Yesterday was the Big Red Preview, and the first day of full pads for fall camp. Nebraska will only get nine practices with full pads before they face off against Cincinnati on August 28, in Arrowhead Stadium; so Rhule made it very clear this was going to be a legitimate practice. This practice was well over two hours and showed us a lot, but not everything. Let’s break down what caught my attention.
The offense as a whole really stood out, so much so that I believe this could be an offensive lead team for the first time in decades. Dylan Raiola looked great, making incredible throws and even showing off his new running skills a little bit. There’s no question Dylan is QB1, but who is QB2? Jalyn Gramstad, TJ Lateef, and Marcos Davila all made some impressive throws and made it clear that it could be any one of them at the QB2 spot. I saw a lot of improvement from TJ and Marcos since seeing them practice earlier in the year. However, I’d give the nod to Gramstad simply because he has a better understanding of the offense.
The running backs were in a similar situation. Emmett is clearly RB1, with multiple guys chasing after that 2nd string spot. I expect to see a lot of rotation in that RB room this year after what I saw. Nearly every back made some great plays. Conor Booth, Kenneth Williams, Isaiah Mozee, and Mekhi Nelson each put on a solid performance. Now you have to keep in mind the defense didn’t tackle to the ground for most of the practice, but even so, I think they still would have made big plays regardless.
The wide receivers and tight ends are what stole the show. From incredible one-handed catches to smooth, crisp routes, our pass-catchers are going to be a problem for defenses. Jacory Barney got even better during the offseason. If you thought he was great last year, you are going to be in for a treat this year. Nyziah Hunter looks great and will definitely be playing a lot this year. The main story, when it comes to the receivers, however, is the new young guns. Cortez Mills, Jereimah Jones, Keelan Smith, and Quinn Clark all looked like they could start at some point this year. Nebraska is going to fight tooth and nail to keep these guys on the roster because they are damn good.
When it comes to the tight end room, it’s anyone’s guess on who will be listed as the starter. Heinrich Haarberg, Carter Nelson, and Luke Lindenmeyer all bring something unique to the table. There was one guy who stood out: Heinrich Haarberg. While he is still raw and learning he is going to be a nightmare for defensives to cover. He was constantly running by Javin Wright, whom Rhule said he could cover any B1G tight end, and making big plays. It would not shock me if Haarberg runs a 4.4-second 40-yard dash because he was blowing by guys left and right. He is the definition of a vertical threat.
Finally, the last position for our offensive wrap-up is the O-Line. If the season started today, our starting O-line would be: Pritchett, Lutovsky, Evans, Spindler, and probably Knaak. The only real toss-up there is who gets the nod at the right tackle spot. Corcoran, Knaak, and Prochazka are all fighting for that spot, and it’s a coin toss on who could start. Overall, the O-line played great. They gave the QBs plenty of time to throw the ball and made huge running lanes for our backs. We will finally have solid depth in that room for the first time in a long time. If they can play as well as they practiced, this offense will be fun to watch.