Nunn needs to catch a pass in each of the next nine games to break Johnny Rodgers’ school record of 38 straight with a reception. If Nunn makes 31 more catches, he’ll break the 1972 Heisman Trophy winner’s career mark of 143.

“He’s one of the all-time greatest,” Nunn said. “It would mean a lot to even have my name thrown in the same sentence as his.”

Nunn has caught at least one pass in 36 of his 40 career games. His streak of 30 in a row started with a five-catch day against Colorado in the final game in 2004. He had four catches for 57 yards in last week’s loss to Southern California, marking the 16th time that he’s had that many receptions in a game.

The Huskers entertain Ball State today.

There’s nothing flashy about the senior from Houston. Nunn is deceptively fast, receivers coach Ted Gilmore said, but he lacks the size of so-called prototype receivers. He’s listed at 6 feet tall, but that’s a stretch, and he weighs 190 pounds.

But he’s versatile, with the ability to execute any kind of pass route, Gilmore said.

Receiver Maurice Purify admires Nunn’s courage.

“He’s a good all-around receiver,” Purify said. “He can run good routes and he has pretty sure hands. And he’s the only 5-10 receiver I know who runs across the middle as much as he does.”

Nunn said his father, Allester Nunn, taught him that a good receiver has to be fearless and not be consumed by thoughts of getting hit by a linebacker or safety – “the bad guys,” as Nunn calls them.

“My dad always told me, ‘You’re going to get hit whether you catch it or don’t catch it, so you might as well look good and catch it,’ ” Nunn said.

Nunn originally was recruited by the staff of former coach Frank Solich. When Solich was fired, Nunn changed his pledge to Wisconsin. But Callahan, upon his hiring, wooed Nunn back to Nebraska to play in the West Coast offense.

Nunn has appeared in every game since joining the Huskers and has been a big help to Gilmore on and off the field.

“Terrence was here the first year with this staff, so he’s had a chance to grow in the system,” Gilmore said. “As his position coach, I lean on him to provide younger guys with some leadership, and to mentor them and bring them along. That’s the one thing he didn’t have when he got here – someone to show him the way. Now that’s a part of his legacy, to show them the way and help them with the learning curve.”

Purify, a junior-college transfer last year, said Nunn welcomed him into the fold and showed him how to do things the right way in workouts and practice.

“When I got the starting job,” Purify said, “he was the only one to come up and congratulate me on getting the starting spot. He had a great influence on me.”

Nunn knows he has a legitimate chance to break Rodgers’ records, but he said he doesn’t keep close track of his pursuit. He does admit to feeling a bit of relief after making his first catch each game.

“I think about it sometimes, but I don’t let it affect my play,” he said. “It’s all a team game, so I don’t go out there thinking about myself.”