By Tony Thomas
Under first-year head coach Matt Rhule, the Nebraska Cornhuskers posted a 5-7 record, finishing the 2023 season on a four-game losing streak. This season, the Cornhuskers’ defense will be the strength of this team. They return eight starters and/or key contributors on a defense that ranked in the Top 15 in total defense, rushing defense, and scoring defense last season.
In addition, the Cornhuskers will have their best offensive line they have had in a long time in Lincoln.
The offense was dismal last season, scoring just 18 points a game. But a potential young savior is on campus in the form of 5-star freshman, Nebraska football legacy, and presumed QB1 starter Dylan Raiola. Coach Rhule flipped Raiola’s commitment from the Georgia Bulldogs, put out the big red carpet, and welcomed Raiola with open arms and the Cornhuskers playbook.
It has been reported that Rhule has stated that the three scholarship quarterbacks on the roster will “have to earn it.” However, the potential of Raiola is hard to ignore. #15 in your program, #1 in your hearts (and on the depth chart).
In addition, Rhule went into the transfer portal and found talent and depth for positions of need. Here is a look at three transfers that will make a positive impact on Nebraska football this season.
WR Jahmal Banks
Previous School: Wake Forest Demon Deacons
6’4”, 205 lbs.
The leading receiver for the Demon Deacons last season, Jahmal Banks caught 59 passes for 653 yards and four touchdowns. Banks turned a season-high 108 yards on six catches and a touchdown vs. Elon. In his collegiate career, Banks has 107 catches for 1,404 yards and 13 touchdowns to his credit.
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Wake Forest’s Jahmal Banks with an early Play of the Week Candidate 🤯 pic.twitter.com/5WYXJbSzUB
— Opening Kick College Football (@OpeningKick) September 1, 2023
WR Isaiah Neyor
Previous Schools: Texas Longhorns
6’3”, 215 lbs.
Isaiah Neyor underachieved at Texas, the victim of the injury bug and being stuck behind receivers Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell. Neyor missed the entire 2022 season due to injury and then played in only one game in 2023.
Where would you rank a healthy Isaiah Neyor in that Texas WR room? pic.twitter.com/NDSiAOl7Rq
— We Scored on 4th & 13 (@Doc_Texas) July 18, 2023
With that said, Neyor does bring experience and leadership to the Cornhuskers wide receiver room. In 2021 at Wyoming, Neyor was a 2nd Team All-Mountain West Conference selection after catching 44 passes for 878 yards and 12 touchdowns, averaging 19.95 yards per catch.
Neyor’s yards per catch and touchdown numbers were good enough to lead the Mountain West and rank #8 in the FBS that season. So, the ability is there.
RB Dante Dowdell
Previous School: Oregon Ducks
6’1”, 208 lbs.
In his freshman season of 2023 with the Ducks, Dante Dowdell rushed for 90 yards and a touchdown in six games. 55 yards of those and that one touchdown came in week one against Portland State. Ranked as the #135 player overall, Dowdell was the #6 running back in the country as part of the 2023 class that also included CJ Baxter and Rueben Owens.
BREAKING: Four-star Oregon running back transfer Dante Dowdell has announced his commitment to Nebraska.#Huskers #GBR #InsideNebraska pic.twitter.com/HQ81FvzdTH
— Inside Nebraska (@NebraskaRivals) January 7, 2024
In his senior season of high school, Dowdell rushed for 2,165 yards, 31 touchdowns, and averaged eight yards per carry. Dowdell rushed for 5,301 yards and 65 touchdowns in his prep career.
Dowdell gives the Cornhuskers backfield an immediate boost of talent to a rushing attack in which their leading rusher last season was… their quarterback.
If the true freshman Raiola can live up to the hype and the family legacy, the Cornhuskers offense with the transfers listed above will be considerably better, both on paper and in scheme.
An experienced offensive line will protect Raiola until he gets some game reps under his belt and gets into a rhythm. And with a loaded defense, the 2024 Cornhuskers could have their opponents seeing red and secure their first winning season in eight years.