THE 2024 HUSKERS – Wary Optimism vs Red Flags: We Have a Depth Chart! Nebraska Matt Rhule Dylan Raiola

First of all, in case you haven’t seen it yet, here you go!

Tell you what, let’s just make this one of those bullet point lists tailor-made for those of you who do a solid percentage of your literary on the throne. Whether checking it out on your phone or still printing it off at work (stop wasting paper!), I’ll just try to hit on a few things which jumped out at me for your enjoyment during that “me time”. I’m going to miss a few. Please hop in the comments below with your thoughts.

(Also, keep in mind that depth charts these days are more of an outline than a hard and fast list of starters and reserves. With different sets and packages, they could probably lay out several of these – and that’s not happening.)

• Dylan Raiola is the STARTING QUARTERBACK!! Just kidding, I already covered that here and here. The three deep played out exactly as expected and Jalyn Gramstad will be the next man up if disaster strikes the top three.
• On the O-line, there are three redshirt freshman on the two-deep (Seagren, Sledge and Gottula), another on the three-deep at LG (Maciejczak) and highly touted recruit Grant Brix is absent.
• This is not bad thing. The first four are sitting in the 295-305 lb range after a year both at the training table and under the torturous eyes of Strength & Conditioning Coach Corey Campbell. Brix came in around 280 and having the depth to allow him the same advantage is a plus. Offensive line is a position which should always be redshirted.
• Until the next Dominic Raiola or Toniu Fonoti comes along anyway.

• Micah Mazzcua, a one and done transfer from Florida (and Baylor previously), will start at RG. If he can be as effective as Ben Scott was last season after coming in from Arizona St., that will be fine.
• Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda is #2 in the Slot Receiver spot and the #1 punt returner for UTEP. His journey has been complicated to say the least. He transferred in from New Mexico St. after the ‘21 season. He caught 4 passes for 120 in the infamous Dublin opener vs. Northwestern. He was basically forgotten after that and entered the transfer portal around a month later. After Matt Rhule’s hire, he requested to return and Rhule welcomed him back. He then suffered a season-ending injury in the Minnesota game to end his ‘23 season, but appears to be full blast now.

Photo By Ben McShane/Sportsfile via Getty Images

• Yeah, I’m gonna be cheering for this guy. His story is great, true, but there’s also his name sounding like a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet. Sometimes, it’s the little things which get me.
• The kicking game has to improve, Buschini is set to go, but the dreaded -OR- is sitting between incumbent Tristan Alvano and newcomer John Hohl. Alvano recently returned from a groin injury and, as Rhule said last Friday, this might even be a game-day decision.
• Malachi is #3 at one of the WR spots. He has been practicing at full speed, but recently recovered from a groin injury himself. With greater depth at the position, they may just be playing it safe with him.
• Carter Nelson is #3 in the slot and Jacori Barney is #2 at a WR spot and both kickoff and punt returns. At B1G Football Media Days (Nelson) and last Friday’s press conference (Barney), Rhule raved about each unasked. Redshirts are looking unlikely for now.
• I am thirsting the punt return game to become a threat again – and has it been since De’Mornay Pierson-El? Would love for IGC and/or Barney to bring something to that part of the game besides fair catches.
• Running Back is also looking like a late or game-day decision and I would expect to see all four get carries vs. UTEP. I would also expect see Rahmir out there first. And I sincerely hope there’s a solid top two for Colorado. James expressed concern in this piece.
• No big surprises on the defensive line which should be one of the best in the country. They are big, talented and deep and can put pressure on the QB’s.
• And much of the same goes at the LB spots as well. I’m looking for breakout year from MJ Sherman. Shavers, Thompson and Princewill make for another deep position and will give offenses no breaks when they rotate in.

Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

• Marques Buford Jr. getting the start over USC transfer Ceyair Wright might be viewed as slight surprise but he’s talented and has been here for a year under Tony White. Blye Hill is #3 and was expected by some to start, but, like Coleman, he also recently returned from injury suffered in the spring game.

Anyway, these are a few of the things which caught my eye, but I’m sure there are others which caught yours – let’s here it in the comments below.

(FOUR MORE DAYS!)

Go Big Red.

Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images

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