Nebraska

Tad Stryker: Unproven Punching Power

Published

1 year ago

February 22, 2025

It’s the million-dollar question for Nebraska football entering Matt Rhule’s third season: Will the Cornhuskers be able to consistently punch teams in the mouth in 2025? As in, mid- to upper-tier Big Ten teams? If so, the payoff could be huge. They would certainly rise higher than last year’s 12th-place tie in the 18-member Big Ten. Substantially higher.

The Huskers showed very little ability to deal out punishment in 2024, except for their two best victories, over Colorado and Wisconsin.

NU’s final 2024 season totals show an embarrassing 3.8 yards per rush and 130.3 yards rushing per game. Both are the Huskers’ second-lowest totals since 2017, Mike Riley’s final year. Even with an excellent passing game, your ceiling is 5-4, and more likely 4-5, in the defensively stacked Big Ten if that’s all you can bring to the ground attack.

With second-half leads, Nebraska rarely could lean on its run game last year to wear down opponents and eat clock. The exceptions were CU and the shakier-than-necessary 20-15 bowl win over Boston College. NU has not come close to doing what Rhule specified upon his arrival, namely, running for 75 yards in the fourth quarter to close games out, which is often vital in a conference where it’s hard to get a secure halftime advantage.

There’s a reason the Colorado and Wisconsin games were so resoundingly successful, aside from the big early leads. On those two occasions, the Huskers temporarily walked Rhule’s talk and played physical offense, at least often enough to keep the opponent on edge. Against the Buffs, NU ran the ball 35 times for 149 yards and held the ball for 35 minutes; Dante Dowdell crunched for 74 yards with two touchdowns and broke trash-talking Shilo Sanders’s arm along the way. Against Wisconsin, the Huskers ran for 180 yards and had 33 minutes of possession as Emmett Johnson rushed for 113 yards and caught six passes for 85 yards. Those numbers aren’t even within shouting distance of Osborne/Solich-era rushing production, but with freshman Dylan Raiola at quarterback, they were more than adequate to control the game, and will be again.

In 2025, with sophomore Raiola calling the signals, at least 175 yards rushing a game would go a long way toward lifting the Big Red. Raiola will certainly improve, as will Jacory Barney, Carter Nelson, Luke Lindenmeyer and Heinrich Haarberg, and there’s significant incoming talent at the wideouts. I have much more confidence in Nebraska’s pass game next season than its ability to punch teams in the mouth. The run game is the X-factor that will decide whether Nebraska hovers at .500 or puts together a nine-win season.

Nebraska tight end Luke Lindenmeyer carries the ball during the 2024 Pinstripe Bowl. / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

I understand the excitement over transfer wide receiver Dane Key, but with the exception of Raiola, arguably the most valuable offensive skill player on the Nebraska football roster in 2025 will be Emmett Johnson — that is, if he shows as much improvement this season as he did in 2024. The loss of Dowdell will hurt. To be fair, the strength of NU’s run game last year was finishing drives. NU had 22 rushing touchdowns last year compared to 16 in 2023 and 17 in 2022, and Dowdell was the main reason with 12 rushing TDs.

Will EJ pick up the slack by himself in his junior year? He had only one rushing TD last year and two as a redshirt freshman. Kwinten Ives scored a touchdown against Boston College but remains a question mark. New blood could help; look to incoming St. Louis recruit Jamarion Parker and Conor Booth of Wahoo Bishop Neumann. The best possible news during fall camp would be Parker — who has a reputation as a home run hitter — getting lots of shout-outs from upperclassmen and pushing for playing time. Newly extended running backs coach E.J. Barthel has a lot of work to do heading into spring drills.

Whoever lines up at running back should have good blocking from a retooled offensive line. Having landed a pair of experienced starting linemen who transferred from Alabama (Elijah Pritchett) and Notre Dame (Rocco Spindler), and with homegrown experience returning in guard/center Justin Evans, tackle Gunnar Gottula and guard Henry Lutovsky, there’s no reason in the world (barring a couple of serious injuries) that the Husker o-line shouldn’t be significantly better than last year. There will be run-blocking help from Lindenmeyer. And that’s if Turner Corcoran and Teddy Prochazka don’t play a snap. That’s an above-average mix of proven talent and good potential for fourth-year offensive line coach Donovan Raiola to utilize. The keys, as always, will be how well the tackle positions hold up.

How high is Coach Raiola’s ceiling? We’ll find out soon enough. Nebraska used to be Offensive Line U. Those days seem to be long gone, but it would be nice to have an o-line that’s in the top 20 once again, and Raiola may be able to get them that far.

