Nebraska Football: Billy Kemp bringing ‘edge’ to WR room

Nebraska football wide receiver Billy Kemp has been standing out to wide receivers coach Garrett McGuire. McGuire said as much in his interview with ‘Sports Nightly’ on Tuesday.

Kemp was part of the 2023 transfer class that came in this winter. The former Virginia receiver tallied 16 catches for 116 yards last season, averaging 7.3 yards per reception. He had declared for the NFL Draft after the 2023 season. However, he decided to exercise his final year of eligibility, and entered the transfer portal December 30.

Now, he looks to be a key part of Nebraska’s passing offense. We saw it a little bit during the spring game in April.  He caught two passes for 39 yards on the afternoon. He also ran the ball once for six yards.

He has the potential to be the slot receiver Nebraska football has been missing for quite some time. He is not the biggest receiver, as the measures in at five-foot-nine, 180 pounds. Nevertheless, he has the ability to make things happen after the catch. He also brings experience to the table, as he has tallied 192 career catches and 1,774 receiving yards in 50 games.

Kemp bringing ‘edge’ to Nebraska Football

Perhaps more than the stuff he brings on the field, he is impressing off of it. McGuire indicated that the receiver is coachable, and that he has a chip on his shoulder to boot. McGuire went into detail a bit more, as transcribed by Husker247’s Brian Christopherson.

“What he’s brought to this room is just an edge,” McGuire said. “He plays with a natural edge. You talk about a guy who’s probably 5-8 on a good day. He’s got a chip on his shoulder. And him and I, we can really play off each other. Because I chew his tail. And Jaidyn Doss sees me chew his tail and it’s like, ‘Oh, that’s a fifth-year senior listening to Coach. That’s a big deal.'”

“And some of the stuff really, really fits him. Because of how smart he is, how decisive he is … changes directions and how he catches the football.”

This is all good to hear. Nebraska football undoubtedly has weapons that can play on the outside. Having somebody like Kemp on the inside to complement things is important. His ability to settle into his routes and come back for the football will undoubtedly help this Nebraska offense. It makes life easier for quarterbacks.

After impressing in the spring game, Kemp could be in line for a big year. At the very least, it seems like he has impressed McGuire