Husker Big Red Daily: Tikey Hayes has ‘legitimate’ chance to be Nebraska’s starter, more on Mekhi Nelson

Welcome to Husker Big Red Daily, your daily stop for the latest Nebraska football news, recruiting buzz, transfer portal updates, and Huskers headlines. Here’s a quick look at the latest storylines surrounding Nebraska athletics.

The more we learn about the late addition of running back Tikey Hayes to the Nebraska football team, the better it sounds.

Steve Sipple of Husker Online provided some interesting insight about the addition in a new article on Friday. He reported that defensive line analyst Dave Tollefson, who was formerly on the Iowa Western staff, was the conduit between Nebraska and Hayes.

Tollefson reached out to the head coach, who said he had a back in Hayes who could help the Huskers. Iowa Western’s head coach even said that SEC schools had reached out to Hayes, telling him to sit out the season, and that they would take him in December, so this was a really good get for the Huskers.

Hayes was poised for a breakout season at Iowa Western, which would have made him one of the best JUCO running back prospects in college football. Instead, he will play for Matt Rhule this season. According to Sipple, who cites sources close to the situation, there is a “legitimate” chance for Hayes to earn the starting job.

“Here’s what I can say about Hayes after talking to multiple people close to the situation: If he comes to Lincoln fully prepared to compete hard for a starting job, he’ll have a legitimate chance to win the role. I’m told he’s ‘As talented as anyone in the room,'” Sipple wrote ($). 

Mehki Nelson’s status is unclear

The long-time Nebraska insider also had an update on the status of Mekhi Nelson, who had his charges dropped by the state of Florida. Sipple reported that Nelson has been suspended for a single game twice during his time with the Nebraska football program, including last season’s game against Houston Christian.

Here’s what Sipple wrote about Nelson’s status moving forward: 

“His status with the team remains mostly unclear. He has been able to eat training table meals, but he couldn’t eat with the team at the facility, nor work out with the team, as his legal matter progressed through the system. What’s next is unclear.”

It seems clear, though, that Nebraska added Hayes in response to Nelson’s arrest, so that means fans could or should expect some kind of discipline for Nelson moving forward.

Big Ten power rankings

Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports, a national college basketball analyst, released his preseason Big Ten power rankings, with Nebraska baskeball listed as No. 9. Illinois was No. 1, followed by Michigan State, Michigan, USC, UCLA, Purdue, Ohio State, and Indiana.

Nebraska had one of the five First-Team All-Big Ten selections in Pryce Sandfort. The Huskers also bring back the Big Ten’s Sixth Man of the Year, Braden Frager. Fred Hoiberg described his work this summer as “terrific.”

Expectations are high, and another Sweet 16 run seems possible.

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