This past Saturday fans showed up at Memorial stadium in Lincoln for a preview of what the Huskers were working on for this upcoming fall. The Big Red Preview was a first of its kind pay to view practice, a sneak peek at what’s brewing behind the scenes that benefits the 1890 Collective. The turnout was as expected with thousands of Husker faithful coming out to see what Rhule and company had in store. So let’s get into a bit of what we saw.
The Huskers’ secondary faces a delicate balancing act. Recent injuries and coaching staff changes have disrupted the unit’s stability. Losing experienced players is never ideal, but here’s where optimism comes in. The coaching staff is actively addressing these concerns, emphasizing communication, technique, and next-man-up mentality. While the secondary remains a focal point, keep an eye on how they adapt during high-pressure moments. Even with all the chaos of new players, a new coach and the hype of a top 10 defense to live up to, I do think Tommi Hill and this secondary squad will figure things out. A huge help to the defensive backs this year will be the adequately named “Murderers Row”. A defensive line that is deeper than any other in recent history. When faced with high secondary pressure downs like 3rd and long this defensive line’s mission is to disrupt quarterbacks lives and that is what they do best. From your usual suspects of last year, Ty Robinson and Nash Hutmacher to one of my players to watch this year in Cam Lenhardt, this defensive line will be far from passive. They looked very solid along with the rest of the defense in practice Saturday.
On the offensive side of the ball, a few receivers stood out as players that surprised in such a crowded room. We all know about Jahmal Banks, Isaiah Neyor, Jaylen Lloyd and Malachi Coleman but two players to watch that could contribute in a big way are Jacory Barney and Janiran Bonner. Barney’s speed as a freshman and ability to play in the slot will earn him time on the field this year for Nebraska. Barney played running back and receiver in high school, moving solely to a wide receiver upon arrival his shiftyness and overall speed could see him in a Wes Welker like position for the Huskers. Janiran Bonner played a hybrid fullback/tight end position last year but looks to be transitioning into that more traditional receiver role this year. He looked great on Saturday and will continue to get stronger as we grow closer to opening kickoff.
Raiola looked strong, and has been carrying himself as the leader of this offense. His passes were on time and on target and did not show signs of mental breakdowns where he made bad decisions, instead he continues to impress as a true freshman. Its easy to look good in a highlight reel, but Raiola seems to be performing under a microscope this offseason and has continuously impressed. In the Quarterback room Haarberg looks to be used as a swiss army knife, and Jayln Gramstad, the 2023 NAIA player of the year looked poised to make a run at the backup job as well. I do feel comfortable with the depth of the quarterback room and am very excited to see what they can do.
Other notes on the offensive side of the ball show that we are not sure who will be the starting running back for game one against UTEP. Also that Turner Corcoran has shown fantastic improvements and may oust Teddy Prochazka for the starting job at tackle. Despite secondary concerns, the overall outlook is sunnier than Memorial Stadium on game day. Our defense has the potential to crack the top 10 nationally. Offensively, fresh faces inject excitement, while seasoned players provide stability. If Nebraska can put it all together, this season could be one that all of Husker nation feels good about.
