Wideouts at season midpoint, ‘sneaky’ IU run game, and the ‘underdog’ question

The chemistry between NU’s freshman quarterback and veteran pass-catchers has grown, Raiola said, over the first half of this season. After a win at Purdue three weeks ago, the skill guys even got together at Raiola’s house to watch the Alabama/Georgia thriller.

“You watch football and you watch guys make plays,” Raiola said Tuesday. “It kind of nudges at you, like, ‘Well, they make plays. I can make plays too.’ It’s just a constant urge to get better.”

Through six games, the Huskers have no major injuries among their wideouts — a big shift from 2023, when the corps had little depth.

Last season, Alex Bullock — the team’s No. 6 receiver this season, in terms of snaps — played 79.5% of the Huskers’ snaps. In 2024, Wake Forest and Texas transfers Jahmal Banks and Isaiah Neyor have played 72.6% and 68.1% of NU’s snaps, respectively. Janiran Bonner and Jacory Barney have played around 31% of the team’s snaps. Bullock, now mostly a blocker, has played 20.1% of the snaps.

NU offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield, who also coaches the tight ends, said he’s “globally” pleased with the receivers’ work in 2024 while “constantly” getting on them about details.

“Run angry, get open angry, play angry,” Satterfield said. “Carry the football angry, go up and get it. (I’m) very pleased with the playmaking ability, ability to run by people, ability to catch 50/50 balls. Every day that we come to work, we’re going to try to improve and think we can always do better second-level releases and route running.”

The Hoosiers lead the Big Ten in passing yards per game, but their rush attack, which averages around 200 yards per game, is also challenging. Defensive coordinator Tony White compared IU’s top two backs, 5-9, 210-pound Justice Ellison and Ty Son Lawton (5-9, 208) to Rutgers back Kyle Monangai.

Nebraska linebacker Javin Wright praised IU’s rush attack as “sneaky” good.

“I give them mad respect, because, I mean, there’s nothing they really can’t do,” Wright said.

Another Husker ‘backer, John Bullock, agreed.

“They’re so versatile throwing the ball — and they can throw the ball very well — that it just opens up the run game a lot more,” Bullock said.

Husker coach Matt Rhule and several Husker players — including Raiola — seemed to embrace the underdog role fit for Nebraska in this game. No. 15 Indiana is nearly a touchdown favorite, will have a sold-out crowd and Fox’s Big Noon crew on hand.

“We love being an underdog,” Raiola said. “And that’s how a lot of people (perceive) Nebraska, is as the underdog. And that’s fine. We like it that way.”

NU running back Emmett Johnson had a different perspective.

“I wouldn’t really say it’s an underdog mentality,” he said. “I would just say it’s just playing Nebraska football. It’s nothing different than what we do on, you know, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. Just going out there and playing Nebraska football, and we’ll be just fine.”

Raiola’s first playing experience with a strong Nebraska wind came in the Huskers’ 14-7 win over Rutgers. Raiola struggled throwing the ball — completing 13 of 27 passes for 134 yards — and also learned something about operating in those hot, breezy conditions.

“It makes your lips dry, I know that,” Raiola said. “… It was interesting how (the wind) spiraled and switched throughout the game, but I guess that’s normal for here.”

Raiola was also asked Tuesday about which college quarterbacks he prefers to watch. He noted three — Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, Miami (Fla.) star Cam Ward and Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who like Raiola is from the Polynesian community.

“Dillon Gabriel is impressive, just what he does with the ball,” Raiola said of Gabriel, who led the Ducks to a 32-31 win over Ohio State. “I was pulling for him.”