Nebraska Spring Look Back: Wide Receiver
Nebraska’s first spring practices under new head coach Matt Rhule are now in the books. We’ll look back on how each Husker position group fared and discuss what lies ahead this offseason.
Today, we’ll go over Nebraska’s wide receivers, who have a few stand-out players, but could they use a couple more?
WHAT WE LEARNED: Billy Kemp IV is the QB’s go-to guy
Virginia wide receiver Billy Kemp IV impressed not only Nebraska’s coaching staff but their quarterbacks, especially Jeff Sims.
The Huskers’ staff cut back Kemp’s reps toward the end of the season, but they knew what they had in him.
Kemp made three big catches during Nebraska’s Red-White Spring game. He had two catches for 39 yards with a long of 24. The senior also converted a two-point conversion attempt with a wide-open catch in the endzone from QB Heinrich Haarberg.
Billy Kemp IV adds versatility, toughness and experience to Nebraska’s wide receiver room
The 5-foot-9 receiver also had six rushing yards on one carry. The Huskers are using his speed all over the field.
Marcus Washington had several big plays in Marcus Satterfield’s explosive offense.
In 2022, Trey Palmer was the Huskers’ favorite receiver when they needed a touchdown or a big gain. Kemp looks like he’ll be that guy this fall.
BIGGEST SPRING CONCERN: Do the Huskers have enough playmakers?
Nebraska has several experienced wide receivers in its group. During the Spring game, the Huskers’ receivers had 13 of the 26 receptions and 149 of the 259 receiving yards.
Along with Kemp, Marcus Washington had three catches for 42 yards in the spring game. Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda is back at Nebraska but didn’t play in the Red-White scrimmage because of an injury.
Zavier Betts, another player who returned to Nebraska, started the spring game. Husker fans knew that Betts has talent, but it was unsure just how well he would come back. He only had one catch for four yards.
Baylor transfer Joshua Fleeks was on the second-team offense and had one catch for seven yards.
The Huskers have some good pieces at wide receiver and their depth isn’t too concerning, but they’ll need to prove themselves on the field. They are adding six freshmen this summer, including Malachi Coleman and a few other speedsters. Can the freshmen make an instant impact and make plays too?
The 3-2-1: The portal is closed. What’s next for Nebraska?
SPRING SURPRISE: Zavier Betts on the spring’s first team
It is obvious that Zavier Betts is talented. He is very fast, great after the catch and has good hands.
However, the sophomore was away from football for an entire year. He left Nebraska’s program when wide receiver coach Mickey Joseph took over last spring.
He had to get back into football shape after not conditioning with the team for a year.
The former Bellevue West wide receiver had to prove he deserved another chance and that he was an addition to Nebraska’s group. Rhule said he gave Betts a fresh start but he had lots to prove.
Betts was one of the Huskers’ three starting receivers during its Red-White Spring game. He recorded one catch for four yards. So he still has to prove he’s reliable on game day, but he has impressed in practice.
Husker fans will definitely be seeing Betts in the fall.
Exclusive Tunnel Talk: 5/5/2023
LOOKING AHEAD: What will the six freshmen add?
The Huskers have six freshmen wide receivers coming in this summer. None of the freshmen receivers were able to enroll early. They will add depth, athleticism and speed to the WR coach Garret McGuire’s room.
Shawn Hardy II and Victor Jones Jr. have both entered the transfer portal.
Lincoln (Neb.) East’s Malachi Coleman looks like a guy that could get on the field early and make some big plays. Raymore-Peculiar (Mo.) graduate Jaidyn Doss and Nashville native Demitrius Bell could also make the field this fall.
Nebraska has track and field stars coming in too. Omaha Westside’s Jaylen Lloyd and Texas Bay City’s Brice Turner are very fast and excel in track. Lloyd and Turner will both be on the Huskers’ track team.
Coleman and Arlington (Texas) Martin Jeremiah Charles both placed in their events in high school.
Can these freshmen add the quality depth that Nebraska needs at wide receiver?
