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Gus Malzahn, one of the brightest offensive minds of our generation, desperately wanted Nebraska's Ameer Abdullah. So did Nick Saban. So did USC. So did a handful of other SEC schools, including Ole Miss, Tennessee and Arkansas.

All of these power programs hoped to keep the Homewood, Alabama, senior close to home, which should come as no surprise. They saw the potential in Abdullah, even at just 5'8" and 30 pounds lighter than he is today.

Given the right tutelage, they felt that—if all went according to plan—Abdullah could eventually contribute at cornerback. Yes, cornerback.

Even Auburn—Abdullah's dream school—wanted him at a position he really wanted nothing to do with.

"It kind of ate me up," Abdullah told USA Today's Paul Myerberg about the recruiting process. "It really hurt my feelings. At a young age, my dream was to play running back. For your dream school to tell you that, it really hurt."

So it was time to leave.

From Alabama to Nebraska: Ameer Abdullah, 3-Star Cornerback

Nati Harnik/Associated Press

A Heisman Trophy was in another galaxy. A Big Ten championship—or even the thought of playing in the state of Nebraska—wasn't on the table. The NFL draft was just an entertaining telecast and nothing more. Even Abdullah's future at the position was in doubt.

Despite rushing for 1,795 yards on just 157 carries and scoring 28 touchdowns during his senior season—and doing so in one of the nation's recruiting hotbeds, in front of scouts weekly—Abdullah didn't set the recruiting world on fire. It was more of a slow churn.

The senior was listed as the No. 485 recruit nationally and the No. 25 athlete overall at 247Sports in the 2011 recruiting class. On Rivals, he was graded as a 3-star prospect and the No. 17 athlete in the nation.

He flashed brilliance, something JC Shurburtt, the national recruiting director at 247Sports, knew well before he was a star. But concerns over his size led to a much different recruiting picture than you might imagine.

"I saw him the most at the practices leading up to the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl that year in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and he was the most dynamic playmaker on the field that week," Shurburtt told Bleacher Report. "Just about every school wanted him as a cornerback or athlete, in large part because of his height. He was set on offense, though."

He didn't waver in his desire to play his position of choice, despite the pressure to play elsewhere. As interest and offers trickled in, Abdullah weighed his options.

It never felt as though the Alabama native—despite the mixed interest—would stray too far from home. Yet his dream to play running back at Auburn drifted away as spots filled up and commitments were made.

Justin Hokanson, insider at AuburnUndercover.com, remembers his recruitment.

"Ameer's older brother attended Auburn at the time he was being recruited. Ameer was an Auburn fan, and he would have likely jumped on an offer, but it never came," Hokanson said. "The Tigers liked him at cornerback, if they had a spot for him in the class. Auburn just never pulled the trigger."

As Abdullah weighed his decision and national signing day approached, Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini took a take a trip down to Alabama to visit the "athlete."

Pelini, not one for extravagant sales pitches and empty promises, entered Abdullah's home and got comfortable before the position talk began.

Nati Harnik/Associated Press

"He kicked off his shoes like he had been living there for seven years and put his feet up on my table,” Abdullah recalled. "I'm like, 'Look at this guy.' That's who Bo is, though."

The only guarantee that Pelini offered while visiting Abdullah was a chance. There was no talk of carries or playing time, but Abdullah would get his shot at running back. Given the way things had gone up until that conversation, even the possibility of competing at the position resonated. Pelini's tone helped seal the deal.

"He didn't promise me a thing, which was really odd," Abdullah said. "He came to my house and offered me a free education and an opportunity to potentially play on this football team. He left it at that, and that really sat with me. That's really what attracted me to Nebraska."

In committing to Nebraska, Abdullah exited his comfort zone. He left Alabama to play for a coach who was willing to give him what many others couldn't or wouldn't. Pelini, meanwhile, was happy to take a chance of his own on a player he saw potential in.

"We saw someone we thought was really talented, special and a great kid," Pelini said. "You never know how good they'll be, but we recruited him because we thought he was special. It's proven to be that way."

From Nebraska to Superstardom: Ameer Abdullah, Heisman Hopeful

The days of fighting for position acceptance are over. Ameer Abdullah now has his own line of batteries.

