Nebraska kicker Tristan Alvano lines up for a FG attempt during the Huskers' spring game last Saturday
No replay reviews here. Below, I've provided my initial gut reactions to Husker football's spring game, including my three biggest takeaways and two primary questions based on what I saw.
Key Takeaways from the Husker Football's Spring Game:
1. Quarterback "Competition" Canceled
Coach Rhule has been holding his cards close to his chest on where things stand with the ongoing QB competition between Dylan Raiola and Heinrich Haarberg so far this spring. But going into the spring game, he made it clear that he wanted to see them sling the rock around... and boy, did they sling it.
Even if Coach Rhule isn't ready to come out and say it, I, for one, walked away from the spring game with a pretty clear impression of who QB1 is. I realize he’s only a freshman, but he took full control of the field from moment he walked on to it for his first drive. The excitement in Memorial Stadium just felt different when he was out on the field. Raiola showed right away he can make every throw, and most of them he made look effortless. The guy has an RPG attached to his right shoulder and can fit balls into tight windows. He also throws it with anticipation and can do so with touch. Most importantly though, he seems to trust the guys he's throwing to.
Am I certain he'll be the guy to take the first snap of the year? No, only time will tell, but I don’t see how it isn’t him.
2. Improved Supporting Cast on Offense
The supporting cast of offensive skill positions surrounding the QB look much better than last year, especially as it relates to the talent and depth of the weapons the offense will have to use in the passing game. Nebraska ranked last in the B1G and 126th nationally for total passing offense last year, so finding and developing faster, more dynamic weapons to improve in that area was a major priority during the offseason. Although several players showed flashes of talent and speed throughout the spring game, the following guys were the ones that really caught my eye on Saturday.
At WR, Jailyn Lloyd had a number of highlights during the game, and he appears to have taken the next step towards becoming a key playmaker for the Husker offense going forward. Freshman Jacory Barney looked explosive in the return game and showcased some excellent ball skills, which should likely put him in line to see solid playing time this fall. Also, transfer Isaiah Neyor may turn out to be a bigger addition to the WR room than I had originally anticipated.
In addition to the WRs, I was also generally impressed with the TEs, especially Thomas Fidone II. I think they'll prove to serve as reliable outlets underneath for the QBs, which will compliment the ability of our more dynamic WRs to stretch the field deep. Let’s just hope they don’t go on the milk cartons again this year like they have so often in the past.
3. Kicking Remains a Concern
I am increasingly concerned about the kicking game. Before today, I don’t think I even thought about the kicking game being an issue. Although kicker Tristan Alvano had some issues last season, I gave him the benefit of the doubt since it was his first year kicking in the B1G as a true freshman. With that being said, he absolutely must figure it out in order for the Huskers to improve beyond last year's record of 5-7. As Nebraska fans, we've seen firsthand how costly poor special teams play can be in recent years. Not to mention, with all the talk about "Chasing 3" this offseason, we certainly can't be leaving 6 points on the field in a game by missing those types of kicks. We need to see that ball start going through the uprights more consistently.
Seeing what Alvano did in high school at Westside, I know that he has what it takes to be a talented kicker in him. However, if I had to guess, his issue is likely occurring between the ears by overthinking. He has all summer to get it figured out, but he is a guy the Huskers will need to perform well next season.
Primary Questions that Persist:
1. Who Will Be the Leading Running Back this Season?
Although I think its a benefit that Nebraska has solid depth in the RB room, I'm curious to know, who will end up as the lead dawg when the season starts? I thought Emmet Johnson showed the same burst and elusiveness that we saw in the latter half of last season. Although I am impressed by his ability to make cut in the hole, and there's no denying he has the vision and speed needed to be a top back, the primary issue is whether his body can hold up for a full season? Similarly, Gabe Earvin and Rahmir Johnson are also talented backs that have shown potential during their time in Lincoln, but both are currently recovering from injuries. How confident are we that they can make full recoveries by the start of the season and then also remain healthy throughout it?
Also in the mix is Transfer Dante Dowdell, who is a big man standing in the backfield. He seems to be every bit the type of bruising back that Coach Rhule loves. Although he may not have the breakaway speed some of the other guys do, he's the type of back that can wear down the defense over the span of 4 quarters, and what may only be three- or four-yard gains at the start of games could start popping off into long runs come the fourth quarters.
2. Can the Defense Maintain the Level of Success They Had in 2023?
It is tough to takeaway much about what our defense will look like this season based on what we saw during the spring game. Similar to last year's spring game, they kept things pretty vanilla with the defensive scheme they played this year. That, combined with the fact that many of the assumed starters saw little to no action on Saturday, makes it difficult to draw many conclusions on that side of the ball. Word was that Senior Tommi Hill and sophomore transfer Blye Hill were in line to be the starting corners going into the spring game. Unfortunately, Blye Hill sustained a significant knee injury during the game and it's still unclear how long he's likely to be sidelined by it. We won't really know what to expect from the defense until we see they take the field against UTEP in the first game of the season, but I trust Nebraska Defensive Coordinator Tony White and am hope fully that we can replicate the level of defense we played last season.
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