Nebraska’s Malachi Coleman headed for redshirt season

An electric young wide receiver who featured heavily in the 2023 Nebraska offense may be headed for a redshirt season this fall.

While 12 different Husker wideouts played at least one snap against UTEP on Saturday, sophomore Malachi Coleman wasn’t one of them.

“I just didn’t want to put him in for a play here or a play there; when we use someone’s redshirt, we really want it to be worthwhile,” head coach Matt Rhule said.

Coleman appeared in 11 of Nebraska’s 12 games last season, recording eight catches as he played over 300 snaps. However, the presence of senior transfers Jahmal Banks and Isaiah Neyor has limited Nebraska’s reliance on Coleman as an outside wide receiver.

With that in mind, Rhule and the NU coaching staff have kept an open mind toward Coleman redshirting this fall instead.

“Malachi stepped up for us last year in a year that maybe he could have redshirted and tried to play,” Rhule said. “… We have these two big receivers out there that are playing well, and if Malachi can have this year and play four games and play in the postseason, I think he would just be really picking up right where those guys left off.”

Coleman would be available to play in an emergency situation, Rhule said, especially if the Huskers were to suffer injuries at the position. For now, though, the Lincoln product is headed for a development season.

“We’re kind of taking the pressure off from him for a little bit and letting him go compete,” Rhule said of Coleman. “I’m sure he doesn’t want to redshirt, I’m sure he wants to play, so if something happens he could play in the next couple weeks.”