Can literally anyone provide cliff notes? Or just copy and paste?
You hear that question raised often as it pertains to Nebraska football. It seems a lot of people believe the transfer from Texas has locked down the starting quarterback job.
No question, he’s the favorite to do so. But
Casey Thompson has plenty of room for improvement, and his coaches are looking for it. Based on what I’m hearing, it’s (legitimately) premature to say Thompson has locked down anything.
This month is critical as Husker players on offense learn the new system. In late July, when Nebraska begins preseason camp, Thompson must be ready to roll.
Let’s say he has a few bad practices in early August. You don’t think
Chubba Purdy or even
Logan Smothers could make a move? Of course they could.
Purdy is in the best position to challenge Thompson, I’m told. Smothers, though, has said he loves being in the program and intends to keep battling.
Heinrich Haarberg still has a lot of ground to make up on the top three.
So, again we ask: Is this Thompson’s team? I’m going with a resounding “no.”
He has work to do. Plenty to prove. Plus, Nebraska’s in a code-red, win-now type season. Scrutiny in these type of seasons gets turned up, or so one would think.
Steven Sipple: Wynn brings championship mentality to a Nebraska defensive line that suddenly is intriguing thanks to transfers
NIL insight:
So,
Ryan Day, the Ohio State football coach, put a Name, Image and Likeness price tag on what he believes it’ll take to keep the Buckeyes’ football roster together.
The rate? $13 million. That’s a big number, folks.
Consider: Athlete Branding & Marketing, founded last summer and run by former Nebraska football chief of staff
Gerrod Lambrecht, said in an early April news release that it had worked with donors around the state to raise more than $3.5 million to help Nebraska athletes in the NIL realm.
ABM has worked with athletes in football, men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball and wrestling.
I’m told Nebraska men’s basketball coach
Fred Hoiberg has targeted a point person – a prominent businessman in Nebraska – to head up efforts to specifically help his program with NIL deals.
That process could move quickly. It needs to move quickly.
Cover boy:
A genuine congratulations to Nebraska sophomore running back
Rahmir Johnson, who graces the cover of the Lindy’s college football preview magazines you’ll find in our state.
Nebraska coaches are confident in its stable of running backs. Johnson, by the way, is the team’s leading returning rusher (495 yards) from last season.
Coaches have to find ways to get the ball to the fleet 5-10, 185-pounder who has excellent hands. Sez here
Anthony Grant, a JUCO transfer, will capture the starting job.
Jaquez Yant is squarely in the picture, too.
Meanwhile, Nebraska coaches are excited about the return of
Gabe Ervin Jr. from a knee injury. Don’t be surprised if Ervin quickly puts himself in position to be the starter.
Good news for NU:
There had been some concern about
Chancellor Brewington’s availability this season due to injury, but that picture apparently is looking better and better. That’s obviously good news for Nebraska’s tight end group.
Distinguished visitors:
Nebraska’s camp season includes a specialist camp Saturday. Expected to be on hand: all-time Husker greats
Brett Maher,
Alex Henery, and
Sam Koch. That’s some “wow” material for campers.
Early arrivals:
All but one of Nebraska’s newcomers are expected to be on campus by Monday. The lone exception is Texas Tech defensive line transfer
Devin Drew, who won’t be in Lincoln until July.
Drew is in Kansas City finishing up his final classwork to graduate from Texas Tech.
(Steven Sipple)
