Tag: 2024 Nebraska Football Season

Nebraska Football Countdown to Kickoff: No. 36 DB Blake Closman

Only 36 days remain until the start of Nebraska’s 2024 season.

The countdown to the start of Nebraska’s 2024 season is down to 36 days and in the player spotlight is Cornhuskers defensive back Blake Closman.

The 5-foot-9, 195-pound cornerback is originally out of Elkhorn, Nebraska and was a standout safety and wide receiver. He eventually chose to walk on with the Huskers.

After not appearing in any games during his first two years with the program, Crosman played in two games as a redshirt sophomore in 2023 against both Northern Illinois and Michigan.

Closman will have an opportunity to see the field again in 2024 but likely won’t have any large roll, instead playing in select situations.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.

Nebraska Football Countdown to Kickoff: No. 37 DB Evan Taylor

Only 37 days remain until the start of Nebraska’s 2024 season.

As Big Ten Media Days wrap up in Indianapolis, the countdown to kickoff for Nebraska is down to just 37 days.

In the player spotlight with those 37 days remaining until August 31 is freshman cornerback Evan Taylor. The 6-foot-3, 175-pound defensive back is originally out of Cuthbertso High School in Waxhaw, North Carolina.

He was a consensus three-star prospect across the recruiting industry and chose the Huskers over notable FBS offers from Charlotte, East Carolina, and Rutgers. He took only two official visits in his recruitment, one to Lincoln, and one to Piscattaway.

Taylor missed his entire senior season of high school football due to a knee injury but did have a solid junior campaign in 2022 playing both cornerback and wide receiver for Cuthbertson. This season will be a redshirt year for Taylor as he continues to recover from his knee injury as he’ll look to develop into a rotational player in the secondary for the program long term.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.

Top 2024 signee Carter Nelson to start career at wide receiver

One of the Huskers top signees in the 2024 recruiting class is going to make an impact early this year, just not at his original position.

In Nebraska’s 2024 recruiting class, outside quarterback commitment Dylan Raiola, no prospect received as much hype as four-star prospect Carter Nelson.

The Ainsworth, Nebraska native was a consensus four-star prospect and ranked as a top-100 prospect by On3, 247Sports, and Rivals.

That being said, while recruited as a tight end, the Huskers will be starting the 2024 signee at a different position: wide receiver. Nelson will be playing in the slot. Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule told the media on Wednesday during the Big Ten Media Days of the development. 

The Huskers’ move of Nelson to the slot will allow the talented freshman to have a more consistent impact while also allowing junior tight end Thomas Fidone II to be involved in the offense. 

Nelson, of course, will not be the only freshman who impacts the Huskers’ offense this fall, as former five-star prospect Dylan Raiola is expected to be the program’s starting quarterback. The Huskers, led by Raiola, will start their season on August 31 against the UTEP Miners.

 

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.

Nebraska Football Countdown to Kickoff: No. 39 Derek Branch

Only 39 days remain until the start of Nebraska’s 2024 season.

The countdown to the start of Nebraska’s 2024 season is now under 40 days with Huskers defensive back Derek Branch being put into today’s player spotlight.

A native of Lincoln, Branch was a standout at Lincoln Southeast High School and the son of former Huskers linebacker Troy Branch. He chose to walk-on as part of the Gophers 2021 recruiting class after receiving Ivy League in his recruitment.

Through his first three years with the Huskers, Branch has appeared in one game, making his collegiate debut last fall against Northern Illinois. In that brief appearance, Branch recorded his first career tackle.

Branch in 2024 will serve as a depth cornerback for the Huskers and may see the field in limited action.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.

Nebraska Football Countdown to Kickoff: No. 40 Brice Turner

Only 40 days remain until the start of Nebraska’s 2024 season.

The countdown to the kickoff of Nebraska’s 2024 season is down to just 40 days and in the player spotlight is Huskers redshirt freshman defensive back Brice Turner.

Turner was originally a three-star wide receiver coming out of Bay City High School in Bay City, Texas as part of the Huskers 2023 recruiting class. He chose the Huskers over a handful of FCS offers.

During his high school athletic career, not only was Turner a standout on the gridiron – he was also one of the top track and field athletes in Texas, winning the state championship in both the 100 and 200 meter dashes.

After enrolling on campus as a wide receiver, Turner switched to a defensive back mid-season and continues to develop as a cornerback. Not appearing in a game in 2023, Turner will likely see little time on the field in 2024.

Long term, however, Turner could develop into a strong rotational piece for the Huskers at cornerback.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.