In fact, for the first time since Rhule came to Lincoln, there’s a real chance this fall the Husker o-line will be better than the defensive line, as new d-line coach Terry Bradden deals with the loss of Ty Robinson and Nash Hutmacher. The Husker offensive line made decent progress in pass blocking last fall. But it has made small, frustratingly incremental gains in run blocking over Raiola’s tenure as o-line coach. It’s overdue to show significant improvement this fall.

Nebraska will have a potent passing game in 2025, but a passing game is not something you can lean on. It’s time for the Huskers to finally reward years of steady support by a blue-collar fan base with a ground game that can score a knockout when it needs one.

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Nebraska

Athlete of the Week: Creighton Prep boys wrestling’s Zaiyahn Ornelas

Published

11 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Athlete of the Week: Creighton Prep boys wrestling’s Zaiyahn Ornelas

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Creighton Prep senior Zaiyahn Ornelas won his fourth consecutive Nebraska state wrestling title on Saturday.

According to NSAA records, he joins 39 other wrestlers in state history to accomplish the feat.

“It’s a great feeling,” Ornelas said. “It’s a feeling everybody wants.”

The senior ended his career as the 39th four-time state champion in Nebraska history, winning three at Wilber-Clatonia before joining the Jr. Jays.

Ornelas won three Class C state titles at Wilber-Clatonia at 106, 113 and 120 pounds before transferring to Creighton Prep for his senior season, where he competed in Class A at 126 pounds.

“Three state titles there and then just thought I could bump up my competition,” Ornelas said.

“Zaiyahn is one of the cleanest technicians I’ve ever seen. That’s a huge testament to his coaching staff at Wilber,” Fisher added.

Ornelas was one of four Creighton Prep wrestlers to win state titles this season, helping lead the Jr. Jays to the Class A team title. Teammates said his presence in the practice room raised their level of competition.

“I could never slack off just because my competition in the state was easy. I always had to come in this room and get better or else I was going to get beat,” said sophomore Cruzer Dominguez, a two-time Class A state champion at 106 and 120 pounds.

Sophomore Kameron Green, the Class A 144-pound state champion this year, also credited Ornelas for aiding in his development.

“Zaiyahn being a training partner has helped me in tremendous ways,” he said. “When he wrestles, he’s not the nicest or shyest kid, but he’s tenacious and tough.”

The sophomore won his first state title after finishing as a runner-up at 126 pounds as a freshman.

Junior JT Smith, a two-time state champion at 175 and 190 pounds, said the achievement carries weight for the entire team.

“It’s something really special to have a teammate that’s a four-time state champion,” he said. “That’s something everyone wants to be.”

The junior finished the season as a back-to-back state champion after winning a gold medal at 175 pounds as a sophomore.

Fisher said Ornelas’s attitude set the tone from the start.

“He has so many skills and then coming into our room, he’s extremely coachable. Every time he came in here he was humble, ready to work, wanting to get better and that’s why he is as good as he is,” Fisher said.

Ornelas signed to wrestle at the University of Nebraska in November. He said the move to Creighton Prep delivered what he was looking for.

“This is the reason why I came here. I went out to explore, to find the best, and this is the territory that I found. If it wasn’t for these guys — the push — I would have not been there,” Ornelas said.

“It’s hard to believe. That’s kind of what I wanted since the beginning, freshman year,” he said.

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Nebraska

Nebraska Chamber taps former state senator to lead during leadership transition

Published

23 hours ago

February 26, 2026

Press Room

Nebraska Chamber taps former state senator to lead during leadership transition

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – The Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry has selected a former state senator and longtime board member to lead the chamber while it searches for a new president and CEO.

Board of Directors Chair Pat Keenan said Thursday that Matt Williams of Gothenburg agreed to serve as interim president.

ALSO READ: Nebraska Chamber president and CEO resigns after less than a year

“The Board is grateful to Matt for stepping into this role during a very active and productive time for the Nebraska Chamber,” Keenan said. “He has steady leadership, strong relationships and trust from his many years of advocacy for economic development, and decades of experience working with the legislature and state government on tax policy and economic development incentives.”

Matt Williams(NE Chamber)

Williams represented District 36 in the Nebraska Legislature from 2015 to 2023.

The chamber said Williams has had a lifelong career in banking and serves as chairman of Flatwater Bank. He previously served as chair of the Nebraska Bankers Association and the American Bankers Association.

His long involvement with the chamber includes membership on the Board of Directors; he currently serves as director for District 6. In 2025, he was named to the Nebraska Business Hall of Fame.

“The Nebraska Chamber is on rock-solid footing, with the clear vision of the Board, and talented and hard-working staff hitting its stride in legislative policy and advocacy, technology, manufacturing, leadership-development, fund-raising and membership. The success of cutting-edge initiatives like 6 Regions, One Nebraska, the launch of the Go Big Future series, and the strong member engagement across the state demonstrate the success and strength of this organization. I’m excited to lend my support in whatever way I can for the Chamber. I know how strong businesses and communities make for a stronger Nebraska, and I’m glad to be part of that.”

