Saturday Blitz
Fansided

Way-too-early breakout candidates for Nebraska Football in 2023

By Chris Peterson

Sep 17, 2022; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers running back Ajay Allen (9) runs with the ball against the Oklahoma Sooners during the second quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2022; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers running back Ajay Allen (9) runs with the ball against the Oklahoma Sooners during the second quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 3
Next

Nebraska football has a new head coach and heading into the 2023 season, here are three breakout candidates for the Huskers. 

There is a ton of excitement surrounding the Nebraska football program right now. Matt Rhule has infused it with energy and Husker fans can’t wait for spring ball to start next season.

The Huskers have added 39 new scholarship players via the transfer portal and the 2023 recruiting class. However, there are some talented players back on the roster from last season too, and looking ahead to 2023, we offer three breakout candidates for Nebraska football.

Ajay Allen

Matt Rhule has talked openly about how he wants to run the football and that jives with what he did at Temple and Baylor.

Anthony Grant nearly rushed for 1,000 yards last season and getting him back was huge for the Huskers, but one name college football fans outside of Nebraska might not know really well is Ajay Allen.

Allen was a four-star recruit in the 2022 class and he got off a stellar last season. In his last three games, he rushed for over 40 yards and had 30 total carries for 183 yards. Allen ran the ball 11 times for 49 yards before suffering a season-ending injury against Oklahoma.

After playing just four games a year ago, Allen is technically a freshman, and 2022 was a redshirt year. But, it wouldn’t shock me if he was playing in the NFL in a couple of seasons because he’s dynamic, averaging 5.9 yards per carry last season.

Behind an improved offensive line and with an offensive coordinator and head coach committed to pounding the rock, Allen is going to have a breakout season. That doesn’t mean leading the team in rushing or anything but the Huskers could have two guys pushing for 1,000 yards in 2023.

Home/Nebraska Cornhuskers