LSU transfer Trey Palmer a ‘totally different kid’ for Nebraska football, Mickey Joseph says | Football

And what Joseph has seen from the former five-star recruit in Lincoln could give Husker fans hope that the 6-foot-1, 190-pounder might be the man to lead NU’s wide receiver room into the future.

“He’s a totally different kid than I had at LSU,” Joseph said Wednesday on the Huskers Radio Network. “I think he’s playing with more confidence. I think he understands the grind that I expect out of the group.

“I think he understands that every day he’s got to come and fight.”

If all that is true, Palmer can trace it to his time in Baton Rouge where, despite being a top-20 prospect nationally out of high school, he found himself on the depth chart behind the likes of Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, Terrace Marshall and Racey McMath, all of whom were NFL Draft picks in either 2020 and 2021.

People say, ‘Well, Mickey, why didn’t he play?'” Joseph explained. “I’m like, ‘Well, you know what, he played behind two first-rounders.”

But Palmer’s time has come, Joseph said, in part because he’s gotten settled in Lincoln.

“He’s happy. And that’s the difference I see with him is that he’s a happy camper right now,” Joseph said. “Even my wife said, ‘He’s a different kid.’ And we’re happy to have him.”

Joseph is happy to have multiple players he’s brought in since being hired in January as he tries to make over and bring stability to a position that has had as much turnover as any on the team during head coach Scott Frost’s tenure.

Joseph’s acumen as a recruiter has quickly shaken things up in a room that needed a shakeup, the coach said.

“You had the culture in that room; I thought that it could a use a boost, first, with some talent; getting some kids out of the portal, and some really talented high school kids,” Joseph said.

Joseph wants competition, to the degree that he said he likes to keep between 10 and 11 “really good” players in the room.

“Because that motivates itself,” Joseph said. “Nobody can take a day off. Take a day off, somebody else is going to get it done.”

Joseph estimated Nebraska has between nine and 11 receivers the Huskers are comfortable playing with right now as things continue to get sorted out on an offensive unit that will feature a new quarterback, multiple new running backs and several new coaches.

A few other notes from Joseph’s time on the radio:

* Marcus Washington is “kind of the bully,” Joseph said. It was a compliment for the Texas transfer, with Joseph saying the 6-foot-2, 190-pounder will “set the tone” in practice and in games.

Joseph was familiar with Washington after recruiting him out of high school and said his “grit” will get him on the field, either on offense or special teams.

Washington reminds Joseph of Racey McMatch, a sixth-round draft pick of the Tennessee Titans who plays special teams for the AFC squad.

“He’s going to play special teams, but he’s going to bring attitude to the room,” Joseph said.

* Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda, the third transfer, brings a veteran presence and is starting to get up to speed after an injury slowed him down in the spring, Joseph said. 

“He fits in well with Coach (Mark) Whipple’s scheme. He can do a lot of things,” Joseph said. “He can run down on kickoffs, he can be a gunner, he can do all that. And he’s a real athletic kid out there.”