Nebraska’s Jacory Barney, Dylan Raiola impress in scrimmage

On a rainy weekend in Lincoln, a sunny Saturday morning was exactly what the Nebraska football team needed. Not all went to plan during NU’s annual Spring Game — two Huskers went down with significant injuries — but fans gathered once again to get an early look at the 2024 Huskers.

Nebraska’s spring practice slate has come to an end, meaning the countdown to August is now on. Let’s drop into coverage:

It may have only been a scrimmage, but the first full-scale look at freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola was certainly a positive one.

Raiola’s poise in the pocket immediately stood out as he used his feet to navigate the pass protection while scanning downfield. It’s a small thing, but it’s just one example of the high-level quarterback play Raiola should be able to provide. He looked more like a veteran than an 18-year-old leading a college offense for the first time — and that’s down to preparation and training.

That doesn’t end when the offseason begins. The arm talent is clearly there, and so is the internal motivation for a player who’s going to train with Patrick Mahomes this summer “to be around greatness.”

The most impressive individual performance in the Spring Game didn’t belong to Raiola — it was freshman wide receiver Jacory Barney Jr. who made a splash on Saturday. Raiola might agree with that too, after saying he was “proud” of his roommate’s performance.

“He’s got a different kind of speed, he’s got a chip on his shoulder, he plays tremendously hard and he just works at his craft every day,” Raiola said of Barney. “What he did today, I’m not surprised. He’s been doing it all spring.”

Another early enrollee going through his first spring camp, Barney’s athleticism was on full display offensively and as a kick returner. Whether on kickoffs or punts, look for Barney to continue working on Nebraska’s special teams units this fall. After all, how many returns did Nebraska have a year ago that resembled the 78-yard effort Barney ripped off in the scrimmage? Not many.

Barney’s other big play was a 41-yard receiving touchdown where he adjusted well to shield a defender and make the catch. As for what’s next from the electric young wideout?

“A whole lotta touchdowns, a whole lotta getting the crowd (fired) up,” Barney said. “Just turning short catches and short plays into 90-yard touchdowns, bringing that tradition back and getting this program back where it used to be.”

The Nebraska secondary was under constant pressure all day long thanks to a pass-heavy offensive game plan. For the most part, that meant plenty of reps for Nebraska’s young defensive backs, who gave up several long passing plays but also made impressive plays of their own.

Redshirt freshman Dwight Bootle II, who was injured early last fall, made a strong return to the field with a four-tackle performance. That included a pivotal first-quarter stop where Bootle sprinted across the middle of the field to tackle running back Maurice Mazzccua after he shook off a teammate’s attempted tackle.

Redshirt freshman Jeremiah Charles aggressively stopped a pair of running back screens, using his speed to quickly accelerate from the secondary to the line of scrimmage.

The effort wasn’t limited to those two players, with second-year Huskers D’Andre Barnes, Rahmir Stewart, Ethan Nation and Syncere Safeeullah all making multiple stops during the Spring Game.

This spring camp was a unique one for junior quarterback Heinrich Haarberg, who worked on his throwing mechanics while learning Nebraska’s offensive adjustments.

The Huskers have worked to improve their quick passing game, with co-offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield saying earlier this spring that he’d like to get more production out of that aspect of the offense. Short slants, swing passes and screens are all part of the equation, and Nebraska practiced all three types of throws on Saturday.

“Mentally, (I’m) feeling a lot better about knowing where guys are, knowing where the checkdowns are and just trying to get completions,” Haarberg said. “That’s what we’re trying to accomplish this spring, and we’ve done a really good job of that.”

Seemingly one of Nebraska’s thinnest positions on Saturday, the Huskers’ offensive linemen wore gray jerseys which allowed them to play for either the Red or White team. However, the in-game experience appeared to show that NU’s depth at the position is not an area of concern.

Outside of NU’s returning starters, sophomore Tyler Knaak moved well and looked strong at right tackle, Justin Evans was an ultra-consistent center and redshirt freshman Sam Sledge held his own in the interior of the line.

As Nebraska’s five-man trotted onto the field for a drive, the players who’d just been on the field would head to the bench and huddle as a group. Just as they’d do during the season, offensive line coach Donovan Raiola would briefly gather with them to discuss the previous series.

It was a testing setup for Raiola, who moved back and forth between watching the on-field action and instructing players on the sidelines. Particularly at a position where physical wear and tear is unavoidable, it’s always necessary to make sure the entire room is ready to play.

“You’ve got to be ready for anything that can happen this season, so coach Raiola and coach Aaron Coeling have been able to coach the younger guys up, and even our players have been able to coach the young guys up for if anything were to happen,” Teddy Prochazka said. “I feel like that’s really just been a huge benefit for us.”