LINCOLN — Ty Kildow will return to Nebraska this weekend excited about trading his Husker football helmet for a baseball cap.

In some ways, the former Millard South star even feels like a freshman again.

"It gives you that sense of motivation again," Kildow said Wednesday. "A goal out there you want to achieve. That urge to accomplish something again. It's good to have that feeling back."

Kildow completed summer conditioning with the NU football team, but he was thinking hard about lingering trouble with his right knee and perhaps a different opportunity with Husker baseball. He told assistant coach Ron Brown and head coach Bo Pelini of his decision right before football practice began Aug. 6.

Then he went to see Darin Erstad, who was picked to lead the baseball program in June after one year as a volunteer assistant.

"Coach Brown and Coach Pelini, they said they were happy for me and they supported me, but they said they were sorry to see me go because they thought I could still help the team," Kildow said. "But I think I left on good terms."

As a football walk-on, Kildow redshirted in 2009 and then didn't appear in a game last season. The 5-foot-7, 180-pounder moved from receiver to I-back in spring practice.

"Over the course of the summer, I physically felt like the knee injuries were catching up to me," said Kildow, who tore the ACL and MCL in his right knee in June 2008. "For baseball, I can still do everything I used to be able to do."

Kildow was a three-time World-Herald all-state pick in baseball, hitting .419, .447 and .431 his last three seasons while patrolling center field for the Patriots. He stole 29 bases as a senior, something he believes he can bring to the Huskers.

"I'm just intrigued by what Erstad has to offer," Kildow said. "He gave me a little insight into what he has plans for, and he's big into the speed part of it. I just think it fits me perfectly."

Kildow has been working out recently at Millard South with former Patriots shortstop Blake Headley and pitcher-outfielder Quentin Urban, both NU scholarship recruits set to start classes Monday when the fall semester begins.

"Once they found out about it, they were all over me to make the decision," Kildow said.

"Baseball was kind of my first love growing up. It was my first sport. But once you get to high school, football just blows up and you get caught up in all the football stuff. Maybe baseball got pushed aside."

Kildow said his biggest adjustment when fall practice starts next month will be facing live pitching. That will come back to him, he believes, with repetition.

Otherwise, Millard South coach Greg Geary said, his former player has the necessary tools to help the Huskers.

"He has unbelievable speed and agility that you just can't teach, and as an outfielder he could track down anything," Geary said. "Something he'll sure bring to the table is he can bunt a little, and he can run.

"He's just the type of kid who needs to compete, whether it be football or baseball. At this point in his career, maybe he just feels baseball gives him a better chance to get on the field."

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