Nebraska quarterback recruit Blaine Gabbert's team, Parkway West High School in Ballwin, Mo., will play host to rival Parkway North at 7 p.m. on ESPNU.

It appears Gabbert will not play in the game due to a shoulder injury.

The highly touted Gabbert verbally pledged in May to the Huskers' class of 2008. He turned down Alabama and Missouri, among others. He's rated as the nation's No. 14 overall prospect by Rivals.com and No. 26 by Scout.com.

Gabbert, however, has struggled this season. Through five games, he's completed 45 of 102 passes (44.1 percent) for 615 yards and five touchdowns with five interceptions.

Grixby's resurgence: Senior Zackary Bowman and junior Armando Murillo have emerged as Nebraska's two starting cornerbacks, leaving senior Cortney Grixby to fulfill a role as nickel back.

It must suit him, considering Grixby is playing perhaps the best football of his career.

"He's done a good job with it," Nebraska cornerbacks coach Phil Elmassian said. "He's really done well. Even as a corner, he's done well."

Grixby had two interceptions Saturday against Iowa State and deflected another pass that Bo Ruud intercepted and returned 93 yards for a touchdown. Grixby has four pass breakups for the season.

Elmassian said he's happy to see Grixby perform so well after having what the coach called a "disappointing" junior season.

"In 2006, he did not have a good year the first half of the season," Elmassian said. "He'll tell you that preparations were not what he needed to do. The fun thing for this year is to see him focus and really have a great year. It's paying dividends. He's really prepared well this year."

By the numbers: 61 - Number of points scored by Husker walk-ons this season. Against Iowa State on Saturday, walk-on players scored 23 of Nebraska's 35 points.

Fullback Thomas Lawson had 12 (two touchdowns), tight end Sean Hill had six (one touchdown) and kick Alex Henery had five (five extra points).

Scouting report: P Dan Titchener

Husker coach Bill Callahan expressed satisfaction with his team's punting game to this point.

"I can't say enough good things about Danny," he said.

That would be a reference to sophomore punter Dan Titchener, who ranks 43rd in the country in punting, averaging 41.65 yards a kick.

In the probably more important stat of net punting, the Huskers rank 23rd, averaging 37.67 a punt.

"We can't ask for anything more than what he's given," Callahan said of Titchener. "He's been very consistent in terms of his hang time, his ability to put the ball up and let the (coverage) get (there). He's done some directional. He's moved the returnman, but probably the most impressive thing he's done is just pin an opponent inside the 20."

Opponent Watch: Missouri

Evidently, Missouri coach Gary Pinkel is expecting a Tiger victory Saturday night against Nebraska.

The Columbia Missourian, the Missouri student newspaper, reported that Pinkel sent a campuswide e-mail encouraging MU students to show restraint and not rush the field.

"Good sportsmanship is vital to our university's reputation and our team's success," Pinkel said in the email. "We encourage our fans to enjoy the game safely and responsibly."

The game, by the way, officially became a sellout on Wednesday.

— Steven M. Sipple, Brian Rosenthal and Brian Christopherson