Dylan Raiola (15) hugs a relative before the Spring Game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Senior Sports Editor
Dylan Raiola (15) hugs a relative before the Spring Game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 27, 2024, in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Nebraska football played its spring game on Saturday in front of more than 60,000 fans. Here are four takeaways from the afternoon:
The 5-star difference
Nebraska can’t hide Dylan Raiola anymore.
Head coach Matt Rhule has done his best to quell the hype. He’s been adamant about a 3-horse race at the quarterback position. There will be no anointment for the freshman phenom.
But on Saturday, Raiola separated himself as the best quarterback the Huskers have to offer. His throws looked effortless, his release lightning quick. Raiola went 4-of-4 on his first drive including a beautiful touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver Janiran Bonner.
He wasn’t done. In the second quarter, Raiola dropped back and flicked a pass 45 yards in the air. Sophomore wide receiver Jaylen Lloyd caught it perfectly in stride for a 64-yard touchdown.
Husker fans will be seeing that connection a lot over the next few years.
Raiola finished the afternoon with 239 passing yards while completing 16 of his 22 attempts. His singular interception bounced off a receiver’s hands, but Raiola took the blame postgame. He says his placement can get even better.
It’s early, sure. The defense can’t lay a hand on him. But Raiola lived up to his 5-star billing on Saturday. He should be Nebraska’s starter come August.
That’s not to say the other QBs didn’t show flashes. All three operated a touchdown drive. Junior Heinrich Haarberg had a few explosive plays, including a 41-yard touchdown pass to freshman wide receiver Jacory Barney Jr. Freshman Daniel Kaelin made some nice throws and didn’t look like a guy who will settle for a backup job.
But Dylan Raiola is special. He looked the part on Saturday.
Wide receiver room in good hands
Nebraska’s passing game woes might be a thing of the past.
On Thursday, Rhule said he wanted the spring game to be a “red-white” shootout. He got just that.
The improved quarterback play certainly helps, but multiple wide receivers popped on Saturday.
Barney Jr. was a welcome surprise among them. The Florida City, Florida native joined Nebraska this spring as an early enrollee but is already making waves.
In the second quarter, he hauled in a deep shot from Haarberg for a 41-yard touchdown. His body control was on full display as he tracked the ball perfectly, twisting his head at the last second to make the grab.
Barney Jr. also impressed on special teams, nearly taking a kickoff return to the house.
Bonner, who has been utilized at multiple positions, lined up out wide on Saturday. He hauled in four catches for 58 yards and the aforementioned touchdown. Lloyd seems to have taken another step too, hauling in multiple nice grabs.
Senior Isaiah Neyor only had two catches but turned on the jets in the open field. Watch for him to be an after-the-catch monster this season.
Senior Jahmal Banks played sparingly and sophomore Malachi Coleman was held out. Add in those guys, and the Huskers’ signal caller — whoever that might be — is set to enjoy a bevy of talented options.
Options at running back
Nebraska has five running backs, if not more, who believe they have what it takes to be the No. 1 guy.
Veterans like Gabe Ervin Jr. and Rahmir Johnson didn’t play on Saturday, but expect to push for snaps once fully healthy. Sophomore Emmett Johnson also returns after an impressive redshirt freshman campaign.
But sophomore transfer Dante Dowdell might play an even bigger role than many anticipated.
The former Oregon transfer took seven carries on Saturday, the most of any running back on the white team. He cashed in for two scores, including an impressive 49-yard touchdown scamper.
Dowdell also made himself useful in the passing game. He caught four screen passes and should be a solid dump-off option for the Huskers’ QBs.
Injuries. Of course.
Nebraska was going to “play football” at its spring game. Rhule made that clear this week. None of that 21st-century softness which has crept its way into college football.
But with football, comes injuries.
The Huskers suffered two significant losses on Saturday. Sophomore Demitirus Bell, who by all accounts had impressed this spring, went down in the first half with what appeared to be a serious knee injury.
Just minutes later, sophomore defensive back Blye Hill suffered a knee injury of his own. Hill had made a push for one of the starting corner spots. Rhule praised him all spring.
Both Hill and Bell were carted off the field. Rhule was not optimistic about their conditions postgame.
The injuries were a brutal reminder of how quickly promising players can be ripped from Nebraska’s lineup. The Huskers know that firsthand after last season. They’ll have to hope for better injury luck this year, but Saturday was not a promising start.
Joseph Maier is the Senior Sports Editor at the Daily Nebraskan. Follow him on Twitter at @JosephMaier29.
Senior Sports Editor
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