5 storylines to follow for Nebraska football this spring

Even though Nebraska football isn’t holding a spring game, the Huskers will still have spring practices starting next week.

Nebraska won’t hold a traditional spring game at the end of it like usual. However, about 20 other programs have followed suit, so the Huskers aren’t alone.

The spring is still a critical time for this program. Some newcomers need to adapt, as well as young players who need to take a leap. Dylan Raiola is one of them.

But there are questions across the board that need to be answered this spring and here are five storylines for Nebraska football fans to follow.

The impact of Dana Holgorsen

The former Houston and West Virginia head coach called plays down the stretch last season but I don’t know that Nebraska football was ever running his offense.

Now, the Huskers will be, and I’m excited to see what it looks like. Holgorsen revamped the wide receiver room this spring and brings back one of the most talented passers in college football.

Raiola has plenty of work to do, but if he had entered the transfer portal, he would have been the most sought-after player there.

If Holgorsen can get Raiola to play the way he did against Wisconsin, consistently, this team can absolutely be a College Football Playoff contender.

Running back depth

Nebraska getting Emmett Johnson to return from the transfer portal was massive. He’s going to be the starting running back and it wouldn’t shock me if had over 1,000 total yards this season, maybe even 1,000 on the ground.

Dating back to 2023, Johnson was a productive runner in Big Ten games. Nebraska didn’t give him the ball enough and didn’t last season either, at least until the end.

That will be fixed in 2025. But you can’t make it through a Big Ten season with one running back. Kwinten Ives and Mehki Nelson are two waiting in the wings. Ives scored a rushing touchdown in the Pinstripe Bowl.

Both dudes look the part. Can they produce? What about true freshman Jamarion Parker, who has enrolled early. I could see him pushing for playing time this fall and I’m wondering if that’s a name we’ll hear this spring through the grapevine.

Heinrich Haarberg at tight end

Nebraska football is probably hoping to use Carter Nelson as more of a tight end this season, but after a pair of offseason surgeries, it’s still up in the air. 

Regardless, Nelson will miss valuable reps if he is moved to tight end. Heinrich Haarberg isn’t missing any reps and he strikes me as the starting tight end for Nebraska along with Luke Lindenmeyer as the No. 2.

Lindenmeyer played in all 13 games last season with two starts. He only caught five passes for 50 yards but is a stellar blocker. Haarberg can be the real X-factor though.

We have seen him catch passes before and run the ball. He’s never had an offseason to focus on another position though and by the fall time camp rolls around, I think Haarberg will be just fine.

Better than fine actually.

The offensive line

This is one of the more interesting position battles to watch. Elijah Pritchett will likely be the starting left tackle. Gunnar Gottula seems like he’ll move over to the right side and step in for Bryce Benhart.

Rocco Spindler will be the starting right guard. That seems guaranteed and Justin Evans will be starting somewhere, either at left guard or center.

So there is one spot available. Sam Sledge is a name that Matt Rhule mentioned in his pre-spring press conference. He’s getting reps at center and if he does enough to win that job, Evans doesn’t need to move.

It always felt like Nebraska liked Evans at center, but he is already a solid starter at guard. If Sledge is a better center than say Henry Lutovsky or Grant Brix is at guard, it makes sense to start him.

I doubt any decisions are made this spring but Brix, Gibson Pyle, and Sledge all have a chance to earn their way onto the field this fall, and it starts with spring ball.

How the defensive line fits together

As the offseason has gone on, I’ve started to feel better about the defensive line. I still wish the Huskers could add a true nose-tackle type, such as Nash Hutmacher, but that might not happen.

Riley Van Poppel is probably closer to 330 than I realize though. When he was pictured next to Tyson Terry, he looked 30-40 pounds heavier and Terry weighs around 275, at least he did to wrestle.

Nebraska needs some tough dudes in the middle. Van Poppel, Elijah Jeudy, and Keona Davis might be that. The Huskers could have some depth emerge, but they also need guys like Cameron Lenhardt to step up.

Lenhardt took a step back last season. However, development isn’t always linear. He’s being overlooked and if he could fulfill his potential, this defensive line will be much better.

I’m also interested in the early returns on Williams Nwaneri. He’s the X-factor of the defensive line and if Nebraska can turn him into a consistent producer next season, this defensive line has a chance to be even better than it was last season.

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