5 biggest questions for Nebraska Football heading into 2023

Nebraska football starts fall camp on July 30th and looking ahead to the 2023 season, here are five questions the Huskers must answer.

It’s hard to believe that Nebraska football starts fall camp in just more than a week. Before we know it, the Huskers will be in Minnesota for the season opener.

Yet, for all the hype and all the talk since the hiring of Matt Rhule in November, Nebraska football will finally get to work. Rhule has the team set to stay in the dorms, taking an old-school approach to fall camp and it’s one that I love.

This program needed some toughness instilled. Nebraska football has to learn how to win again and with all that in mind, here are five questions Nebraska faces entering fall camp for the 2023 season.

Can Jeff Sims stay healthy?

I have no doubt that Jeff Sims will be successful this season when he’s on the field. But he’s never had a full season of starts under his belt in college and that will be a key question for the Huskers.

If Sims is able to start all 12 games, I’m very confident that Nebraska football will win at least six and be playing in a bowl game for the first time since Mike Riley was the head coach.

However, if there’s an injury and Henrich Haarberg or Chubba Purdy has to start, then the Huskers could be in some trouble. Purdy looked better in the spring. Haarberg also had some moments and showed enough to warrant some touches as a runner this season, but truth be told, there is no viable replacement for Sims.

Sims is a dual threat with an NFL-caliber arm. There’s a reason Rhule has talked so glowingly about his game and that’s why protecting him will be so important.

Can Teddy Prochazka and the O-line hold up?

We haven’t heard a lot about Teddy Prochazka this spring or summer. It sounds like he’s on track to start fall camp and should be healthy by the season opener against Minnesota.

But like with Sims, will Teddy stay healthy? The dude is 6-foot-10, 320 pounds and he’s had some really good moments but has also been injury prone.

It seems unlikely to me that he starts all 12 games. Just like with Sims, you kind of have to see it to believe it. In the past that has meant Turner Corcoran playing left tackle.

That’s a situation I’d like to see Nebraska football avoid if possible. Corcoran can be a solid guard, but he’s not a left tackle. Outside of Prochazka, there isn’t a true left tackle that’s probably ready to contribute right now although I wouldn’t count out Gunnar Gottula in a pinch but the health and production of Prochazka — it could be the difference between an above-average offensive line and a below-average one.

What will Nebraska football get from its tight ends?

The Huskers could have one of the most talented tight-end combinations in the country if Thomas Fidone is able to stay healthy and Arik Gilbert is ruled eligible.

I’m worried about Gilbert since things have been pretty silent on that front. The NCAA changed the rules for players to get a waiver to transfer a second time without penalty and it might not happen this season.

It’s also not a huge loss as long as Thomas Fidone delivers on his potential. He looks healthy but was limited in the spring. By the time the season opener rolls around, he needs to be 110 percent because this Nebraska football offense will be much better with him than without him.

The Huskers have some solid pass-catchers. Billy Kemp is going to be a stud. I also like Zavier Betts and Marcus Washington, not to mention Malachi Coleman.

But they call the tight end a quarterback’s best friend for a reason and I’m hoping Fidone and/or Gilbert can be that this season for Sims and the Huskers.

What about the pass rush?

One of the reasons I’m optimistic about the Huskers’ chances of getting back to a bowl game is the defense. Nebraska football returns most of its starters from last season and the 3-3-5 should help more than it hurts.

Big Ten teams will adjust and it’s not like they haven’t seen it before. I like that it’s more of a modern scheme and it’s flexible. Tony White should be able to put his best players in the best position to succeed.

I am concerned about the pass rush though. There really isn’t a proven pass rusher on the roster. Some younger guys could emerge like Cameron Lenhardt or Princewill Umanmielen but that’s also asking a lot of freshmen.

MJ Sherman, Chief Borders, Jimari Butler, and Blaise Gunnerson will all need to be active contributors when it comes to pressuring the quarterback — otherwise, this season will be a struggle.

The run defense should be fine with Ty Robinson and Nash Hutmacher returning. Hutmacher is 6-foot-4, 330 pounds, and seemed to really improve this spring after a solid 2022 season. Elijah Jeudy should have a role too.

Nebraska’s question mark has to do with pressuring the quarterback and that’s one that won’t be answered until the live bullets start flying.

Can the Huskers start fast under Matt Rhule?

Matt Rhule has never had a winning season as a first-year head coach. Things have been ugly to start and to be fair, that’s because Rhule has always taken on rebuilding jobs.

Nebraska football is a rebuild too. The Huskers still have a lot of built-in advantages, but the program needed a reboot and he knows that.

However, there are also a lot more pieces in place than when Rhule took over at Temple or Baylor. The transfer portal is also a thing now. Nebraska football added some key pieces from the portal including Sims, Ben Scott, Borders, Gilbert, Sherman, Jeudy, Kemp, and more.

This Nebraska football team has flaws. But there is also a lot of talent, especially with the incoming recruiting class which looks like one of the best in years.

At the same time, Nebraska football fans are tired of waiting on potential. They want results and my hope is that Rhule can deliver a lot quicker than at Temple, Baylor, or Carolina.

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