Nebraska spring football came to a close in Lincoln on Saturday with the annual Red-White spring game.
As the players (and fans) get set for a three and half month break before fall camp opens, here's a few observations from the first half of the game, when most of the top units played.
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The biggest news of the weekend arrived before the game even kicked off. By the time ball starting flying, Nebraska had received two new commitments, both four-star players according to 247Sports.com.
The big fish that many Huskers fans had been hoping for landed on Friday night with the commitment of IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL) defensive back Brendan Radley-Hiles.
Radley-Hiles announced his commitment via a very classy video on Twitter.
I know I have my angel watching me, just chase my dream..
Rest In Peace Cisco, XLIV Forever.#Committed pic.twitter.com/wJaT4aVatT— XLIV...? (@Bookie_44) April 15, 2017
I'm normally not a fan of the online videos to announce college choices (they typically just scream "look at me, look at me!"), but even I can appreciate this one. 100 percent class. 100 percent style. Very, very well done in this case.
On the field, Radley-Hiles will be a big-time difference maker. It wouldn't shock me to see him on the field very early in his career. He'll also be a great peer-recruiter for Nebraska. His commitment is a major win for the Huskers.
To top it off, on Saturday morning, four-star wide receiver Manuel Allen (Corona, CA) jumped on board.
If My Mom Wasnt To Have Me . . .
#COMMITTED pic.twitter.com/jpWZusLw71
— MANNY'P??? (@Mannyp___) April 15, 2017
Allen was a USC commit, but backed off earlier this year.
The buzz is Nebraska may not be done adding to the 2018 class yet this weekend. Be sure and check back to OmahaSportsInsider.com for the latest.
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The rosters for the game were very unbalanced. Nearly all of the projected starters (including the top two quarterbacks) were on the red team. The white side was mostly younger players and projected backups.
The defensive scheme was incredibly vanilla for most of the first half. In fact, Bob Diaco didn't show much true 3-4 at all. It was mainly a four man front with very little flash.
If you came to the spring game hoping to see NU's new 3-4 defense, you were probably disappointed.
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Let's talk quarterbacks for a moment.
For what it's worth, Patrick O'Brien got the first shot with the red team, but he and Tanner Lee switched every other series.
I wouldn't say either guy looked definitively better than the other on Saturday, but keeping in mind it's a spring game, I'd say both looked more comfortable throwing the ball than Tommy Armstrong Jr. did most of last season. Both guys hit some nice passes, and missed a few as well.
One play that stood out in the second quarter, Tanner Lee showed great pocket presence before delivering a 30+ yard back shoulder throw to JD Spielman for a touchdown. Its the kind of throw Nebraska QB's haven't been able to make for years.
Neither player showed much mobility, which was an obvious change from last year.
I came into the game under the full belief Tanner Lee will be named the starter, and nothing I saw (from one glorified practice, mind you) changed my mind.
Patrick O'Brien, if he in fact lands in the #2 spot, will be a very capable backup.
On the other side, it's not difficult to see why the coaches like Tristan Gebbia. He's got a lightning quick release, a strong arm, and even showed some foot speed when things broke down in front of him. He made one notable bad throw, a ball behind his intended target that was picked off by Luke Gifford.
On the down side, Gebbia also looks like he could get blown over by a strong gust of wind right now. If he adds about 20 pounds over the next few years, he'll be more than ready to challenge for the starting spot.
For the first time in a while, the present (and future) of the quarterback spot at Nebraska looks bright.
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A few individuals that stood out in the first half, for various reasons.
LB Luke Gifford
Made several nice defensive plays, including an INT of Tristan Gebbia that I mentioned earlier, and forced a fumble by Keyshawn Johnson Jr. First half defensive MVP.
RB Tre Bryant
Started the game off with several nice carries. He looks like the leader at the RB spot right now to me.
QB Tanner Lee
As I mentioned above, I really like his presence in the pocket. He throws a much better ball than any of the previous few QB's have at Nebraska.
QB Tristan Gebbia
He's not going to figure into the equation this season, but he will at some point.
IB Wyatt Mazour
He showed some speed and shake in the open field as a pass catcher. I doubt he figures into the mix this fall, but it doesn't mean he didn't have a decent spring game.
WR JD Spielman
Made a great catch on the aforementioned Tanner Lee pass for a score. Based on everything we've heard this spring, he'll be a factor this fall.
WR De'Mornay Pierson-El
Showed flashes of his old self. If he continues his return to form, it will be a big boost for the Huskers receiving corps.
WR Keyshawn Johnson Jr.
Caught the first pass of his Nebraska spring career, and promptly had it stripped away for a fumble by Luke Gifford. He'll most likely go on to have a heck of a career, but that probably wasn't the start he was hoping for.
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One final thought - There was a very neat moment during the pregame coin toss.
A father that had been serving in the military was dressed in a full NU football uniform, and his family was out to flip coin. He took off his helmet just after the toss. Plenty of tears followed.
The military-family reunions at sporting events never get old. Lets hope those never go away.
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