he plans to step up his workouts right after Christmas.

Agents have been calling on a nightly basis for weeks, Ruud said. He'll settle on one soon.

Yes, the NFL's a business.

"But it's kind of like I've been in a business for the last three years," Ruud said.

Lucky for Ruud, he has people in his life that know the lay of the NFL land. He said he seeks guidance from his father, Tom Ruud, a first-round pick by Buffalo in 1975; Pelini, a former NFL assistant; and Jimmy Williams, a former Husker assistant and NFL standout linebacker.

"I've heard I could go anywhere from late in the first round to early in the third," Ruud said. "What's fun is you really have no idea where you'll go.

"Whoever wants to take me, I'm ready to go there."

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