Looking ahead to the 2023 Nebraska football season, here are three reasons to buy stock in the Cornhuskers.
Nebraska football fans are over the moon right now with the way the Huskers have been recruiting under new head coach Matt Rhule, especially after he landed elite in-state tight end Carter Nelson this week.
Nelson is ranked 90th overall and is the No. 1 player in the state of Nebraska. Georgia wanted him badly and so did Notre Dame. But the Huskers got him. They are also trending for the No. 1 player in the state of Iowa Grant Brix, who is ranked 85th overall and No. 5 among offensive tackles in the 2024 class according to the 247 Sports composite rankings.
Soon, the topic of conversation will turn to the 2023 Nebraska football season. The Huskers open on the road against Minnesota, before a trip to take on Colorado and Coach Prime.
Huskers fans aren’t sure what to expect under Rhule. Some are very optimistic, while some are still wounded from the Scott Frost/Mike Riley days.
However, I’m bullish on the Huskers going into the 2023 season, and here are three reasons you should buy Nebraska football stock in 2023.
A legit quarterback
Nebraska football made a number of additions via the transfer portal but none were as important as Jeff Sims. The 6-foot-4 quarterback had an up-and-down career with Georgia Tech.
However, he wasn’t surrounded by great talent and still at times, he looked spectacular. With Nebraska, he won’t have to do quite so much.
Sims will need to be more accurate. He also needs to stay healthy and take care of the football, but there’s a reason he’s been getting some Heisman Trophy talk in the preseason.
No disrespect to Casey Thomspon, but Sims is a true dual-threat and has the chance to be the best all-around quarterback for the Huskers since Taylor Martinez.
Thomas Findone
Nebraska football fans have been waiting for years to see what Thomas Fidone can do and finally, in the 2023 season, he’s going to be unleashed.
Injuries stopped him for the first two seasons. It sounded like Fidone could have maybe played at the end of last season but he was saved for health reasons. That was probably a good call.
Fidone looked really good in the spring. He was limited but he should be a full go this fall and if he can stay healthy, he could be as good as any tight end in the Big Ten.
Fidone was a former top-100 prospect. He said this offseason he still believes he’ll be an early-round draft pick and this season, he’ll prove it for Nebraska football. He’s one of my breakout candidates for 2023 and if he delivers on his promise, the Huskers will have a dangerous weapon.
An improved offensive line
Just having Matt Rhule as the head coach is going to make Nebraska football better and one way the Huskers will improve is on the offensive line.
The group didn’t play well last season. It led to injuries at the quarterback position that ultimately ended any hope there was of making a bowl game.
This season, Nebraska football should be much better up front. Ben Scott was added via the transfer portal and he’ll start at center. He’s probably the second-most important addition for the Huskers in the portal.
Teddy Prochazka was hurt most of last season. He probably shouldn’t have tried to go when he did. Keeping him healthy will be important, but he was a four-star recruit and should solidify the left tackle position.
Nouredin Nouili will also return from a season-long suspension. That’s basically getting three new starters and all of them have NFL ability. Bryce Benhart, another former four-star recruit looked much better this spring, as did Turner Corcoran.
The Huskers have a bunch of blue-chip talent. Scott Frost just couldn’t get the most out of it. Matt Rhule will which is also why should buy stock in Nebraska to get back to a bowl game in 2023.