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Nebraska

Maryland men’s basketball silenced late by No. 12 Nebraska, 74-61

Published

1 day ago

February 26, 2026

Press Room

Maryland men’s basketball silenced late by No. 12 Nebraska, 74-61

Maryland men’s basketball has found itself in plenty of close games over the past few weeks. Four of its last five were decided by seven points or less, and the Terps won three of them.

Head coach Buzz Williams had ostensibly found a winning recipe in crunch time. That is, until Wednesday’s clash with No. 12 Nebraska.

Down by five with just over six minutes to play, the key ingredients for a comeback were nowhere to be found. Andre Mills, who had been superb over Maryland’s past few matches, turned the ball over to star forward Pryce Sandfort on an errant pass. Just seconds later, Sandfort splashed a 3-pointer, and Pinnacle Bank Arena went wild.

That sequence was the cap of a 9-0 run and the middle of an 0-of-4 shooting stretch for Maryland. What was largely a competitive contest soon became lopsided, and the Terps fell, 74-61.

Williams used his coach’s challenge just a minute and a half into Wednesday’s contest. The reversed call didn’t result in points right away — the Terps turned it over the very next possession — but it undoubtedly sent a crystal clear, no-nonsense message to the sideline.

And Maryland’s defense was ready for the rowdy away game occasion. The Terps notched just five points in the opening five minutes — two coming on a thunderous Solomon Washington slam — but didn’t allow Nebraska on the scoresheet. In fact, Maryland turned the Cornhuskers over twice in that span, and Guillermo Del Pino rejected a Jamarques Lawrence layup.

Nebraska started the game 0-of-6 from the field before finding the net. Sandfort channeled his shooting prowess, sinking a 3-pointer to give the Cornhuskers their first advantage of the match six-and-a-half minutes in.

Forward Braden Frager was the true catalyst for Nebraska’s sudden surge, logging seven of the team’s first 10 points and operating well in transition. His quick-hit offense didn’t allow Maryland to set up its effective half-court defense.

The Terps’ offense remained relatively cold as the midway point of the half approached. They embarked on a 1-of-8 shooting stretch, with Nebraska consistently switching on Maryland’s perimeter looks and forcing Washington into some perimeter shots.

Interestingly enough, it was Washington and his frontcourt counterpart — Elijah Saunders — that offered the team a surge from beyond the arc. The two combined for four of the squad’s first five 3-pointers — two of Saunders’ makes came in the last five minutes of the half to keep Maryland within striking distance.

The Cornhuskers took a six point advantage into the halftime locker room, up 33-27.

Rienk Mast finally got into a bit of rhythm to open the second half, burying a 3-pointer in an attempt to keep the Terps at bay. But Maryland’s offense wasn’t rattled. It didn’t revert to the same isolation playbook that it has sometimes found itself running; it instead was gritty on the glass and earned multiple second-chance opportunities.

Nebraska was being worn down on defense, and its crowd was becoming less intense. Maryland just needed to establish some prolonged momentum.

But the game remained deadlocked for the ensuing minutes. Andre Mills began to display some of the athletic lane-driving traits he’s exhibited over the past 10 contests. But he also drilled a pair of long-range jumpers, quickly becoming the team’s leading second-half scorer.

As the clock ticked below 10 minutes left with the game decided by just a matter of points, the Terps’ offense hit a stagnant stretch. Coit took four consecutive shots — and made only one — while the team’s ball movement came to a screeching halt.

After Nebraska’s 9-0 run, things didn’t realign on the attack for Maryland. Coit continued to struggle, going 2-of-6 from three in the second half. Mills also missed back-to-back looks, and from there, the result was all but decided.

1. Elijah Saunders’ big day. With Mills struggling in the first half Wednesday, Saunders picked up some of the slack. The 40% 3-point shooter made half of his looks, resulting in a season-high five 3-pointers against the Cornhuskers. That comes just one game after he set his previous season-high of four 3-pointers against Washington.

2. Paint production erased. Maryland’s frontcourt did some damage Wednesday night, but much of it came from deep. The Terps finished with just 14 points in the paint compared to Nebraska’s 26. Despite both teams grabbing seven offensive rebounds, Maryland didn’t make much of the second chance opportunities in the restricted area.

3. More Del Pino minutes. After playing 27 minutes and securing the win with an alley-oop lob against Washington, Del Pino was on the court for 15 minutes Wednesday. Though he finished without any points, he seems to have earned Williams’ trust and continues to operate the floor well from a distribution perspective.

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