Illinois depends heavily on its two explosive receivers — covering them creates a catch-22 for Nebraska.
If the Huskers play Cover 2 and try to double-team Zakhari Franklin and Pat Bryant, it opens up space for the Ilini to run between the tackles with 6-foot-3, 250-pound running back Kaden Feagin. It all adds up to pressure on the shoulders of Tommi Hill and Marques Buford Jr. If they can cover Franklin and Bryant one-on-one it will create more opportunities for the rest of the defense at the line of scrimmage.
Bryant has started almost every game since his sophomore year. Through three games as a senior, he has 15 receptions for 235 yards and four touchdowns. Franklin began his college career in 2019 at UTSA. After four years with the Roadrunners, he transferred to Ole Miss for a season before hitting the portal again and coming to Illinois over the offseason. He entered this year as the NCAA active leader in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.
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“They’re throwing the deep ball, getting one-on-one coverage, not afraid to put it up, and they have great catch radiuses,” NU coach Matt Rhule said. “They can hold off a defender and go up and catch the football. Luckily with Tommi, Tommi’s 205 pounds. He’s not a little corner. And I think Buford’s been playing really, really, really well.”
Photos: Nebraska football back under the lights vs. Northern Iowa — Sept. 14
Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola signals during the game against Northern Iowa on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule reacts after losing a challenge against Northern Iowa on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule argues an interception call with game officials in the third quarter on Saturday, Sep. 14, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska’s Isaac Gifford (2) tackles Northern Iowa’s Desmond Hutson (18) in the fourth quarter on Saturday, Sep. 14, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska’s Brian Buschini (13) holds the ball as kicker Tristan Alvano (30) scores a field goal in the third quarter on Saturday, Sep. 14, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska’s Heinrich Haarberg (10) runs off the field in the third quarter on Saturday, Sep. 14, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Northern Iowa’s Tye Edwards (2) gains a few yards by spinning past Nebraska defenders in the third quarter on Saturday, Sep. 14, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Jake Nelson, father of Nebraska’s Carter Nelson (29) talks with his son after the game against Northern Iowa on Saturday, Sep. 14, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska’s Malcolm Hartzog (7) celebrates with teammate Tommi Hill (6) after making a stop against Northern Iowa in the fourth quarter on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska Director of Athletics Troy Dannen (left) and Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule walk off the field together after the win over Northern Iowa on Saturday, Sep. 14, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Northern Iowa’s Amauri Pesek-Hickson (5) is brought down by Nebraska’s Tommi Hill (6) and DeShon Singleton (8) in the third quarter on Saturday, Sep. 14, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska’s Ty Robinson (9) celebrates after blocking a pass in the second quarter on Saturday, Sep. 14, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska’s Heinrich Haarberg (10) and Dylan Raiola (15) stand together on the sideline on Saturday, Sep. 14, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska’s Isaac Gifford (2) tackles Northern Iowa quarterback Aidan Dunne (10) as he tries to run the ball on Saturday, Sep. 14, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska’s Carter Nelson (29) runs the ball while pressured by Northern Iowa’s JJ Dervil (3) in the first quarter Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska’s Jacory Barney (17) battles through a tackle attempt by Northern Iowa’s JJ Dervil (3) to score a touchdown in the second quarter on Saturday, Sep. 14, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska’s Isaiah Neyor (18) reacts after scoring a touchdown in the first quarter on Saturday, Sep. 14, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
After being tripped up by Northern Iowa’s JJ Dervil (3), Nebraska’s Isaiah Neyor (18) dives forward for a touchdown in the first quarter on Saturday, Sep. 14, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska assistant coach Tony White walks the field during warm-ups on Saturday, Sep. 14, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska players exit out of the tunnel walk before the game against Northern Iowa on Saturday, Sep. 14, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola (15), Bryce Benhart (54), and Mikai Gbayor (42), lead the Huskers in the tunnel walk before the game against Northern Iowa on Saturday, Sep. 14, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska’s Carter Nelson (right) is embraced by former classmates Jackson Knust (left) and Trey Smith after the game against Northern Iowa on Saturday, Sep. 14, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska’s Jaylen Lloyd (19) runs with the ball as Northern Iowa’s Bradley Vislisel (90) chases on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska’s Emmett Johnson carries the ball against Northern Iowa, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola runs with the ball against Northern Iowa on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska’s Brian Buschini kicks the ball against Northern Iowa, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska’s Carter Nelson scores a touchdown against Northern Iowa’s Jonathan Cabral-Martin in the first quarter on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Northern Iowa’s quarterback Aidan Dunne (10) is helped off the