Here’s one of those strange statistics we bet you couldn’t have predicted entering Nebraska’s 2006 football season.

Through three games, sophomore receiver Nate Swift has nearly as many punt returns (two) as he does receptions (three).

It should be noted that Swift, the Huskers No. 1 “X” receiver, isn’t even listed on the depth chart as a punt returner.

“I’m actually like third- or fourth-string,” Swift said with a wry smile.

Swift also displayed some humor when asked, for clarification, if he indeed was Nebraska’s leading receiver last season.

“Yup,” was his response, accompanied by another wide smile.

Swift caught three passes for 46 yards in Nebraska’ first game against Louisiana Tech. He hasn’t had a catch since, but returned two punts in mop-up duty against Nicholls State.

Last season, Swift led Nebraska in receptions (45) and receiving yards (641). Both marks easily broke school freshman records.

“It’s a lot different than last year, just because we’re trying to establish the run game and trying to get that going,” Swift said. “It’s still early in the season. You never know what could happen. Once we get the run game established, the passing game will come after that.”

Swift understands the value of patience. Those impressive numbers he had last season? They all came after Swift went without a reception through the Huskers’ first three games.

Another way to look at it: Entering No. 23 Nebraska’s game Saturday night against Troy, Swift has caught a pass in only one career nonconference game.

Last week, Swift wasn’t the only NU receiver without a reception. Nebraska completed only nine passes in a 28-10 loss at USC, and four of those went to running back Brandon Jackson.

Knowing the USC game plan would be heavily run-oriented, Swift said he was prepared for the possibility of going without a catch.

“We definitely had our mind-set that we were going to go in there and block and help out the screen game, run game,” Swift said. “Coaches are really trying to just set up the run and get the run game going, so we can work off that.”

That, of course, can lead to some play-action plays, meaning Swift and other receivers figure to eventually benefit from run, run, run.

“It brings the safeties down in the box a lot of the time,” Swift said. “It makes the route running a lot easier when you can read and everyone’s down so tight. You can get behind them real easily instead of having them back in cover-2, cover-4.”

When Nebraska runs, though, that doesn’t mean Swift and other receivers are non-factors in the play. Downfield blocking by wide receivers is crucial, and something receivers coach Ted Gilmore stressed in fall camp.

So when coaches say Nebraska was just a block or two away from breaking a big play, think beyond the offensive line.

“I think we still have a lot of things to work on,” Swift said. “There a lot of guys still missing some blocks. That just comes with more experience in the game. We didn’t run a lot last year, so we didn’t get a lot of experience trying to block, get in there and grind.”

Reach Brian Rosenthal at 473-7436 or brosenthal@journalstar.com.