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Husker Receiving Room: Time for Some Good News?
The receiving room (tight ends and WRs) preview is the final segment of my preview of the '23 Husker offense. As with the Husker running game and O-line rooms, the pass receiving room seems like another rebuild for Matt Rhule and his staff.
But the receiving game might actually be better this fall. That sounds odd considering the Huskers lost 70% of their receiving yards from last year.
How can a group that finished #82 in the nation last year be expected to improve this fall? How can a room that returns only 30% of its receiving yardage be any better this fall?
Great questions. To be sure, Nebraska has some huge holes to fill, not the least of which is WR Trey Palmer. What did he do last year? With the help of Husker QB Casey Thompson, he set the school record for receiving yards (1.043) for a single season. Both Palmer and Thompson are gone (Palmer to the NFL and Thompson to Florida Atlantic via the transfer portal).
Also gone from last year's receiving corps are tight ends Travis Vokolec and Chancellor Brewington. WR Oliver Martin has also used up his eligibility.
So how does Matt Rhule expect to improve the Husker receiver room this fall?
First, we'll take a look at the tight ends.
Tight Ends
Coach: Bob Wager (1st year at NU)
Returning players include the much-heralded Thomas Fidone 6-6, 235 (SO) from Council Bluffs, IA, Nate Boerkircher 6-5, 230 (SO) from Aurora, NE, Janiran Bonner 6-3, 200 (RSFR) from Ellenwood, GA, Chase Androff 6-6, 235 (RSFR) from Lakewood, MN, Chris Hickman 6-5, 215 (JR) from Omaha, Nebraska and Jake Appleget 6-4, 220 (RSFR) from Lincoln, NE
Shoring up the tight end corps is Arik Gilbert, an off-season transfer from LSU. He stands at 6-6 and tips the scales at a cool 260 pounds. Arik is just a sophomore.
If Fidone, Boerkircher, Bonner, Hickman and Appleget can stay healthy and if Gilbert plays up to expectations, the Husker tight end room could be a big part of the Husker offense this year.
Wide Receivers
Coach: Garret McGuire (1st year at NU)
The big loss from last year's team is, of course, Trey Palmer. Do the Huskers have anyone who can fill that gap? Time will tell, of course. But here are some players who might be able to pick up the slack.
Marcus Washington 6-2, 190 (SR) who had 471 receiving yards in '22 is back. He might be one of Husker QB Jeff Sims' favorite targets this fall. Look for Washington to have a breakout year.
Coach McGuire also got two former Husker players to return to the WR room. They are Isaiah Garcia-Castenada 6-0, 180 (JR) '22 transfer from New Mexico State (120 yards) and the talented Zavier Betts 6-2, 200 (SO) from Bellevue, NE. If you'll recall, Betts decided to sit out last year. Garcia-Castaneda entered the transfer portal last fall, but he decided to stay at Nebraska after Matt Rhule was named the new Husker head coach.
Two offseason tranfers might also add some much-needed depth. Josh Fleeks 5-10, 190 (SR) from Baylor and Billy Kemp IV 5-9, 180 (SR) from Virginia are welcomed additions to the Husker WR room.
Look for some explosive plays coming from the WR room in '23.
But as with all the offensive rooms, the development of the O-line is absolutely essential for the Husker offense to flourish this fall.
How ’Bout Them Huskers
In this week's episode, Will and I talk about the latest '24 Husker football commit, Preston Taumua, a 6-4 315-pound 4-star OT from Honolulu. We also preview this fall's Husker receiving room.
