He's the defensive back Nebraska receivers fear most in practice, an "absolute animal," according to Husker linebacker Bo Ruud.

His name isn't Josh Bullocks, the All-America free safety. It isn't Daniel Bullocks, the hard-nosed strong safety. It isn't Lornell McPherson, the sure-tackling right cornerback.

"He's 5-foot-6, you know, but he's just a brick," Ruud said.

OK, that narrows the list to two, and you can throw out 5-6  tailback Cory Ross.

Although the casual Nebraska football fan might be unaware of reserve strong safety Brandon Rigoni's prowess, his Husker teammates and coaches have grown to respect and admire the undersized terror of a walk-on who serves as the team's "missile," or wedge-buster, on the No. 1 kickoff unit.

Indeed, it seems Husker head coach Bill Callahan has a genuine soft spot for the Lincoln Southeast graduate.

"I love the kid," Callahan said. "I mean, why wouldn't you love him?"

Callahan has a point. After all, Rigoni is the type of kid who keeps Division I-A football coaches smiling despite the inherent headaches of leading a big-time program.

Rigoni carries a 3.7 grade point average in psychology and praises his parents, Chuck and Monica Rigoni, for developing his work ethic. Indeed, Brandon Rigoni takes as much pride in his often thankless duties on the Husker scout team as he did in his hot and dirty work as a roofer during the summer.

When he's finished with football, Rigoni said, he's considering becoming a Navy SEAL. Rigoni said he has "a ton of respect" for his grandfather, who served in the Navy.

"And Special Forces is the best of the best, from what I understand," Rigoni said, referring to the SEALs.

For now, Rigoni plans to help the Huskers in any way he can. Callahan, the new Husker commander, apparently has had no problem finding work for the 180-pound sophomore.

"You watch him (on the scout team), and he's all over the field," Callahan said. "You can line him up as a defensive end to rush the passer, to give your tackles a look. You put him on special teams, and he's like a kamikaze. … Then you put him back there as a secondary guy, as a strong safety, to play some of your two-deep and your three-deep in robber coverages.

"He can be a designated blitzer. He can be a gunner. Where do you want to put him?"

It became clear Nebraska coaches saw something special in Rigoni during the spring, when they selected him as the most improved special-teams player.

Indeed, at that point, one had to figure Rigoni would avoid being among the many walk-ons who were cut from the program as the new Nebraska regime sliced the roster to what it felt was a more manageable size.

Not that Rigoni didn't have some initial concern.

"Well, I went home and discussed it with my parents right off the bat, like I do with most things," he said. "I guess they just kind of told me to keep doing what I was doing. I guess they've always kind of had the attitude that everything happens for a reason."

Indeed, there's a reason Rigoni is Nebraska's "missile" on the kickoff team and the "gunner" on the punt team. The jobs are essentially the same, he said, "just run down and take a shot on the ball, not a whole lot of responsibility."

The jobs suit Rigoni perfectly because of his fearlessness, Ruud said.

"He just kills people," said Ruud, also a Lincoln Southeast graduate. "Since I've played with him from sixth grade on, he's always been like that. He's just been a killer. He's just one of those guys who plays like a missile."

Ruud said Rigoni possesses an enthusiasm for life in general.

"He's one of those guys who does double workouts," Ruud said. "You'll catch him doing a second workout at 11 o'clock at night."

Said Rigoni, "I try to use my time well. I don't have a lot of free time to sit around and watch TV and B.S. with the boys."

Rigoni was a high school standout, playing defensive back, receiver and running back for a powerful Southeast squad. He played midget football with fellow Huskers Bo and Barrett Ruud, fullback Dane Todd and defensive end Trevor Neemann, all of whom starred at Southeast.

If he hadn't walked on at Nebraska, Rigoni said, he might already be a Navy SEAL, a proud and courageous member of the elite Special Forces.

For now, his focus is going full- bore on Husker special teams and scout teams.

"That's the way I've always played the game," Rigoni said. "That's the way I feel it should be played."

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