Honors & Awards

Second-Team All-Big 12 (Coaches, Fort Worth Star-Telegram in 2010; Coaches, KC Star, Dallas Morning News, Rivals.com in 2009)
Third-Team All-Big 12 (Phil Steele in 2010)
Honorable-Mention All-Big 12 (AP, 2009 and 2010; Coaches in 2009)
Walter Camp National Player of the Week (Oct. 30 vs. Missouri)
Rivals.com National Player of the Week (Oct. 30 vs. Missouri)
Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week (Oct. 30 vs. Missouri)
Maxwell Award Preseason Watch List (1 of 60)
Second-Team Academic All-Big 12 (2010)
School Record Single-Game Rushing Yards (307 vs. Missouri, Oct. 30)
Nebraska Offensive MVP (2009 and 2010)
2010 Team Captain
Big 12 Commissioner’s Spring Academic Honor Roll (2010)
Big 12 Commissioner’s Fall Academic Honor Roll (2010)

Senior Roy Helu Jr. completed one of the finest careers for a Nebraska running back in 2010. The Danville, Calif., native moved into the top five on the Cornhuskers’ career rushing list, while placing his name in the NU record book in several other areas.
Helu Jr. rushed for a team-high 1,245 yards and 11 touchdowns this season, including four 100-yard rushing games. He was the first Nebraska player to rush for 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons since Calvin Jones accomplished the feat in 1992 and 1993. He also finished 11th on the single-season Nebraska rushing list, and his 2010 total was the second-most ever for a Nebraska senior. Helu Jr.’s 2010 total pushed his career yardage to 3,404 yards, fourth on the NU career list.
The 6-0, 220-pound Helu Jr. had a record-setting day against Missouri rushing for a school-record 307 yards and three touchdowns, all covering at least 53 yards. Those runs were three of Helu’s seven touchdown runs that covered at least 50 yards this season. He had 28 career rushing touchdowns and is one of only 17 players with at least 25 career rushing touchdowns.
Helu Jr. was honored for his efforts throughout the season. He was chosen as a second-team All-Big 12 choice by the league’s coaches for the second straight season. He also earned National Player-of-the-Week honors for his effort against Missouri. Helu Jr. is one of 13 Huskers who played in the Holiday Bowl as graduates, as he picked up his degree in sociology this month, finishing in just seven semesters.

2010 (Senior)
Western Kentucky: Enjoyed an efficient evening with five carries for 29 yards and a score as Nebraska rolled to a 49-10 victory. Idaho: Collected his first 100-yard day, rushing for 107 yards and a score on just nine carries...broke open a 10-0 game with a 58-yard scoring run in the second quarter, his longest dash since a 63-yard scamper against Oklahoma last November. Washington: Helu helped ignite Nebraska’s 383-yard rushing day, carrying 10 times for 110 yards and a pair of scores in NU’s 56-21 win...posted his second 100-yard day of the year, scoring an eight-yard touchdown in the second quarter before breaking off a 65-yard scoring dash in the third quarter to make it 42-21. South Dakota State: Helu saw his streak of 100-yard days snapped, as he finished with 59 yards on 19 carries in NU’s 17-3 win over South Dakota State. Kansas State: Helu earned his third 100-yard day in four weeks, totaling 110 yards on just 10 carries..broke open the game with a 68-yard scoring run in the third quarter. Texas: Was held to 43 yards on 11 carries and did not have a rush longer than seven yards. Oklahoma State: Totaled 42 yards on 12 carries to help NU score 51 points at Oklahoma State...also caught his first two passes of the season, totaling 10 yards. Missouri: Enjoyed a record-setting day against Missouri, rushing for a career-high 307 yards and three touchdowns, to earn Walter Camp Foundation National Player-of-the-Week honors, as well as Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week...set single-game school marks for rushing (307) and all-purpose yards (321), breaking the single-game rushing mark of 294 set by Calvin Jones in 1991..scored on a 66-yard run on NU’s first offensive play and raced for a career-long 73-yard touchdown later in the same quarter...capped the day with a 53-yard score, his sixth run of 50 or more yards this season...matched his career high with 28 carries, as he went over the 100-yard mark for the fourth time this season and 11th in his career....became the first runner in the FBS to run for 300 yards this season (85th time in NCAA FBS history). Iowa State: Fell one yard shy of his fifth 100-yard day of the season, carrying 22 times for 99 yards, including a six-yard touchdown run. Kansas: Enjoyed a solid afternoon, rushing 18 times for 85 yards and a touchdown, a 20-yard score in the second quarter that put NU ahead 14-0. Texas A&M: Rushed nine times for 52 yards to eclipse the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the season...became the first Husker to post back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons since Calvin Jones in 1992-93...Had a 31-yard run in the third quarter. Colorado: Turned in a solid performance to help NU clinch the Big 12 North Division title, rushing 15 times for 77 yards against the Buffaloes...set up NU’s first score of the third quarter with a 21-yard run, as the Huskers took a 24-3 lead. Oklahoma: Rushed 11 times for 91 yards, including a 66-yard touchdown that gave the Huskers a 7-0 lead...it was his seventh run of 50 or more yards in 2010. Washington: Capped his career with 11 rushing for 34 yards in the Holiday Bowl.

2009 (Junior)
Helu eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark four times and ranked fourth in the Big 12 in rushing at 81.9 yards per game. Helu was also adept at finding the end zone, leading the team with 10 touchdowns, including three-touchdown efforts against Florida Atlantic and Kansas. He also continued to be a receiving threat with 19 receptions, the third-highest total on the team.

