"Barring a breakthrough over the next few days, Bubba Starling will head to Nebraska on Saturday, where he will start training with the Cornhuskers football team.

Starling, who was selected fifth overall by the Royals in the first round of last month's baseball draft, has the option of playing baseball and football in Lincoln.

Down one path is a dream of helping his hometown team win a World Series, but the other is equally tempting — leading the storied Nebraska football program into the Big Ten era, chasing BCS titles and Rose Bowl berths.

"We've come a few steps closer to making a decision, but I haven't made a final choice yet," Starling said.

The Royals, of course, would prefer to sign Starling early, before the Aug. 15 deadline, and get his development under way.

Starling will not enroll in classes at Nebraska, but he will begin workouts at quarterback and practice drills with the offense.

"I don't think the Royals want to see me up there," Starling said.

If no agreement is reached with the Royals by Aug. 15, the club would most likely get the No. 6 pick in next year's draft as compensation.

If Starling plays for the Huskers, he would not be eligible for the draft again until 2014.

Nebraska football coach Bo Pelini is trying to woo Starling away from baseball — at least for a few more years. And new Huskers offensive coordinator Tim Beck texts Starling plays from the playbook to study."