LINCOLN, Neb. — The fantastic thing about Nebraska’s new offense is within the versatility.

With the introduction of a fullback who seems to be like a throwback however acts with a contemporary twist, the Huskers below first-year coach Matt Rhule and offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield possess the power to disguise their look.

Nebraska may line up in 21 personnel (two backs and one tight finish), when it’s truly set to run a play out of 11 or 12. The objective, after all, is to create mismatches, which require playmakers.

Will the Huskers have sufficient offensive firepower in 2023 to make the most of the system that’s below building? Popping out of the spring, it’s the good unknown.

For the reason that finish of final season, 12 offensive talent gamers on scholarship have entered the switch portal. The Huskers added six transfers on the talent spots, bidding for an improve, along with eight true freshmen.

Scholarship numbers general, as soon as above 100, have settled at 88. Nebraska coaches will get to the restrict of 85 with out a lot stress. They’ll look selectively so as to add a participant or two by means of the portal earlier than preseason camp opens in three months.

However what the Huskers have right now is basically what they’ll have in August.

Right here’s a take a look at the projected offensive depth chart:

Quarterback

Starter: Jeff Sims, Jr.
Backup: Heinrich Haarberg, Soph.
Additionally on scholarship: Chubba Purdy, Soph.

What a whirlwind it’s been since Sims led the White staff to a 21-7 victory in opposition to the Pink within the April 22 spring sport. Was that simply 10 days in the past? Looks like a month for the quarterbacks group. Gone after the spring is Casey Thompson, the dependable 10-game starter from final season at Nebraska. Reserves Richard Torres and Logan Smothers additionally headed to the portal.

Thanks, GBR❤️ pic.twitter.com/N1htJGXDnG

— Logan Smothers (@logan_smothers) May 1, 2023

That is Sims’ offense to run. He’s a bought an enormous arm and velocity to burn. There will likely be no dramatic race in August for the beginning job. He began 23 video games at Georgia Tech in three seasons, and Sims’ presence despatched Thompson to buy one other program.

Haarberg was the opposite huge mover of spring at QB. At 6 toes, 5 inches and 210 kilos, he’s a weapon on the bottom. He’s bought a powerful arm, too, although it’s unrefined. Purdy, an athlete like Sims and Haarberg, will get a shot to reset in Lincoln after rocky begins final yr in opposition to Minnesota and Michigan.

Operating again

Starter: Gabe Ervin Jr., Jr.
Backups: Anthony Grant, Sr., Rahmir Johnson, Jr.
Additionally on scholarship: Emmett Johnson, R-Fr., Kwinten Ives, Fr.

The portal entry Sunday of Ajay Allen, Nebraska’s prime offensive true freshman in 2022, delivered a intestine punch. However the working backs can soak up Allen’s departure. It’s a deep group, that includes the ability of Ervin, who separated himself this winter and spring, the flexibility of Grant and the velocity of Rahmir Johnson.

Ervin mentioned he felt like “the previous me” in spring after accidents reduce quick his first two years at Nebraska. His fast embrace of the Rhule transition earned Ervin a place of management.

“I really feel greater, sooner, stronger,” he mentioned. “I simply really feel like an alpha on that discipline.”

What the backs lack in numbers, they make up for in expertise. All three of the highest gamers at this place personal beginning expertise at Nebraska. Any of the trio may find yourself because the workhorse in huge moments subsequent season.

H-back

Starter: Janiran Bonner, R-Fr.
Backups: *Braden Klover, Soph., *Trevor Ruth, R-Fr., *Caden Becker, R-Fr.

It’s a stretch maybe to checklist the H-back individually. However the gamers at this spot do greater than a standard fullback, they usually have to be distinguished from the working backs and tight ends.

Rhule likes “guys who can do a number of issues,” he mentioned in reference to Bonner, the transformed four-star broad receiver who slid to tight finish however carried as a fullback for a 7-yard achieve on the primary play of the Pink-White sport. He can block and catch, too, and gives Nebraska with one in every of its most intriguing offensive items in 2023.