Helu opened the year in impressive fashion with 152 yards on 16 carries against Florida Atlantic. He ran for 95 yards and two touchdowns on five second-half carries and had three TDs in the 49-3 win. Helu accounted for 104 yards against Arkansas State with 60 rushing yards and four receptions.

He continued his impressive play away from Lincoln with a career-high 169 yards on a career-high 28 carries at Virginia Tech. Against the stout Hokie defense, Helu averaged 6.0 yards per carry and had four runs of at least 20 yards. He also led the team with four catches for 33 yards.

Helu led the team with 83 yards and two rushing touchdowns against Louisiana-Lafayette. Battling the flu at Missouri, Helu ran for 88 yards and a five-yard touchdown to help NU to a come-from-behind victory. He gained 68 yards against Texas Tech, before a nagging shoulder injury slowed him significantly the next two weeks, limiting him to just 12 combined carries against Iowa State and Baylor.

He got back on track against Oklahoma, posting another impressive performance against a ranked team. Helu had 20 carries for 138 yards, including a career-long 63-yard run, in the defensive struggle. He also had three catches and accounted for 158 of the team's 180 total yards. Helu posted a second straight 100-yard rushing effort with 156 yards on a season-high-tying 28 carries at Kansas. He rushed for two touchdowns and recovered a fumble in the end zone for a third score. Helu also closed the game with 85 yards and a pair of scores on NU's final two drives of the game.

Helu just missed a third straight 100-yard rushing game against Kansas State, finishing with 95 yards on 26 carries, including a 14-yard third quarter touchdown. In the game he also passed 1,000 yards for the season and 2,000 yards in his career. Helu had 54 rushing yards at Colorado, 28 yards in the Big 12 title game against Texas and was slowed by injury in the Holiday Bowl, limiting him to just two carries.

2008 (Sophomore)
Helu played in all 13 games with starts in the final two contests of the season. His play after Nov. 1 earned him honorable-mention all-conference honors. For the year, Helu rushed for a team-high 803 yards and averaged 6.4 yards per carry, the best average by a Husker in seven years. He also caught 25 passes out of the backfield.

Helu topped 50 rushing yards seven times, including 100-yard games against Oklahoma, Kansas and Colorado. He finished 10th in the Big 12 in rushing and his 80.0 yards per game in Big 12 play ranked fifth in the conference. Helu rushed for 510 yards in the final four games of the regular season, helping NU average 211.6 rushing yards per game over the final half of 2008. He also showed explosiveness with eight runs of 20 yards or more in the final four games.

Helu ran for 157 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries at Oklahoma, including a season-long 57-yard run. He added 115 yards and two touchdowns against Kansas, while setting career bests with eight catches for 61 yards. The back-to-back 100-yard games marked the first time an NU back had accomplished that feat in Big 12 play since 2006.

He added 72 yards and two touchdowns at Kansas State and capped the year with 25 carries for 166 yards against Colorado. He also caught five passes for 49 yards to total a career-high 215 all-purpose yards.

2007 (Freshman)
Helu was one of 11 true freshmen to play, appearing in seven games. He finished as NU's third-leading rusher with 45 carries for 209 yards, while adding five receptions. Helu had a season-high 14 carries for 55 yards against Oklahoma State, added 39 yards against Texas A&M and carried nine times for a season-high 56 yards at Kansas.

Before Nebraska (San Ramon valley HS)
Helu was one of four 2007 signees from California and came to Lincoln after an impressive career at San Ramon Valley High School for Coach Dave Kravitz. Helu helped San Ramon Valley to a 10-2 record in 2006, earning first-team all-league honors at running back. He finished his senior campaign with 1,085 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns and added another 300 yards and one more score on 20 receptions. He also had one interception as a free safety.

As a junior, Helu rushed for 1,526 yards and 19 scores on 186 carries during the 2005 season, good for an impressive 8.2 yards per carry. He added 30 receptions for 500 yards and four touchdowns to earn All-East Bay League honors. Helu was also a dangerous return man for San Ramon Valley throughout his high school career. Helu only visited Nebraska, but also received offers from numerous schools, including BYU, California and Oregon.

Personal
Helu was born on Dec. 7, 1988 and is the son of Roy Helu Sr. and Kilistofa (Kristi) Helu. He is majoring in sociology and has been a regular volunteer through NU's community outreach activities. He has worked with numerous FCA activities, as well as volunteering at Elliot Elementary School and as part of the Huskers' team hospital visits.

Helu was born on Dec. 7, 1988 and is the son of Roy Helu Sr. and Kilistofa (Kristi) Helu. He is majoring in sociology and has been a regular volunteer through NU's community outreach activities. He has worked with numerous FCA activities, as well as volunteering at Elliot Elementary School and as part of the Huskers' team hospital visits.

Helu's Career Statistics

Year

G/S

Att.

Gain

Loss

Net

Y/A

Y/G

Long

TDs

2007

7/0

212

209

4.6

29.9

24 at Kansas

2008 13/2 125 839 36 803 6.4 61.8 57 at Oklahoma 7 2009 14/14 220 1,193 46 1,147 5.2 81.9 63 vs. Oklahoma 10 2010 14/14 188 1,292 47 1,245 6.8 88.9 73 vs. Missouri 11

Totals

48/28

578

3,536

132

3,404

5.9

70.9

73 at Missouri

Single-Game Bests:
Rushing Attempts–28, three times, twice in 2009, once in 2010
Rushing Yards–307 vs. Missouri, 2010
Long Rush–73, vs. Missouri, 2010
Rushing Touchdowns-3, three times, twice in 2009, once in 2010

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