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LINCOLN - Nebraska junior tackle Andrew Rodriguez remembers former teammate Roy Helu telling him that his college football career would go by quickly.

That was two years ago.

Seems like yesterday to Rodriguez.

His career is half-over. And that realization is starting to set in, he said.

Hence, an increased sense of urgency for Rodriguez, who started seven games at guard last season but was sidelined toward the end of the year because of a foot sprain. The former Aurora High School standout says he's more committed than ever.

"I'm getting old," Rodriguez said. "Football doesn't last very long, for linemen especially. I'm just going to grind whatever I have left in football. Just go all out."

He has a couple of classmates at his position thinking the same thing.

Rodriguez and fellow juniors Brent Qvale and Jeremiah Sirles are all eager to earn a place in Nebraska's rotation at offensive tackle now that veterans Marcel Jones and Yoshi Hardrick have departed.