Matt Rhule wants Heinrich Haarberg to ‘play more’ for Nebraska. Here’s why that’s complicated

And NU coach Matt Rhule agrees that Heinrich Haarberg — the starting quarterback for much of 2023 — “needs to play more” as a running back/tight end/receiver when the 2024 starting quarterback, Dylan Raiola, is on the field.

But it’s complicated, too, by Nebraska’s plethora of skill players, and Haarberg’s own need to spend the week preparing to play quarterback in case Raiola gets banged up.

“He’s a play away, right?” Rhule said of Haarberg. “So I think that’s delayed it a little bit.”

Haarberg has thrown — and completed — eight passes this season as the backup QB. He’s also thrown a pass back to Raiola on a trick play that culminated in Raiola tossing the ball downfield for a completion. Haarberg has 8 carries for 33 yards, one catch for eight yards, and he drew a defensive pass interference penalty, as well.

The 6-foot-5, 225-pounder has played on 41 snaps this season. Sometimes he’s a decoy. Sometimes, Raiola throws to a different receiver.

“You have a lot of good players on offense,” Rhule said. “The offense has to be saying ‘Hey, get Jacory (Barney) the ball nine times, throw the fade to (Isaiah) Neyor, why isn’t (Thomas) Fidone catching it five times? They have all those things. ‘Hey (Jahmal) Banks, get him eight catches.’ They have that for me. ‘Hey, why hasn’t Carter Nelson touched the ball yet today guys, hey, hand the ball to Janiran (Bonner) the ball on the reverse.’

“We have a lot of players like that I want to see touch the football,” Rhule said.

Nebraska’s passing game will improve, Rhule said, if Nebraska’s rush attack “gets to about 180 yards per game between the tackles.” Right now, it’s at 137.

Rhule agrees Haarberg should get more touches, but, it’s complicated.

“The offensive staff also hears me say that about Fidone every day,” Rhule said.