Sam Keller and Joe Ganz have been sharing equal repetitions at the No. 1 quarterback position during Nebraska’s first three spring practices, Keller said Saturday.

Keller, a senior transfer from Arizona State, and Ganz, a junior and last season’s top backup, are competing to replace two-year starter Zac Taylor, who graduated.

“I think the emphasis is to get everybody reps, because there are so many plays, so much installation in our offense the last couple of days,” said Keller, noting junior Beau Davis has also been getting some snaps. “You want to get everybody even reps to make sure everybody’s on the same page.”

Keller said he’s using the spring to become more familiar with coach Bill Callahan’s version of the West Coast offense.

“The more you know, the more you’re a student of the game, the better you’re going to be,” Keller said. “It’s got to become second nature.”

How far is Keller from that level?

“I don’t think with this offense, I don’t think you can ever get there,” he said. “There’s guys in the pros that are doing this offense, and I think even Peyton Manning will tell you he’s got more to learn. I’ve got eons to learn. It’s a day-by-day thing. The better I can get each day, the more proficient I’ll be.”

Keller noted his responsibility in the offense is to get everybody in position “and just be the delivery boy.” He said Nebraska’s talented group of receivers — which he regards as the offense’s strength — have helped him greatly.

“You’ve got guys with experience,” Keller said. “They know the ins and outs of running the routes. You can always rely on them being in the right spots.

“Having the guys that we have that are athletic and are smart, it just makes it easier on me, that’s for sure.”

LUCKY GOOD: Callahan said he’s been pleased with the progress of junior running back Marlon Lucky, who was hospitalized last month with an unspecified medical emergency. “I think he’s done great. I couldn’t be more pleased with his efforts and focus and concentration,” Callahan said. “Just talking to the little kids at the Husker Youth Experience, I asked them who their favorite player was, and they’re all yelling, ‘Marlon Lucky.’ He’s really done a terrific job, and it’s good to see him doing really well.”

IN PADS: Saturday was the Huskers’ first day in full pads this spring. They didn’t scrimmage, however. Callahan said a scrimmage could occur Monday or Wednesday, depending on the trainers’ report of the team’s overall health. “We had a lot of collisions and a lot of good contact,” Callahan said. “There was so much carryover from the bowl practices and also last season. The transitioning has been real smooth in that regard. We’ve been able to get off a lot of plays in a very short period of time.”

HIGH AND HARD: Callahan said coaches will continue to emphasize the “high and hard” method of tackling in scrimmages. “Everything is scrimmage mode and contact mode from the waist up, except there is no tackling,” Callahan said. “There is more forming of tackles than there is actual takedown tackles. We’re still going as hard as you can go, but nobody is going to the ground.” As for the popular Oklahoma tackling drill, Callahan said coaches have thus far not done that, instead implementing more special-teams work in that time period.

SPECIAL GUEST: First-year Denver Broncos defensive line coach Bill Johnson attended practice Saturday morning and conducted a clinic with Nebraska coaches in the afternoon. Johnson, who spent the past six seasons as the Atlanta Falcons’ defensive line coach, coached at Texas A&M when Tim Cassidy, Nebraska’s director of football operations, was also at A&M. Johnson also coached at Arkansas and Miami.

ANOTHER DAGUNDURO: Ade Dagunduro, the brother of former Nebraska defensive lineman Ola Dagunduro, attended Saturday’s practice with the Nebraska basketball coaching staff and visited shortly with Callahan. Ade is a 6-foot-5, 190-pound wing player from Antelope Valley (Calif.) College who was making an official weekend basketball recruiting visit.

LAST WORD: Callahan said Keller is being disciplined internally for his Thursday on-campus incident in which Keller was cited for disturbing the peace. “Sam has been very apologetic and remorseful,” Callahan said.“He’s a serious guy and he’s an emotional person. It’s an error he made and learned from.” Keller had apologized after Friday’s practice.

— Brian Rosenthal