Five Nebraska players to watch in fall camp
Nebraska football’s fall camp is coming up fast, as it starts on July 31. Head coach Matt Rhule has all eyes on him and his team as he begins his first fall camp.
To prepare for the Huskers fall camp, HuskerOnline breaks down five players to watch throughout camp. This group includes several starters and a few who will have to fight for the starting job.
QB Jeff Sims
Nebraska’s starting quarterback will be Georgia Tech Jeff Sims. In 2022, the junior started eight games for the Yellow Jackets before a season-ending foot strain.
He has shown off his arm strength and accuracy. Standing at 6-foot-4, 220-pounds, Sims is one of the biggest quarterbacks the Huskers have had in recent history.
During the Red-White spring game, Sims went 9-for-13 for 139 passing yards and added 14 rushing yards on six attempts.
Last season, Nebraska leaned heavily on Casey Thompson‘s arm as he ran 56 times with 274 passing attempts. With a new offense led by Marcus Satterfield, we don’t know exactly how he will use the QBs. Satterfield is known for a pro-style offense with a physical run game and an aggressive passing game.
With Sims’ size, Satterfield could opt to have him run more. However, the Big Ten is a very physical conference and Sims has battled injuries throughout his career. Keep a close eye on how Sims performs in Nebraska’s fall camp, his decision making and how Satterfield utilizes him.
RB Gabe Ervin Jr.
Sophomore running back Gabe Ervin received lots of hype during the spring from his coaches and teammates. Can Ervin live up to the spring hype and become a critical piece of Nebraska’s offense?
In 2021, Ervin become the first true freshman running back to start a season opener in Nebraska’s modern era. He started two of the first four games but suffered a season-ending knee injury against Oklahoma. In those four games, Ervin rushed 37 times for 133 yards and two touchdowns.
Last season, he returned for eight games. After five games, Ervin missed four games with a turf toe injury. In his eight games, the 6-foot-0, 215-pound RB rushed for 94 yards on 20 carries.
Ervin is in a battle for the starting job between Anthony Grant, Nebraska’s 2022 starter, and Rahmir Johnson. Johnson was lost in the mix during this spring but Husker running back coach EJ Barthel praised the junior’s speed, power and decision-making on Sports Nightly this week.
Can Ervin stay healthy and rise to the front of the pack during Nebraska’s fall camp with other experienced backs in the group?
LB MJ Sherman
Linebacker MJ Sherman is a player to keep a close eye on. The Georgia transfer is poised to make a huge impact on Nebraska’s defense.
The Huskers and defensive coordinator Tony White have him as a jack linebacker which means he will be able to tackle on the second level but also show off his pass-rushing skills. However, with his speed and athleticism, Sherman could lineup as a traditional linebacker position or at defensive end.
The jack position is designed to fit his specific skills and he feels like he’s finally “tapping into his potential” at Nebraska. The 6-foot-3, 250-pound LB has become a leader on the Huskers’ defense and said he has had the most fun spring of his career.
In the spring game, Sherman came away with four tackles and 1.5 tackles for a loss of six yards for the White team. He could be one of the Huskers’ top pass-rushers and one of its leading linebackers.
LB John Bullock
Former walk-on linebacker John Bullock had maybe the biggest spring of any player. Just like Ervin, he received lots of hype. So much so that Nebraska awarded Bullock with a scholarship. How legit is Bullock’s spring hype? We’ll see.
The 6-foot-0, 210-pound junior from Creighton Prep started with the top team during the Red-White scrimmage. Bullock’s move from safety/nickel to linebacker has complemented his skill set and has caught his coaches’ eyes.
With Luke Reimer and Nick Henrich, Nebraska’s returning starters, back and healthy, keep an eye on where Bullock lands in the pecking order. Both Reimer and Henrich are very experienced. However, Rhule likes Bullock’s speed and said that he has a shot at playing in the NFL.
Can Bullock live up to his coaches’ praise and become a part of the deep linebacker rotation?
WR Zavier Betts
Wide receiver Zavier Betts is one of the few players who have returned to Nebraska after entering the transfer portal.
With the loss of Trey Palmer, the Huskers needed another downfield threat. Betts will likely fill that hole for that. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound receiver is one of the fastest players on the team, with a great ability to accelerate.
“He looks different than all those other dudes,” WR coach Garret McGuire said on Sports Nightly. “When it just comes to, you see him burst off the football, you see some of the catches he makes and just how long he is.”
During his freshman season in 2021, Betts played in each of the 12 games. He caught 20 passes for 286 yards and added three carries for 109 yards and one touchdown. Against Northwestern, the Bellevue West product had an 83-yard touchdown run. It was the longest rush by a Husker since 2012.
His speed and versatility can be a big problem for Big Ten defenses. However, Betts was away from the game for a year. Can he return to his freshman self or even better? His coaches have seen him bounce back strong.
