Nebraska Football: Why Jahmal Banks’ commitment is so important

Former Wake Forest wide receiver Jahmal Banks committed to Nebraska football on Thursday. He made the announcement on X.

This is another big gap for Nebraska football, as they continue to add to their wide receiver room. Banks caught 59 catches for 653 yards and four touchdowns last season. He averaged 11.4 yards per reception.

His highest receiving total came when he reported six catches for 180 yards and a touchdown against Elon.

Banks also had a productive season for Wake Forest in 2022. He tallied 42 catches that season, for 636 yards and nine touchdowns.

Why is this commitment important for Nebraska football?

This commitment is big for Nebraska football for several reasons. For one, they have another veteran playmaker to add to the room. This is one of the goals that the program set out to accomplish in the transfer portal and they were able to do it. Now, this will allow the younger wide receivers an opportunity to develop. Jacory Barney, Malachi Coleman, Jaylen Lloyd and Demitrius Bell are some of the names that come to mind.

The best programs have the ability to have productive starters, and give the second-string players time to develop. As a result, makes things a lot easier to have developed players when the starters graduate. Nebraska football is starting to build that level of depth, especially in the wide receiver room. Banks will undoubtedly help with that.

Secondly, they were able to get a wide receiver that continues to fit the mold of what they want. Banks measures in at six-foot-four, 205 pounds. Nebraska football has focused on taller receivers both in recruiting and in the transfer portal. Height and athleticism are something they want to focus on in terms of getting talent into the room.

This just gives the Nebraska football quarterbacks another weapon to throw to, and what has been a big transfer portal haul for the program. The Nebraska football coaching staff has done a solid job of identifying weaknesses and addressing them in the portal. With the challenging schedule the program has next year, these moves were needed.

It will be interesting to see how Banks fits in this offense, and how he will stand out in a wide receiver room that is very crowded.