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Fullbacks are alive and well in Big Ten

Andy Janovich is the envy of every Big Ten fullback and a rock star to Nebraska fans this week.

In an era when players at his position mostly are consigned to the role of blocker — if the team even has a fullback — Janovich touched the ball six times last Saturday.

We're not talking 3-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust stuff here, either. Those six touches netted 121 yards from scrimmage against Southern Mississippi, the most since 2012 by a major-college fullback not playing in a triple-option offense, according to STATS.

Though Janovich's numbers are an aberration among players at his position, Big Ten fullbacks as a group do tend to be more active than their peers in other conferences.