Klover, at 6-2 and 225 kilos, and Ruth, at 6 toes and 230, match extra as blockers. Becker, the 6-4, 230-pound Wyoming switch, gives extra versatility as a doable Wildcat QB from this spot.

Tight finish

Starters: *Nate Boerkircher, Soph.
Backups: Thomas Fidone, Soph., Arik Gilbert, Soph.
Additionally on scholarship: Chase Androff, R-Fr., Jake Appleget, R-Fr., Ismael Smith Flores, Fr.

Fidone began the Pink-White sport. Boerkircher entered on the following play and caught a 38-yard strike from Sims to spotlight the primary scoring march in opposition to the No. 1 protection. Regardless of the four- and five-star pedigrees of Fidone and Gilbert, respectively, if the Huskers want a play to be made within the opener, they’re seeking to Boerkircher.

A lot optimism stays that the Huskers’ big-time skills right here will emerge and finally take over at tight finish. One other athlete, by the best way, is Smith Flores, who’s uncooked at 6-4 and 230 kilos however nicely generally known as a weapon by first-year tight ends coach Bob Wager.

Broad receiver

Starters: Marcus Washington, Sr., Billy Kemp IV, Sr.
Backups: Zavier Betts, Soph., Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda, Jr.
Additionally on scholarship: Josh Fleeks, Sr., Demitrius Bell, Fr., Jeremiah Charles, Fr., Malachi Coleman, Fr., Jaidyn Doss, Fr., Jaylen Lloyd, Fr., Brice Turner, Fr.

The highest 4 suited up with the No. 1 offense to finish the spring. Washington and Betts took the primary reps. However Kemp, the Virginia switch who’s a sixth-year senior, is undeniably on monitor to play a key position within the slot.

Fleeks, the Baylor switch, can be a sixth-year senior. Washington and Garcia-Castaneda are getting into their fifth seasons. So this charges an skilled group on one finish for brand spanking new receivers coach Garrett McGuire and precisely the other on the opposite facet of the room with six true freshmen.

McGuire may want one of many children to get snug in a rush. Coleman has all of the bodily instruments wanted to do it, and he was a fixture at observe this spring whereas finishing his final semester of highschool at Lincoln East.

If a freshman isn’t prepared, walk-ons Ty Hahn, Alex Bullock and Taveon Thompson will vie for time within the rotation.

Offensive line

Starters: Teddy Prochazka, Soph., Nouredin Nouili, Jr., Ben Scott, Jr., Turner Corcoran, Jr., Bryce Benhart, Jr.
Backups: Gunnar Gottula, Fr., Ethan Piper, Jr., Justin Evans-Jenkins, R-Fr., Henry Lutovsky, Soph., Jacob Hood, R-Fr.
Additionally on scholarship: Mason Goldman, Fr., Brock Knutson, Fr., Sam Sledge, Fr.

Will Corcoran will begin in opposition to Minnesota at proper guard? Not essentially. It was Piper’s spot within the spring. However with Prochazka set to return after a second consecutive offseason of rehab — this time for a shoulder — he’s the man at left deal with, the place Corcoran performed this spring.

Corcoran is probably the most versatile lineman on the roster, beginning at left deal with (19 video games over the previous three seasons), proper deal with (two) and left guard (three). Nouili, again from a one-year suspension, pairs properly with Prochazka on the left facet.

The Huskers might use Corcoran as a swing deal with due to the dearth of expertise among the many backups there. Or perhaps if Gottula continues to progress because the Huskers noticed in his first semester on campus, he can swing at deal with and let Piper and Lutovsky rotate with Nouili and Corcoran guard. That would offer the posh of skilled depth — and help in Rhule’s bid to hurry for 75 yards within the fourth quarter.

Nebraska likes what it has, too, in walk-ons Keegan Menning, Joey Mancino, Ezra Miller and Dylan Parrott.

* Denotes walk-on

 (Picture of Gabe Ervin Jr.: Steven Branscombe / Getty Photos)