Nebraska Cornhuskers 2024 Preview and Predictions

(WR Thomas Fidone III – 247Sports)

Key Players Returning:

QB Heinrich Haarberg. RB Emmett Johnson, WR Alex Bullock, TE Thomas Fidone II, OC Ben Scott, OG Turner Corcoran, OT Bryce Benhart, DE Jimari Butler, DE Cameron Lenhardt, DE Ty Robinson, NT Nash Hutmacher, LB John Bullock, LB Mikai Gbayor, , CB/KR Tommi Hill, NB Malcolm Hartzog, SS Isaac Gifford, PR Ethan Nation, PK Tristan Alvano, and PT Brian Buschini.

Key Players Departing:

RB Anthony Grant, WR Billy Kemp IV, WR Marcus Washington, OG Nouredin Nouili, OG Ethan Piper, LB Nick Henrich, LB Luke Reimer, CB Quinton Newsome, NB Omar Brown, and FS Phalen Sanford.

(QB Dylan Raiola – 247Sports)

Top 10 Recruits:

Blue Chip Recruits: 
QB Dylan Raiola (Bufford, Georgia).

4 Star Recruits:  TE Carter Nelson (Ainsworth, Nebraska), OT Grant Brix (Logan, Iowa), WR Jahmal Banks (Wake Forest transfer), RB Dante Dowdell (Oregon transfer), ATH Roger Gradney (Garwood, Texas), and OL Preston Taumua (Waipahu, Hawaii).

3 Star Recruits:  OL Micah Mazzccua (Florida transfer), CB Blye Hill (St. Francis transfer), and ATH Jacory Barney Jr. (Miami, Florida).

2023 Results:

G01  @ Minnesota  L  10-13
G02  @ #22 Colorado  L  14-36
G03  NORTHERN ILLINOIS  W  35-11
G04  LOUISIANA TECH  W  28-14
G05  #2 MICHIGAN  L  7-45
G06  @ Illinois  W  20-7
G07  NORTHWESTERN  W  17-9
G08  PURDUE  W  31-14
G09  @ Michigan State  L  17-20
G10  MARYLAND  L  10-13
G11  @ Wisconsin  L (OT)  17-24
G12  #17 IOWA  L  10-13

Team Info:

2023 Record:  5-7 (4th in Big Ten West)

Home:  4-3
Away:  1-4
Neutral:  0-0
B10:  3-6
Non-B10:  2-1

Head Coach:  Matt Rhule

Nebraska:  5-7
Career:  52-50
Bowls:  1-2

(DE Jimari Butler – Stewart Photography)

Returning Statistical Leaders:

Passing:
  Heinrich Haarberg (77-157, 967 yards, 49.0%, 5.0 avg., 7 TD, 7 INT)
Rushing:  Heinrich Haarberg (120 car., 477 yards, 4.0 avg., 5 TD)
Receiving:  Thomas Fidone III (25 rec., 260 yards, 10.4 avg., 4 TD)
TDs Scored:  Heinrich Haarberg (5)
Sacks:  Jimari Butler (5.5)
Tackles:  Issac Gifford (86)
Tackles For Loss:  Jimari Butler (8.5)
Interceptions:  Tommi Hill (4)
Pass Deflections:  Tommi Hill (9)
Forced Fumbles:  John Bullock/Javin Wright (1)
Kick Returns:  Tommi Hill (6 ret., 144 yards, 24.0 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns:  Ethan Nation (7 ret., 23 yards, 3.3 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking:  Tristan Alvano (9-15 fg/fga.,60%, 27-27 xp/xpa., 54 pts.)
Punting:  Brian Buschini (57 ret., 2320 yards, 40.7 avg., 20 in20)

Projected Offensive Starters

QB:  15  Dylan Raiola  (FR)
RB:  21 Emmett Johnson (RS SO)
WR:  80  Jahmal Banks  (SR/TR)
WR:  18  Isaiah Neyor  (RS SR/TR)
WR:  19  Jaylen Lloyd  (SO)
TE:  24  Thomas Fidone II  (RS JR)
LT:  69 Turner Corcoran (SR)
LG:  51  Justin Evans  (RS SO)
OC:  66  Ben Scott  (RS SR/TR)
RG:  56 Micah Mazzccua (SR/TR)
RT:  54  Bryce Benhart  (RS SR)
KR:  31 Tommi Hill (SR/TR)
PK:  33  Tristan Alvano  (SO)

Projected Defensive Starters:
 
DE:  10  Jimari Butler  (RS JR)
NT:  0  Nash Hutmacher  (SR)
DE:  9  Ty Robinson  (RS SR)
LB:  18 Princewill Umanmielen (SO)
LB:  42 Mikai Gbayor (RS JR)
LB:  5  John Bullock  (RS SR)
NB:  2 Isaac Gifford (SR)
CB:  31  Tommi Hill  (SR/TR)
CB:  24  Marques Buford  Jr.  (RS JR)
FS:  13  Malcolm Hartzog  (JR)
SS:  2  Issac Gifford  (SR)
PR:  28  Ethan Nation  (SO)
PT:  95  Brian Buschini  (SR/TR)

(CB Tommi Hill – Getty Images)

Team Grades:

Offense

Quarterbacks:  B
Running Backs:  C
Wide Receivers:  C
Offensive Line:  C

Defense

Defensive Line:  B
Linebackers:  C
Secondary:  C

Special Teams

Kick Returners:  A
Punt Returners:  C
Kickers:  C
Punters:   B

Schedule:

08/31 
UTEP MINERS  |  First meeting between schools.

09/07 
COLORADO BUFFALOS  |  UTEP leads the series 49-21-2.  Last season’s 14-36 win was the first meeting between schools since 2019.

09/14 
NORTHERN IOWA PANTHERS  |  First meeting between schools.

09/20 
ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI  |  Nebraska leads the series 14-6-1.  The Huskers are 6-4 since 2014, and their last series loss (9-26) was in 2022.

09/28  
@ Purdue Boilermakers  |  The series is tied 6-6.  The Huskers are 5-5 since 2014, and their last series loss (37-43) was in 2022.

10/05 
RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS  |  Nebraska leads the series 6-0.  The Huskers won (14-13) the last meeting between schools in 2022.

10/19 
@ Indiana Hoosiers  |  Nebraska trails the series 9-10-3.  The Huskers won (35-21) the last meeting between schools in 2022.

10/26 
@ Ohio State Buckeyes  |  Nebraska trails the series 1-9.  The Huskers lost (17-26) the last meeting between schools in 2021.

11/02  UCLA BRUINS  |  Nebraska leads the series 7-6.  The Huskers won (37-29) the last meeting between schools in 2015.

11/16 
@ USC Trojans  |  Nebraska trails the series 0-4-1.  The Huskers lost (42-45) the last meeting between schools in 2014.

11/23 
WISCONSIN BADGERS  |  Nebraska trails the series 4-13.  The Huskers are 0-9 since 2014, and their last series win (30-27) was in 2012.

11/29  @ Iowa Hawkeyes  |  Nebraska leads the series 30-21-3.  The Huskers are 2-8 since 2014, and their last series win (24-17) was in 2022.

Predictions:

Home:  4-3
Road:  0-5
Neutral:  0-0
B10:  2-7
Non-B10:  2-1

Overall:  4-8 (15th in Big Ten)