Jacory Barney has big day as Nebraska freshmen impress

Electric freshman Jacory Barney Jr. announced his presence when he took a sweep for 31 yards on the third play of the game and never looked back. In addition to hauling in two passes for 28 yards, Barney scored on a 25-yard gain later in the contest which gave him a game-high 66 rushing yards on just four attempts.

“I thought Jacory gave us a real lift on offense with some of those speed sweeps and the reverses,” head coach Matt Rhule said. “When he’s out there, people are defending us differently because of his speed and his explosiveness.”

Barney has quickly emerged as one of Nebraska’s best offensive weapons alongside his position as the team’s kickoff returner. The true freshman from Miami now has totaled 100 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns on the season alongside 16 receptions as a favorite target of quarterback Dylan Raiola.

“Jacory’s a young guy that doesn’t know anything but having fun, so that’s all you saw out there,” Raiola said.

Barney wasn’t the only young Husker to leave their mark on the win over Purdue. Redshirt freshman left tackle Gunnar Gottula made his first career start in place of the injured Turner Corcoran and held his own throughout the contest.

“We went with our third-string left tackle on the road against Purdue and played with him; I’m fired up for him because I didn’t notice him,” Rhule said of Gottula.

Freshman wide receiver Carter Nelson also had his moments within the game. Nelson caught a 6-yard pass on the opening possession of the game before filling in as Nebraska’s goal-line running back later in the contest.

Nelson’s goal-line plunge was stopped short of a touchdown, but that play and many others reflected Rhule’s confidence in the young Huskers who’ve earned playing time for themselves.

“I’m proud of the young guys,” Rhule said. “We handed the ball off to Carter Nelson on the 1-yard line to go over the top; it didn’t quite go in but we’re just trying to trust in the guys.”