Nebraska running backs coach Ron Brown likes to call Ameer Abdullah “Mighty Mouse.”

The diminutive sophomore also could be called “The Man.”

Abdullah, who ran the ball all of 42 times last season, reached 200 carries and crossed the 1,000-yard threshold for the season against Minnesota on Saturday.

The knee injury that has put All-Big Ten back Rex Burkhead on the sideline for most of his senior season necessitated Abdullah’s heavier workload.

the 5-foot-9, 185-pound Abdullah is on pace to finish with 254 carries and 1,299 yards, assuming the Huskers go to the Big Ten championship game and have three games left. That would be 30 carries and 58 yards fewer than Burkhead had last year but more than any other Nebraska back the past 10 years.