(AP) - Even though Ameer Abdullah is Nebraska's undisputed No. 1 running back, he's approaching the football season as if he is competing for the job.

Abdullah was one of the Big Ten's biggest surprises last season, running for more than 1,100 yards filling in for the injured Rex Burkhead. Now a junior, he says he's just as hungry as he was his freshman year.

Abdullah attracted little fanfare when he signed with Nebraska in 2011. Of the three running backs in that year's recruiting class, he's the only one who remains at Nebraska.

Big Ten coaches named Abdullah to their all-conference second team last season. The 5-foot-9, 190-pounder had six 100-yard games, finished with 1,137 yards and eight touchdowns and caught 24 passes for 178 yards and two more scores.