Projecting Nebraskas offensive depth chart: Whos in line to help QB Jeff Sims?

Publish date: 2024-06-08

LINCOLN, Neb. — The beauty of Nebraska’s new offense is in the versatility.

With the introduction of a fullback who looks like a throwback but acts with a modern twist, the Huskers under first-year coach Matt Rhule and offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield possess the ability to disguise their appearance.

Nebraska might line up in 21 personnel (two backs and one tight end), when it’s actually set to run a play out of 11 or 12. The goal, of course, is to create mismatches, which require playmakers.

Will the Huskers have enough offensive firepower in 2023 to take advantage of the system that’s under construction? Coming out of the spring, it’s the great unknown.

Since the end of last season, 12 offensive skill players on scholarship have entered the transfer portal. The Huskers added six transfers at the skill spots, bidding for an upgrade, in addition to eight true freshmen.

Scholarship numbers overall, once above 100, have settled at 88. Nebraska coaches will get to the limit of 85 without much stress. They can look selectively to add a player or two through the portal before preseason camp opens in three months.

But what the Huskers have today is largely what they’ll have in August.

Here’s a look at the projected offensive depth chart:

Quarterback

Starter: Jeff Sims, Jr.
Backup: Heinrich Haarberg, Soph.
Also on scholarship: Chubba Purdy, Soph.

What a whirlwind it’s been since Sims led the White team to a 21-7 victory against the Red in the April 22 spring game. Was that just 10 days ago? Feels like a month for the quarterbacks group. Gone after the spring is Casey Thompson, the reliable 10-game starter from last season at Nebraska. Reserves Richard Torres and Logan Smothers also headed to the portal.

Thank you, GBR❤️ pic.twitter.com/N1htJGXDnG

— Logan Smothers (@logan_smothers) May 1, 2023

This is Sims’ offense to run. He’s a got a big arm and speed to burn. There will be no dramatic race in August for the starting job. He started 23 games at Georgia Tech in three seasons, and Sims’ presence sent Thompson to shop for another program.

Haarberg was the other big mover of spring at QB. At 6 feet, 5 inches and 210 pounds, he’s a weapon on the ground. He’s got a strong arm, too, though it’s unrefined. Purdy, an athlete like Sims and Haarberg, gets a shot to reset in Lincoln after rocky starts last year against Minnesota and Michigan.

Running back

Starter: Gabe Ervin Jr., Jr.
Backups: Anthony Grant, Sr., Rahmir Johnson, Jr.
Also on scholarship: Emmett Johnson, R-Fr., Kwinten Ives, Fr.

The portal entry Sunday of Ajay Allen, Nebraska’s top offensive true freshman in 2022, delivered a gut punch. But the running backs can absorb Allen’s departure. It’s a deep group, featuring the power of Ervin, who separated himself this winter and spring, the versatility of Grant and the speed of Rahmir Johnson.

Ervin said he felt like “the old me” in spring after injuries cut short his first two years at Nebraska. His quick embrace of the Rhule transition earned Ervin a position of leadership.

“I feel bigger, faster, stronger,” he said. “I just feel like an alpha on that field.”

What the backs lack in numbers, they make up for in experience. All three of the top players at this position own starting experience at Nebraska. Any of the trio could end up as the workhorse in big moments next season.

H-back

Starter: Janiran Bonner, R-Fr.
Backups: *Braden Klover, Soph., *Trevor Ruth, R-Fr., *Caden Becker, R-Fr.

It’s a stretch perhaps to list the H-back separately. But the players at this spot do more than a traditional fullback, and they need to be distinguished from the running backs and tight ends.

Rhule likes “guys who can do multiple things,” he said in reference to Bonner, the converted four-star wide receiver who slid to tight end but carried as a fullback for a 7-yard gain on the first play of the Red-White game. He can block and catch, too, and provides Nebraska with one of its most intriguing offensive pieces in 2023.

Klover, at 6-2 and 225 pounds, and Ruth, at 6 feet and 230, fit more as blockers. Becker, the 6-4, 230-pound Wyoming transfer, offers additional versatility as a possible Wildcat QB from this spot.

Tight end

Starter: *Nate Boerkircher, Soph.
Backups: Thomas Fidone, Soph., Arik Gilbert, Soph.
Also on scholarship: Chase Androff, R-Fr., Jake Appleget, R-Fr., Ismael Smith Flores, Fr.

Fidone started the Red-White game. Boerkircher entered on the next play and caught a 38-yard strike from Sims to highlight the first scoring march against the No. 1 defense. Despite the four- and five-star pedigrees of Fidone and Gilbert, respectively, if the Huskers need a play to be made in the opener, they’re looking to Boerkircher.

Much optimism remains that the Huskers’ big-time talents here will emerge and eventually take over at tight end. Another athlete, by the way, is Smith Flores, who’s raw at 6-4 and 230 pounds but well known as a weapon by first-year tight ends coach Bob Wager.

Wide receiver

Starters: Marcus Washington, Sr., Billy Kemp IV, Sr.
Backups: Zavier Betts, Soph., Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda, Jr.
Also on scholarship: Josh Fleeks, Sr., Demitrius Bell, Fr., Jeremiah Charles, Fr., Malachi Coleman, Fr., Jaidyn Doss, Fr., Jaylen Lloyd, Fr., Brice Turner, Fr.

The top four suited up with the No. 1 offense to end the spring. Washington and Betts took the first reps. But Kemp, the Virginia transfer who’s a sixth-year senior, is undeniably on track to play a key role in the slot.

Fleeks, the Baylor transfer, is also a sixth-year senior. Washington and Garcia-Castaneda are entering their fifth seasons. So this rates an experienced group on one end for new receivers coach Garrett McGuire and exactly the opposite on the other side of the room with six true freshmen.

McGuire might need one of the youngsters to get comfortable in a hurry. Coleman has all the physical tools needed to do it, and he was a fixture at practice this spring while completing his last semester of high school at Lincoln East.

If a freshman isn’t ready, walk-ons Ty Hahn, Alex Bullock and Taveon Thompson will vie for time in the rotation.

Offensive line

Starters: Teddy Prochazka, Soph., Nouredin Nouili, Jr., Ben Scott, Jr., Turner Corcoran, Jr., Bryce Benhart, Jr.
Backups: Gunnar Gottula, Fr., Ethan Piper, Jr., Justin Evans-Jenkins, R-Fr., Henry Lutovsky, Soph., Jacob Hood, R-Fr.
Also on scholarship: Mason Goldman, Fr., Brock Knutson, Fr., Sam Sledge, Fr.

Will Corcoran will start against Minnesota at right guard? Not necessarily. It was Piper’s spot in the spring. But with Prochazka set to return after a second consecutive offseason of rehab — this time for a shoulder — he’s the guy at left tackle, where Corcoran played this spring.

Corcoran is the most versatile lineman on the roster, starting at left tackle (19 games over the past three seasons), right tackle (two) and left guard (three). Nouili, back from a one-year suspension, pairs nicely with Prochazka on the left side.

The Huskers may use Corcoran as a swing tackle because of the lack of experience among the backups there. Or maybe if Gottula continues to progress as the Huskers saw in his first semester on campus, he can swing at tackle and let Piper and Lutovsky rotate with Nouili and Corcoran guard. That would provide the luxury of experienced depth — and aid in Rhule’s bid to rush for 75 yards in the fourth quarter.

Nebraska likes what it has, too, in walk-ons Keegan Menning, Joey Mancino, Ezra Miller and Dylan Parrott.

* Denotes walk-on

(Photo of Gabe Ervin Jr.: Steven Branscombe / Getty Images)

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