Sort of.

To push the Heisman candidacy of its star tailback, Nebraska recently sent out a courtesy reminder to media members. It came in a small, unassuming FedEx package. Inside were eight (Abdullah's number) AA batteries. As for the significance of the gift, the all-caps text on the front of the packaging—just directly below the number on Abdullah's jersey—accurately summarized the purpose of the item.

"POWERING NEBRASKA FOOTBALL SINCE 2011."

Via Adam Kramer

There is plenty of truth to this. Abdullah didn't exactly burst onto the scene as a true freshman back in 2011, serving as Rex Burkhead's primary backup months after he arrived in Lincoln. That changed the following season when Burkhead dealt with injuries throughout the year.

As a sophomore in 2012, Abdullah ran for more than 1,100 yards despite splitting carries. When he took over as the primary ball-carrier in 2013, his numbers took off. His 1,690 rushing yards were ninth nationally.

Thus far in 2014, he is on track to shatter all of his career bests. His 833 rushing yards are tops in the nation. He has accomplished this despite logging 20 fewer carries than Pittsburgh's James Conner, currently No. 2 in the country with 790 yards.

His eight rushing touchdowns leave him one shy of his career high. And his 7.3 yards per carry through five games is more than a yard better than his previous best output for a season, which came last year.

Abdullah has improved in every major statistical category over the course of his entire career. That might seem like common practice for college football players; however, it's really anything but. Injuries and attention gained oftentimes can be where reputation and production meet at the fork in the road.

As the attention on Abdullah has increased, however, his production has skyrocketed.

Ameer Abdullah Career Stats Year Rushing Yards Yards Per Carry Receiving Yards Touchdowns 2011 150 3.6 11 3 2012 1,137 5.0 178 10 2013 1,690 6.0 232 11 2014 (Five Games) 833 7.3 108 10 ESPN.com

"I think he's better in every area. I think he had a great year last year, but I think he's a better football player this year," Pelini said. "That's a testament to him and his hard work. His mindset and preparation. His drive. He's just playing at a very high level right now."

There are more physically gifted backs around the country. Georgia's Todd Gurley, for starters, is unmatched in this department. In terms of straight-line speed, look no further than fellow Big Ten running back Melvin Gordon, who has the edge in this department.

But in terms of the complete catalog, the one that stretches well past 40 times and other ways to categorize a running back's worth, it's hard to find a more productive back than this one.

In his past 18 games, Abdullah has eclipsed the 100-yard mark 15 times. In five games this season, he's gone over the 200-yard mark three separate occasions. And it's not just the numbers. It's the sheer violence of his cuts, his ability to fall forward for extra yardage and the way he can turn a short completion into a physics-defying 58-yard touchdown to save the Huskers' season.

Heisman moments typically don't happen in Week 2. They also don't come against McNeese State. But when you assess the individual effort that single-handedly won Nebraska a game that had no business being a contest in the first place, you can't help but rethink the accepted Heisman assessment protocol.

If Nebraska beats Michigan State on Saturday—and if cannot be stressed enough—it will likely have a great deal to do with what its star player was able to accomplish against one of the premier defenses in the country.

At that point, the Heisman conversations will change. They will have to. It doesn't matter how quarterback-driven the award has become—it will not be able to hold back Abdullah any longer. And even if the Cornhuskers succumb to what is likely a top-five team in a difficult environment, it should not change the perception of one of the nation's best offensive weapons. He has already made it.

Abdullah hasn't forgotten where he's come from or what it took from him to get here. Neither have the people who watched him thrive as a running back at Homewood High School or the various coaches that glazed over the prospect for someone else.

"It's probably the first thing I hear when I get off the plane," Abdullah said.

The state of Alabama didn't really want him; neither did the rest of the SEC. Neither did many others, for that matter, at least at the position he now dominates.

Ameer Abdullah has shed his 3-star label for something much more fitting: Heisman contender and the man powering Nebraska football since 2011.

Unless noted otherwise, all quotes obtained firsthand. You can follow Adam Kramer on Twitter @Kegsneggs