LINCOLN, NEB. ? Nebraska running back Marques Simmons is one patient freshman.

Even after an eye-opening spring game when he gained 88 yards on 12 carries, Simmons knows he will be spending a majority of the fall watching football and not playing.

Nebraska White quarterback Mike Stuntz (16) is chased by Red's Seppo Evwaraye and Rodney Burgess (6). The annual spring game was held Saturday in Lincoln, Neb.

“I’m still waiting for my time,” said Simmons, who had a 10-yard touchdown run for the White team’s only score in Saturday’s spring game.

“I know it’s going to happen. I’m not going to rush. I’m not going to be in a hurry. If I play I play. If I don’t, I’m not going to be mad at the coaches or anything like that.”

But with four years of eligibility left, Simmons may not have to wait much longer. Nebraska’s top two I-backs, Dahrran Diedrick and Thunder Collins, will be seniors in the fall.

Simmons is not guaranteed to be the No. 3 back, but he made a solid case for himself Saturday.

“Marques is very much a speed back that is able to give you some acceleration off a cut,” coach Frank Solich said. “He’s shown that throughout his career here. He showed it last year on the scout team some and showed it this year throughout the spring.”

Simmons, who rushed for 1,355 yards at Davenport (Iowa) North High his senior season, didn’t commit to Nebraska until signing day last winter.

Simmons said he considered Iowa and Iowa State, but chose to leave his home state for Nebraska, where fellow Davenport native Roger Craig was a star before Simmons was born. Simmons’ father, Clancy, was Craig’s physical education teacher in elementary school.

“Everybody was like ‘Are you trying to follow Roger?’ and I just said no, I’m just trying to be myself,” Simmons said. “I never knew how the fans were how they embrace you like this.”

At 5-foot-8, 195 pounds, Simmons relies more on quickness than size. He went untouched Saturday on an option from the 10-yard line for his touchdown.

“It was just wide open. He just pitched it out to me and there was nowhere to go but the end zone. I just tried to barrel my way in,” Simmons said.

Simmons’ 7.3 yards per carry couldn’t quite top Diedrick’s day. The starting I-back didn’t play much, but gained 96 yards on 12 carries with one touchdown.

“I see him do something well, I want to do something well. We all work off each other’s energy,” Simmons said. “He had a good day. That shows you why he’s our No. 1 back right now.”