Nebraska’s depleted and much-maligned secondary may have received a much-needed boost Tuesday.

Junior college cornerback Armando Murillo, a native of Tampa, Fla., said he’s given his oral commitment to the Huskers.

“They have the total package,” Murillo said. “It’s what I was looking for.”

Murillo will be in Lincoln for spring practices after joining the team in January.

Just not Jan. 1.

Not that Nebraska couldn’t use Murillo’s help when it faces No. 10 Auburn in the Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Day.

The Husker secondary, which began the 2006 season with the loss of injured starter Zackary Bowman, has been a primary weakness and endured its share of criticism throughout the year.

Murillo could provide help. At 6 feet and 194 pounds, he’s a four-star recruit according to Rivals.com and Scout.com. Rivals.com also ranks Murillo as its No. 20 overall prospect on its junior college Top 50 list.

Murillo played two seasons for Eastern Arizona College, collecting a combined 10 interceptions. He will have two seasons of eligibility remaining. He also had scholarship offers from Oklahoma, Kansas, West Virginia, Louisville, Mississippi, Arizona State and Hawaii.

Safeties coach Bill Busch was Murillo’s main recruiter, and Murillo said cornerbacks coach Phil Elmassian is one of the main reasons he chose Nebraska.

“I talked to him a lot. He’s just a good guy,” Murillo said. “He’s real exciting. He’s hard-core, get the job done. That’s what I need.”

Murillo visited Lincoln the weekend the Huskers played Kansas. He said then he recognized Nebraska’s lack of depth at cornerback and how he could make an immediate impact. Bowman was his host on the trip.

Murillo is among 19 known oral commitments to Nebraska’s 2007 recruiting class. Four of them are defensive backs, three of them cornerbacks.

Yes, it’s an area of need for Nebraska.

The Huskers are ranked 89th nationally in pass defense, allowing an average of 223.3 yards per game. Take out the Nicholls State game — the Colonels didn’t complete a pass in only three attempts — and that average jumps to 241.9 yards, which would rank Nebraska 105th in pass defense.

What’s more, seven opposing receivers turned in season-best performances — their most yards and most catches — in games against Nebraska.

Problems began when Bowman, himself a junior college cornerback who came to Nebraska with five stars, suffered a season-ending ACL injury in August. Bowman had finished strong in 2005.

Without him, Nebraska lacked depth and immediately moved two wide receivers to cornerback. One of them, senior Isaiah Fluellen, also tore his ACL. The other, Tyrell Spain, hasn’t contributed.

That left junior Cortney Grixby and junior college transfer Andre Jones to shoulder virtually all of Nebraska’s cornerback load. Neither is regarded as a “lockdown” corner the Huskers desperately seek. Combined, they have 17 pass breakups and two interceptions.

Behind Grixby and Jones, the Huskers have three true freshmen cornerbacks — Rickey Thenarse, Anthony West and Corey Young. Thenarse, who has one interception, and Young have played little.

Bowman has a year of eligibility remaining but is gauging his NFL Draft stock. He has until mid-January to declare early for the draft.

Briefly

* Nebraska will return to practice Saturday. Students have Dead Week this week and finals next week.

* Nebraska has sold nearly 9,000 tickets of its allotment of 12,500 for the Cotton Bowl. Fans can purchase tickets at Huskers.com or by calling (800) 8-BIG RED. Tickets are $90 each.

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