Nebraska confident in wide receiver depth entering 2024 season

LINCOLN, Neb. (WOWT) - Nebraska has not shied away from talking up their wide receivers.

The praise comes after an injury-riddled 2023 campaign for the receiver room where the Huskers averaged just 135.9 passing yards per game, a figure that ranked among the lowest in FBS.

The infusion of impact transfers Jahmal Banks and Isaiah Neyor provides an immediate bolster to a returning group that’s another year stronger and wiser. Last year, freshmen like Jaylen Lloyd and Malachi Coleman were thrust into the spotlight out of necessity. That hardship has translated into a plethora of experience for Marcus Satterfield to work with.

“It made us want to tear our hair out at times, playing young guys like that,” he said. “But we’re reaping the benefits now.”

“We’ve been there before,” Lloyd added. “We feel like we’re vets. We don’t want to be treated like the young guys no more.”

Lloyd and Coleman are among a long list of receivers competing for catches. Alex Bullock caught 15 passes last year, which ranked third on the team. Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda returns after suffering a season-ending knee injury in the season opener against Minnesota. A talented crop of freshmen are also pushing the room, headlined by Carter Nelson and Jacory Barney.

“You’ve got a ton of dudes in that room,” Bullock said. “Every day at practice, you’ve got to bring your A-Game to compete for those spots. Each receiver is pushing the other just to be at the top of their game really.”

“They’ve got a bunch of different skill sets,” Satterfield said. “Big guys, small guys. Guys that may not be burners but can manipulate space in zone coverage, and guys that can fly, so really pleased with that group and how they’re trending at this point.”

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