3 thoughts on commitment of Jahmal Banks to Nebraska football

Nebraska football added its fifth player via the transfer portal in wideout Jahmal Banks and here are three thoughts.

The Nebraska football team got some good news on Wednesday with the addition of former Florida offensive lineman Micah Mazzccua, yet things didn’t stop there as the Huskers landed another major transfer portal addition on Thursday in wideout Jahmal Banks.

Banks is the former Wake Forest wideout. He’s 6-foot-4, 205 pounds, and has gone over 600 yards receiving in each of the past two seasons for the Demon Deacons. He’ll have one season of eligibility remaining and chose the Huskers over Michigan, West Virginia, Notre Dame, and others.

Wake Forest Transfer WR Jahmal Banks commits to #Nebraska@GarretMcGuire is building up that WR room! #GBR pic.twitter.com/TXIwbTmFef

— 247Huskers (@247Huskers) January 11, 2024

Here are three thoughts on the commitment of Jahmal Banks to Nebraska football.

Another weapon for Dylan Raiola

You want to surround your quarterback with talented skill guys and the Huskers are leaving no stone unturned this offseason. Banks is the second wide receiver addition from the transfer portal following the commitment of Isaiah Neyor last Friday.

There was some thought that maybe Nebraska football wanted just one transfer portal wide receiver but that’s clearly not the case. Banks is a big dude who’s athletic and has been productive throughout his career. Like Billy Kemp last season, he should be a plug-and-play guy.

While Neyor hasn’t really produced since the 2021 season due to injury, Banks caught 42 passes for 636 yards and nine touchdowns in 2022, followed by 59 receptions for 653 yards and four scores in 2023.

This is an immediate upgrade.

WR depth won’t be an issue

You can never say never. Injuries happen, but the Huskers are much better at the wide receiver position than they were a year ago at this time.

Not only does Nebraska football have guys returning like Malachi Coleman and Jaylen Lloyd who played key roles down the stretch, but they also have Jadyn Doss and Demetrius Bell waiting in the wings, not to mention another dynamic freshmen class that includes Jacory Barney, Dae’Vonn Hall, Isaiah McMorris, and Quinn Clark.

Banks and Neyor give the Huskers two veterans on the outside with Coleman. It also gives them more deep threats and just more weapons in general, which is a positive thing when you have a five-star quarterback.

Nebraska is killing it in the portal

Matt Rhule and the Huskers aren’t building through the portal, but they are doing a great job of supplementing their roster, which is exactly how it should be.

NFL teams that win Super Bowls aren’t built through free agency. It’s done through the draft and developing your own talent. The same will prove true for the Huskers. That’s why I love the fact that Rhule is so invested in high school recruiting.

However, the transfer portal, like free agency, can be used to fill immediate needs and add depth. Nebraska has added five potential starters and they could be adding another in former Syracuse linebacker Stefon Thompson.

I wouldn’t expect much beyond that unless they can convince a veteran quarterback to accept a walk-on spot, but that seems unlikely.

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