Nebraska center Kurt Mann has responded well to a bout with mononucleosis that was “really bad” at times, Husker offensive line coach Dennis Wagner said Friday.

The 6-foot-4, 290-pound Mann returned to practice this week and made the 70-man travel roster for tonight’s game at Iowa State. He missed the last four games after coming down with the illness last month and losing 27 pounds.

“I can tell you that at one point it was a really serious situation,” Wagner told the Big Red Breakfast crowd in Omaha. “Not many people realize how bad Kurt was.”

Mann had typhoid mononucleosis — a rare case of mono, Wagner said, and his fever reached 103 degrees.

“We as coaches would go to see him and they wouldn’t let us in the room,” Wagner said. “We were all very concerned about him.”

The senior from Grand Island will suit up today and be ready on an “if-needed basis,” Wagner said.

“I think he’s seeing it’s going to take him some time to come back,” said Wagner, noting Mann was limited in practice this week.

On average, Wagner said, Nebraska runs about 340 plays in practice.

“He probably got about 30 to 40 of those plays.” 

KU GAME PLAN: Wagner offered a glimpse into Nebraska’s offensive game plan against Kansas last week. Because the Jayhawk defense’s strengths were its interior line and middle linebacker Mike Rivera, the Huskers sought to pick on KU’s cornerbacks. “We told the guys we wanted to try to throw the ball early and wear them down, and then come out in the second half and start running the ball, more than we would in the first half.” The plan worked out OK — that is, until quarterback Zac Taylor and running back Cody Glenn lost fumbles on Nebraska’s first two third-quarter possessions. NU favored the pass from that point. “The ball-security issue was a big concern for us,” Wagner said, and remains a concern entering this week’s game.

JUST WIN BABY: Kansas’ 574 total yards last week were the most Nebraska has ever allowed in a victory. Before last week, the most yards Nebraska allowed in a win occurred in the 1998 opener, when Louisiana Tech rolled up 569 in a 56-27 loss. That was Frank Solich’s debut as Husker head coach.

WAITING: Sophomore offensive tackle Lydon Murtha, a ballyhooed recruit in the class of 2004, began preseason drills as Nebraska’s No. 1 left tackle but soon was overtaken at the position by junior Chris Patrick. In last week’s overtime win against Kansas, the 6-7, 315-pound Murtha played only about 20 snaps as a swing tackle. Wagner is looking for Murtha to add some nastiness to his game. “As he develops that mentality, that’ll make a difference,” the coach said. “It hasn’t ignited yet. As a coach, it’s my job to draw it out of him.”

HAINES AT HOME: Junior tackle Victory Haines, a transfer from Snow (Utah) College, isn’t among the 11 offensive linemen on Nebraska’s travel roster. The 6-7, 290-pound Haines has played in “clean-up situations” late in home games, Wagner said. “Victory is a great guy and has done some good things for us, but in the weight room he’s not quite as strong as some of our other guys, and that will be his biggest challenge in the offseason. He’ll need to try to close the gap between him and some of the other guys.”

HERIAN PROGRESS: After recording seven receptions and two touchdowns during the first two games this season, Nebraska senior tight end Matt Herian has had only one reception in the past three games and none in the last two. Herian shows effects from the fractured leg suffered during the 2004 season, Wagner said. “He’s getting better every day, but it’s still a process for him as far as his running. You can see that he sometimes has a hard time changing directions when he puts his foot in the ground.”

RECRUITING EMPHASIS: Nebraska is emphasizing the recruitment of defensive backs and defensive linemen for the class of 2007, according to Wagner. “We’re looking for six defensive backs and five defensive linemen.” As it stands, the Huskers have received oral commitments from three DBs and two d-linemen.

ETC.: Nebraska is playing about 10 or 11 offensive linemen in most games, Wagner said, noting improved depth. Among the top 10 offensive linemen are four sophomores, four juniors and a freshman. … The Huskers have allowed only five sacks in 135 pass attempts. “We’re very proud of that,” Wagner said.