As players depart Nebraska, Matt Rhule already overhauling tight end position

Already thin on experience heading into spring camp, Nebraska’s tight end position took more depth hits Monday when coach Matt Rhule announced Chris Hickman and James Carnie had left the team.

Tyreke Johnson, a former five-star defensive back who began his career at Ohio State, also left. Johnson played sparingly over several seasons at NU.

Hickman, an Omaha Burke graduate and 2019 signee, played four seasons at NU, catching five passes for 90 yards. In 2021, Hickman got the most action, catching three for 90. He battled a variety of injuries over the course of his career.

Carnie, a Norris grad, had limited playing time in his two seasons at Nebraska.

The Huskers’ most experienced tight end is Aurora walk-on Nate Boerkircher, followed by Georgia/LSU transfer Arik Gilbert, Omaha Creighton Prep graduate AJ Rollins and Council Bluffs Lewis Central graduate Thomas Fidone, a former Top 100 recruit who has been sidelined by two different knee ligament tears.

“Fidone’s mad at me right now because I’m limiting what he’s doing,” Rhule said. “He’s completely healthy, but I’m just going to limit him all spring. We’ve got to get him to the season. I always believe it takes a long time to truly heal.”

Gilbert “is learning as he goes,” Rhule said. NU moved receiver Janiran Bonner to a hybrid role.

“He’s at 217 (pounds),” Rhule said. “If we can get him to 222, he’s like a chess piece … we like tight ends who can also play tailback who can also play wideout where you just kind of don’t know what they’re in.”

NU also is experimenting with Lincoln Southeast graduate Jake Appleget, previously an edge rusher, at tight end, while Brodie Tagaloa has moved from tight end to defensive end.

Rhule also announced he’d suspended cornerback Tommi Hill and running back Anthony Grant “until such time I feel he’s ready to rejoin the team.” Rhule said Grant has to work on his academics and “general things.”

“Good kid, just have to get him going in the right direction,” Rhule said of Grant.