5 things to watch as Nebraska football fall camp begins

We are getting closer to the start of the 2024 season. Nebraska football is back at practice on Wednesday and the journey is getting started for real.

The Nebraska football players and coaches are back in dorms and the real work toward reaching a bowl game has begun. For the Huskers, there are no shortage of storylines.

And frankly, I’m not going to mince words. Let’s look ahead to fall camp for Nebraska football with five things to watch.

The most hyped quarterback in a long time

I wanted to write “the best” quarterback Nebraska football has had in a long time but we can’t say that yet about Dylan Raiola. As much as we all believe in him, he still has to do it.

The spring game was a positive sign. Everything else since then has been to. Raiola is just a mature kid and he’s ready for the spotlight of playing at Nebraska.

He’s also just a football junkie. Everyone who talks about him says so. Marcus Satterfield talked about his “obessesion” with being great.

That’s exactly what I want in a quarterback — someone obsessed with being great.

The thing is, Raiola has the talent. He also has a football mind and for the record, is just a good dude. He worked the girls football camp last week and also took his offensive lineman out for pizza earlier this offseason.

There’s every reason to believe Raiola will succeed. It’s hard to find reasons why he won’t, but the quarterback competition and when, not if, Raiola is named the starter, is probably storyline No. 1.

A potentially deep running back room

Emmett Johnson and Dante Dowdell both had their moments this spring. They are the top two guys right now, but Gabe Ervin and Rahmir Johnson have had their moments for Nebraska.

Their biggest issue has been availability, not ability.

If that’s fixed this season, the Huskers could have a deep running back room. Dowdell was a top-10 recruit at his position and showed why in a 50-yard touchdown run during the spring game.

The reality is that in the Big Ten, you are going to need 3-4 backs to make it through the season. Nebraska had just as much depth last season and by November, Emmett Johnson was the only guy left standing.

I wonder if a true RB1 will emerge. That’s not really needed anymore and if it helps keep guys healthy, I’m down for the running back by committee approach.

The second starter corner for Nebraska football

On Tuesday, ahead of fall camp, Nebraska football defensive coordinator Tony White said that Ceyair Wright was “extremely talented”, but that he also had to adjust to Nebraska.

That’s not unusual to hear about a Nebraska transfer. Wright left USC before the end of last season and was added to Nebraska late, even though he was available in the portal for teams much earlier if wanted.

Wright was a starter for USC though and a top-100 recruit. Him winning the job and emerging opposite of Tommi Hill is the best-case scenario. Jeremiah Charles is another name to watch. Malcolm Hartzog could also see more time at corner and Marques Buford could too.

I’m fascinated to see how it plays out because it’s the biggest question for what should be an elite defense.

Freshman impacts

You almost forget that Dylan Raiola is a freshman. But just like Adrian Martinez, he’s in line to start as a true freshman for the Cornhuskers.

Carter Nelson is going to start his Nebraska football career at wide receiver, instead of tight end, but it feels like he’s going to get on the field right away. The same can be said about Jacory Barney and also Vincent Shavers.

Raiola might be the only freshman starting this season but those others listed will play a ton this season and if the Huskers are going to make that leap into the 8-9 win territory those youngsters need to stand out.

Offensive line battle

Nebraska football is deep at all the skill positions on offense, maybe outside of quarterback, and I really like the way the offensive line is shaping up.

Matt Rhule recently said that Turner Corcoran will be 100 percent for camp. The Huskers keep saying he will play tackle and maybe the idea is for him to be the swing tackle, but Corcoran might be in the mix to start at guard if the Huskers want to play their five best.

Justin Evan-Jenkins started at the end of last season and played well. Micah Mazzccua started 11 of 12 games at guard for Florida last season so in all honesty, Nebraska has three starting-caliber guards. They have three starting-caliber tackles in their mind (Corc included) and I think that will be an interesting battle.

Rhule has said the Huskers have 7-8 starters on their offensive line and when you really look at the depth chart, it’s true and it’s good to see.

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