Nebraska Football Countdown to Kickoff: No. 41 DB Larry Tarver Jr

Only 41 days remain until the start of Nebraska’s 2024 season.

Only 41 days remain until the Nebraska Cornhuskers kickoff their 2024 season on August 31 against the UTEP Miners.

In the player spotlight with 41 days to go is Huskers freshman defensive back Larry Tarver Jr.

Tarver Jr. was a three-star prospect on most outlets but Rivals was very high on the TRU Prep Academy standout, ranking him as a four-star prospect and a top-40 cornerback nationally. The Miami native picked the Huskers over offers from FAU, FIU, Louisville, Maryland, Miami (FL), Texas A&M, and Western Michigan.

As a true freshman, a redshirt season is likely for Tarver, however, this is plenty of upside in the Miami native’s game and he could be a player that develops into a key rotational piece for the Huskers long term or potentially even a starter.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.

Nebraska Countdown to Kickoff: No. 43 LB Michael Booker III

Only 43 days remain until Nebraska’s 2024 season begins.

The countdown till August 31 continues and there are just 43 days until Matt Rhule’s Nebraska Cornhuskers begin their 2024 season against the UTEP Miners on August 31.

After taking a look sophomore defensive tackle Riley Von Poppel, Huskers junior linebacker Michael Booker II is now in the player spotlight.

The redshirt junior linebacker is entering his fourth season with the program and is hoping to grow upon a special teams role that he held in 2023. Last season, the Texas native played in eight games for the Huskers, mostly on special team, a role that the program described as a “key role”.

In 2024, Booker is expected to reprise that special teams role but will also serve as a depth player in the Huskers linebacker room though he’s not expected to have a big role on the defensive side of the ball.

A Husker legacy, Booker’s father, Michael Booker Jr was a member of Nebraska’s back-to-back national championship winning teams in 1994 and 1996 before enjoying a five-year NFL career.

After a standout career at South Grand Prairie in Grand Prairie, Texas, Booker walked-on to the Huskers as part of their 2021 recruiting class.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.

Nebraska Countdown to Kickoff: No. 44 DL Riley Von Poppel

Only 44 days remain until Nebraska’s 2024 season begins.

The countdown to Nebraska’s season opener on August 31 against the University of Texas at El Paso Miners is down to just 44 days, bringing Huskers sophomore defensive lineman Riley Von Poppel in today’s player spotlight.

The 6-foot-5, 275-pound Van Poppel was a frequent sight on the field last season in his first year with the program, playing in each of the Huskers’ last 11 games. On the season, the Argyle, Texas native recorded five tackles, one tackle for loss, and half a sack.

An understudy to nose tackle Nash Hutmacher, Van Poppel is expected to once again have a rotational role for the Huskers in 2024. He’ll get frequent playing time and could take a big step forward from his freshman season if all progresses well.

Following this fall, Van Poppel would be in line to become the Huskers starting defensive tackle as Nash Hutmacher is expected to exhaust his eligibility this fall.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.

Nebraska Countdown to Kickoff: No. 45 RB Izaac Dickey

Only 45 days remain until Nebraska’s 2024 season begins.

Just 45 days remain until kickoff of Nebraska football program’s 125th season.

In the player spotlight with officially a month and a half to go before August 31 is Nebraska freshman running back Izaac Dickey. The 5-foot-10, 210-pound Dickey walked-on to the Huskers this offseason after officially committing to the program last June.

Dickey is a native of Stromsburg, Nebraska and had a terrific career at Cross County High School where he was a three-year starter at fullback for the Cougars.

During his high school career, Dickey totaled nearly 1,800 rushing yards and 40 touchdowns. He was also a standout on defense with over 200 career tackles.

With the Huskers, Dickey will be a valuable depth piece in the backfield.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.

Nebraska Countdown to Kickoff: No. 46 LB Grant Buda

Only 46 days remain until Nebraska’s 2024 season begins.

The countdown to kickoff is down to 46 days and in the player spotlight with just over a month and half to August 31 is Huskers redshirt junior linebacker Grant Buda.

The 6-foot-0, 220-pound linebacker is a Lincoln native and played his high school ball at Lincoln Southwest where he was a standout linebacker for the Silver Hawks including 94 tackles as a senior.

Not only did Buda grow up in Lincoln but his grandfather Joe Buda also played for the Huskers in the 1960s.

Over his first three seasons with the program, Buda has not seen any playing time. While he could make his collegiate debut in 2024, it remains unlikely for Buda to see any sort of significant playing time this fall.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.