The 3-2-1: Nebraska has reached the grind stage of spring ball, and when will NU honor Frank Solich?
Nebraska has made its way through six spring practices. What have we learned about Matt Rhule and the Huskers thus far?
We hit on that and more in this week’s 3-2-1 column with three things we learned, ask two questions, and make one prediction.
THREE THINGS WE LEARNED THIS WEEK
1 – Nebraska has officially reached the grind stage of spring football
The newness of Matt Rhule and his staff were there all of Week 1 for Nebraska in spring practice. As they took the field for Week 2, they officially entered the grind stage.
Rhule even said the first practice of the second week is often the most difficult of the spring. You could sense that even during the 45-minute open session for the media.
All these players and even coaches want to perform at a high level for their new boss. Rhule said he was pleased with the way his team responded on Tuesday.
What I’m intrigued with now is Saturday’s scrimmage. What will that look like? How much will they have installed for the first scrimmage under Rhule?
2 – Return visits seem likely for several of last week’s visitors
The point of this past recruiting weekend for Nebraska was not to land a bunch of commits but more to show the program for everything it is, hoping to get these prospects back on campus for another visit.
For several top targets, it sure felt like that was the direction things were heading.
I will be interested to see if any of those visitors will come back to Lincoln for the Apr. 22 Red-White spring game. That will be a tough pull, as several teams are playing spring games that day.
The difference is Nebraska has much more to sell at a spring game, with potentially 60,000 to 70,000 fans in attendance.
3 – Rhule tinkering with multiple different position moves
This is what spring should be all about – trying guys at new positions. We’ve seen Rhule do a lot of it already.
Kaine Williams went from safety to linebacker. AJ Rollins went from tight end to defensive end. Jalil Martin went from defensive back to wide receiver. Jake Appleget from edge to tight end. Janiran Bonner went from wide receiver to tight end.
Are all of these moves permanent? Probably not, but it appears most are headed in that direction. The one I really am intrigued by is Bonner.
Rhule spoke very highly about the move and felt like it had the potential to change the trajectory of his career.
TWO QUESTIONS THIS WEEK
1 – Who’s a player you expect to make a big jump in 2023?
Spring football is about development and improvement. A lot can happen this time of year. Who’s a player you expect to make a big jump in 2023?
That’s an easy one for me. Nouredin Nouili. The offensive lineman from Germany was poised to take a big step forward last season before his suspension. I heard offensive line coach Donovan Raiola was very high on Nouili.
You can see this spring the gains Nouili has made to his body. I look for him to lock down a starting guard position and the interior with him, and Ben Scott has the potential to be a real strength.
2 – What’s a realistic timeline for Dylan Raiola’s decision?
I’ve been covering Nebraska recruiting since 1999. I don’t recall many recruits that have received the interest of Husker fans more than five-star quarterback Dylan Raiola. I oftentimes get stopped by Husker fans in passing, and they grab my arm and look me right in the eyes and say: “Are we going to get Raiola?”
My answer is usually the same every time. There’s a timeline and a process. That is playing out as we speak. The key now is when will be his next return visit to Lincoln. He came in both February and March. He planned on coming on Apr. 22 for the spring game, but that does not appear to be happening now.
Raiola plans to take an official visit to Lincoln, most likely in June. Today, it appears June will be a very big month for Raiola in determining his timeline and how things play out.
ONE PREDICTION: Gave Ervin Jr. will earn a single digit number
Matt Rhule said this week that the 10 toughest “dudes” in the program will get the right to wear single digit jerseys 0 through 9 in 2023. This is a new tradition Rhule wants to start, and something voted on by the players.
I’ll make a March prediction. Running back Gabe Ervin Jr. will earn a single digit jersey number in 2023.
Sean Callahan can be reached at sean@huskeronline.com and he can be heard each day at 6:45 am and 5:05 pm on Big Red Radio 1110 KFAB in Omaha during the football season. He can also be seen on KETV Channel 7 in Omaha during the fall and each week he appears on Nebraska Public Media’s Big Red Wrap-Tuesday’s at 7 pm
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