Nebraska gets spring ball rolling on Feb. 28. Between now and then, the Journal Star is compiling lists of players who are at particular points of their careers. We already covered a group of players who really need a big spring, potential impact newcomers and breakout candidates.
Today, a look at five players who could be critical for the Huskers this fall, but who are in something like wait-and-see mode this spring.
RB Ajay Allen
NU coach Scott Frost said when he watched Allen’s film in December, “He was one of my favorite guys that I watched all year.” The Monroe, Louisiana, native won’t be on campus until the summer, but he could shake up the running back competition when he arrives.
It’s always worth letting a player get to campus and get himself into the mix — and to remember that the learning curve is steep for all young players, even at positions like running back where real talent tends to find the field early — before going too overboard, and there are plenty of guys (including another on this list) already on campus. However, Allen was new running backs coach Bryan Applewhite’s guy for the 2022 class at TCU, and he put up a huge senior season against good competition in Louisiana.
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WR Janiran Bonner
Another summer addition who is going to have a chance when he gets to campus. Frost said “it takes about two plays” of watching Bonner’s film to realize he’s a talent. At 6-foot-2 and 200-plus pounds, he’s built for a quick transition to the college game.
Will it actually happen? Only time will tell. Mickey Joseph’s group should be deep and midyear enrollee Victor Jones, who the staff is also high on, has a head start in that he’ll take part in spring ball.
The staff, though, thinks Bonner is the kind of player who can potentially make an impact early in his career. We’ll just have to … wait and see.
CB Omar Brown
Nebraska took Brown, a midyear transfer from FCS Northern Iowa, as a transfer even after stocking up on defensive backs because they just thought he was too talented to turn away.
More than what he can add to the defense, the question is how much he’ll be able to do this spring. Brown (6-foot, 180 pounds) missed the final five games of UNI’s season with an undisclosed injury, and it’s not clear if he’ll be full-go when spring ball begins in less than two weeks.
Even so, he could well push for playing time, whether it’s in the next weeks or over the summer and into camp. He was an FCS All-American as a freshman in 2019 and played well in 14 games across UNI’s spring and fall seasons in 2021.
OL Turner Corcoran
The first returning player for the Huskers on the list.
The question here isn’t so much of whether Corcoran is going to be an important part of the 2022 team — he clearly is — but more so how he fits in.
Frost said earlier this month that he thinks the sophomore, who has spent all of his college career so far at tackle, is capable of playing all five spots up front. It would have been very interesting to see how Corcoran looked at center this spring, but he is going to miss most or all of spring ball with an injury.
The former blue-chip recruit from Lawrence, Kansas, also missed most of preseason camp with an injury and struggled at tackle for most of the 2021 season. He’s certainly got talent and now he gets a fresh start under new offensive line coach Donovan Raiola, but when he actually gets to try to hit full stride remains uncertain at this point.
RB Gabe Ervin
As a freshman, Ervin made a charge at the starting running back job with a strong spring and summer, and was just starting to look a little bit more comfortable with NU’s scheme when he suffered a season-ending knee injury against Oklahoma. The Georgia native, at 6-0 and 215, has the physical skill set to be an every-down back and impressed last year by establishing himself, even as a true freshman, as the Huskers’ best pass protector.
Frost said that Ervin will be close to full-go this spring but may still have some limitations, so he might not fully get to show Applewhite what he’s got until preseason camp. But he’s a promising young player who had a chance to establish himself as NU’s top back in 2021 until the knee injury. He’s going to factor into the equation at running back at some point this offseason.
Keeping up with the transfer portal. Here’s who the Huskers have coming to Lincoln
Casey Thompson, QB
Previous school: Texas
Remaining eligibility: Two years
Of note: Thompson is the most notable transfer Nebraska has added so far because of the position he plays. He started 10 games for the Longhorns last year and led the Big 12 in touchdown passes with 24. He’ll be considered the favorite to win NU’s starting quarterback job under new offensive coordinator Mark Whipple. He’ll be on campus for this semester.
Chubba Purdy, QB
Previous school: Florida State
Remaining eligibility: Four years
Of note:
Purdy started one game in 2020 and appeared in three overall, completing 27-of-53 passes for 219 yards, a pair of touchdowns and an interception. He appeared just once in 2021 — Purdy completed all five of his passes for 98 yards and two scores.
Trey Palmer, WR/Returner
Previous school: LSU
Remaining eligibility: Two years plus a redshirt
Of note: Palmer was a blue-chip recruit out of high school and saw his role steadily grow over his three years in Baton Rouge. Now, he’ll rejoin Mickey Joseph in Lincoln. Palmer can really run — he was timed at 10.42 in the 100 meters and 21.11 seconds in the 200 — and he’s also a dangerous return man. He profiles well in the spot vacated by Samori Toure and will be on campus this semester.
Hunter Anthony, OL
Previous school: Oklahoma State
Remaining eligibility: Two years
Of note: The Oklahoma native entered 2020 as OSU’s starting right tackle, but an injury cost him most of the season. Then he served as a backup this fall. In Lincoln, the 6-foot-6, 330-pounder will be a candidate both at right tackle and at either guard spot. He’s on campus this semester.
Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda, WR
Previous school: New Mexico State
Remaining eligibility: Two years plus a redshirt
Of note: Garcia-Castaneda had a productive season at NMSU, catching 37 passes for 578 yards and four touchdowns. He was coveted as soon as he hit the transfer portal, but NU visited him in California and got him on campus for a visit in December. At 6-foot and 190 pounds, Garcia-Castaneda is a candidate for any spot in the Husker receiver rotation under Mickey Joseph.
Clark Grell
Brian Buschini, P
Previous school: Montana
Remaining eligibility: Three years
Of note: Buschini was named the FCS punter of the year after averaging better than 47 yards per punt and more than 44 net yards per attempt. He was considered perhaps the best punter available on the transfer market this winter and will be counted on right away in Lincoln. He’s on campus this semester.
Timmy Bleekrode, K
Previous school: Furman
Remaining eligibility: Three years
Of note: Bleekrode immediately becomes the favorite to handle place-kicking duties after he was recruited from Furman by new special teams coordinator Bill Busch. The Atlanta native made 15-of-18 field goals in 2021 with a long of 51 yards and is 21-of-25 over the past two seasons.
Kevin Williams, OL
Previous school: Northern Colorado
Remaining eligibility: Two years
Of note: Williams, an Omaha North graduate, is a multi-year starter at the FCS level and began the 2021 season as the Bears’ starting left tackle. He’s got positional versatility and could be a candidate at tackle or guard for the Huskers in 2022. In a young room overall, he adds a veteran presence.
Tommy Hill, DB
Previous school: Arizona State
Remaining eligibility: Three years plus a redshirt
Of note: Nebraska loved Hill out of high school in Orlando in the 2021 class, but he ended up at ASU and earned playing time right away. The Huskers jumped on him as soon as he entered the portal, and now he’ll compete for playing time in a secondary that must replace three starters. He’s on campus this semester.
Contact the writer at pgabriel@journalstar.com or 402-473-7439. On Twitter @HuskerExtraPG.
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