ALLEN PARK — The Detroit Lions selected running back Ameer Abdullah of Nebraska in the second round of the NFL draft on Friday night. He was the fourth running back selected and the 54th overall pick.

Abduallah is 5-9 but a shifty slasher and could step in as a return specialist and complimentary back. Scouts say he's much tougher than he looks and is a first class person off the field and works hard in the weight room.

He ran for 4,744 yards in four seasons for the Cornhuskers, along with 73 catches for 690 yards. He was a solid return specialist at Nebraska too. In his career he had 24 fumbles and lost 17 of them. Lions GM Martin Mayhew pointed out that he improved every year in securing the ball and had only three fumbles in 2014.

On Thursday the Lions drafted OG Laken Tomlinson and made a trade to bring G/C Manny Ramirez back to the Lions.

The Lions have four picks on the final day of the draft on Saturday.