field after an injury in the second half, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska’s Princewill Umanmielen (left) pressures Northern Iowa’s Aidan Dunne, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola (right) hands the ball to Heinrich Haarberg in the third quarter against Northern Iowa on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska’s Heinrich Haarberg carries the ball in the third quarter against Northern Iowa, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule shakes hands with Northern Iowa’s Mark Farley, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska’s Emmett Johnson scores against Northern Iowa in the fourth quarter on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska’s Emmett Johnson (right) celebrates his touchdown against Northern Iowa with teammate Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda in the fourth quarter on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska’s Carter Nelson (right) is embraced by former classmates Jackson Knust (left) and Trey Smith after the game against Northern Iowa on Saturday, Sep. 14, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska’s Malcolm Hartzog (7) and Keona Davis (97) bring down Northern Iowa’s Tye Edwards (2) on a run in the fourth quarter on Saturday, Sep. 14, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska’s Marques Buford (3) pumps up the crowd in the third quarter on Saturday, Sep. 14, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska’s Malcolm Hartzog (7), Mikai Gbayor (42), and Vincent Shavers (10) tackle Northern Iowa’s Amauri Pesek-Hickson (5) in the fourth quarter on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Northern Iowa’s Keith Moko (20) breaks up a pass intended for Nebraska’s Jahmal Banks (4) in the third quarter on Saturday, Sep. 14, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska’s Thomas Fidone (24) dives toward the end zone after being hit by Northern Iowa’s Ben Belken (33) on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska’s Stefon Thompson (56) and Isaac Gifford (2) tackle Northern Iowa’s Tye Edwards in the third quarter on Saturday, Sep. 14, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska’s Dante Dowdell (23) sheds a tackle by Northern Iowa’s Fletcher Marshall (6) in the third quarter on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Northern Iowa’s Aidan Dunne reacts after recovering a fumble in the second quarter during the Nebraska game, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska’s Ty Robinson celebrates a defensive play against Northern Iowa in the second quarter, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska’s Isaiah Neyor dances after scoring against Northern Iowa in the second quarter on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska’s Isaiah Neyor scores against Northern Iowa on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola takes a snap against Northern Iowa in the first quarter on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Fans cheer as the Nebraska football team takes the field before the Northern Iowa game, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
The moon rises behind the North stadium on Saturday, Sep. 14, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska’s Ty Robinson (right) blocks a pass by Northern Iowa quarterback Aidan Dunne (10) in the second quarter on Saturday, Sep. 14, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska’s Kai Wallin (93) celebrates stopping Northern Iowa from gaining any yards in the second quarter on Saturday, Sep. 14, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule smiles after a touchdown in the second quarter on Saturday, Sep. 14, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule smiles while walking the sideline with quarterback Dylan Raiola during the game against Northern Iowa on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
A pass intended for Northern Iowa’s Sergio Morancy (21) is broken up by Nebraska’s Marques Buford (3) in the first quarter on Saturday, Sep. 14, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska’s Jacory Barney (17) dances in the endzone as he celebrates scoring a second quarter touchdown against Northern Iowa on Saturday, Sep. 14, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska’s Carter Nelson (29) hits Northern Northern Iowa’s Caleb Frazer (17) as he runs into the end zone for a first quarter touchdown on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska’s Janiran Bonner (16) celebrates with teammate Isaiah Neyor (18) as Neyor runs in a touchdown in the first half on Saturday, Sep. 14, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska Director of Athletics Troy Dannen is seen on the sideline before the game against Northern Iowa on Saturday, Sep. 14, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen speaks with Nebraska Director of Athletics Troy Dannen before the game against Northern Iowa on Saturday, Sep. 14, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska’s Ben Scott (66) warms-up with his teammates before the game against Northern Iowa on Saturday, Sep. 14, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Fans arrive outside Memorial Stadium ahead of the Northern Iowa game, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024.
Young Husker fans line up for players to high-five them during the Legacy Walk before the game against Northern Iowa on Saturday, Sep. 14, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska fan Truman Stubbendieck, 12, of Omaha, relaxes ahead of the Legacy Walk before the game against Northern Iowa on Saturday, Sep. 14, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
Hudson Hill, 5, of Omaha, and Grayson Will, 7, of Lincoln play on The Husker Legacy Statue before the game against Northern Iowa on Saturday, Sep. 14, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.
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