Young Nebraska receivers aiming for more than pure speed

In bits and pieces throughout their first collegiate seasons, they flashed speed and explosiveness as they were forced into varying levels of contributions by veteran injuries. The trio combined for 16 receptions, 396 yards and four touchdowns.

Their next step comes in the details. Getting off of press coverage. Winning at the line of scrimmage. Refining route running. Becoming more well-rounded receivers to help propel an offense that often struggled to move the ball through the air.

“Just getting more comfortable in the offense,” Lloyd said. “Obviously Year 2, getting to learn the playbook a little bit better. I didn’t have a spring last year, so I didn’t really get to have the comfortability of knowing the plays as well. I think me and all the other receivers that came in with me last year are being a lot more comfortable with it.”

Lloyd had three touchdowns of at least 50 yards last season. He spent the offseason competing with the Nebraska track and field team as a jumper and thinks he’s faster as a result.

In the spring, he has focused on becoming a better route runner, watching film with receivers coach Garret McGuire to try to pick up on the subtleties that can make him more than a straight-line sprinter. It all complements his mental growth, the increased confidence that blossomed through his trial by fire.

Coleman showed similar flashes to Lloyd. The Lincoln East product with eye-popping speed and athleticism averaged 17.4 yards per catch and burned past the opposing secondary for his lone touchdown, a 44-yard strike against Northwestern.

Doss got the least amount of playing time of the three, appearing in four games and maintaining an extra year of eligibility.

“The standard that we have on our team in the receiver room, we make them live up to it every day,” junior wideout Alex Bullock said. “When they first got here, it might be a little challenging to get used to that, but the evolution of all those young guys, all their games has been — they’ve went from ‘here’ to ‘here’ every single day and they’ve just gotten better and better every single day.”

Little went according to plan for Nebraska’s passing game in 2023. The Huskers cycled through three quarterbacks, two of whom are no longer with the program. Veteran receivers Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda and Marcus Washington both sustained season-ending injuries. NU averaged 135.9 yards per game through the air.

As the Huskers edge toward a new season, a pair of freshman quarterbacks are in the mix, as are experienced transfer receivers Isaiah Neyor and Jahmal Banks. Within the new looks of the skill positions, Nebraska will look for a step forward from its receivers.

As freshmen, Lloyd and Coleman in particular proved they could contribute by stretching a defense and making explosive plays. How far they progress, and in turn, how much the ceiling of Nebraska’s offense is raised in 2024 depends on the less glamorous aspects of football, the moments that don’t light up a stadium.

“Everyone sees the wow plays,” NU coach Matt Rhule said. “We put out the highlights every day. Everyone sees the catch over the top, the one-handed shoulder catch, but there might be three other plays where we couldn’t get off press, and so it’s our job just to keep working at the things we aren’t great at.”