The 3-2-1: Nebraska’s young QBs have opened eyes and more from Week 3 of spring practice
Nebraska’s young quarterbacks have opened eyes in spring practice already.
We hit on that and more in this week’s 3-2-1 column with three things we learned, two questions, and one prediction.
RELATED – Four-star CB Adonyss Currie could have an early impact for Nebraska
THREE THINGS WE LEARNED THIS WEEK
1 – Nebraska’s young QBs have opened eyes in spring practice
It’s early, but you have to like the early reports on Nebraska’s young quarterbacks this spring.
Senior safety Isaac Gifford may have said it best. Gifford noted that true freshmen Dylan Raiola and Daniel Kaelin “both can sling it,” while junior Heinrich Haarberg has also improved from a year ago.
Any observer of NU’s practices this spring will walk away with a similar evaluation. Raiola has as good of an arm as we’ve seen at the quarterback position in quite some time. Kaelin also has great arm talent and a feel for the game you typically don’t see from a true freshman.
The Huskers’ numbers at quarterback might be light, but the quality is there with all three guys. The next two Saturdays, it will be interesting to hear what type of chatter comes out of the scrimmages. Hopefully, you will start to see some separation in the group.
2 – Expect a long scrimmage on Saturday
Nebraska has yet to use one of its three spring scrimmage dates this April. That will change on Saturday.
NU will scrimmage full on Saturday, and I’m told don’t be surprised if the play count pushes 180. Head coach Matt Rhule has his team divided into three different squads in the Nebraska Spring League.
This will allow many players to get reps on Saturday, which is ultimately how you develop a roster.
3 – NU continues with it’s aggressive spring visitor approach
Over the first seven spring practices, we’ve seen Nebraska already host 15 different players in the class of 2025 that already hold Husker offers. That number will probably approach 50 by Apr. 27.
Rhule has pushed things this spring to get players on campus. His big thing is that he wants prospects to see how they practice and get a more day-to-day behind-the-scenes look at his football program.
He also wants to create repeat visitors. Four-star cornerback Adonyss Currie is a great example of that. The Lancaster (Calif.) Quartz Hill cornerback visited Lincoln this week, and he’ll be back with his family for the Red-White spring game during his official visit.
Rhule knows that to land a player like Currie, you must get them here multiple times over the spring months before most prospects make their decisions in the summer.
TWO QUESTIONS THIS WEEK
1 – What’s the biggest development that has come out of practice this week?
After seven spring practices, what is a new development you have heard? I’ve got one. Keep your eyes on both newcomer wide receivers Isaiah Neyor and Jacory Barney.
After getting acclimated to NU, I’m told the Texas transfer Neyor had his best practice yet on Tuesday. Another name to watch is Barney. The freshman from Miami has flashed early on in spring ball.
2 – Does Nebraska have a glaring need in the transfer portal this spring?
We have gotten a lot of questions about what Nebraska might do in the transfer portal this spring. A year ago, the Huskers weren’t active in the spring. The only scholarship addition they made was offensive lineman Tyler Knaak. After last spring was over, they had 10 scholarship players enter.
If NU adds any players in the portal, Rhule generally likes to play the long game and take guys that have at least three years to develop in his program. I know many people are wondering if the Huskers will look to add a portal quarterback.
Today, it’s still very hard to say, as it would have to be a guy who completely understands the situation he would be walking into Lincoln.
ONE PREDICTION: Jackson Carpenter will be N
There are a lot of moving parts right now for Nebraska as they build the class of 2025 in recruiting. This past weekend, NU hosted Lincoln Southwest athlete Jackson Carpenter.
After this weekend’s visit from Carpenter, I feel things are trending in the right direction. I upped my RPM on Carpenter from 60 to 80 percent. I predict he will be a Husker sooner rather than later.
Sean Callahan can be reached at sean@huskeronline.com and is heard daily 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-Up Tuesdays at 7 pm.
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