Top 40 Huskers for 2024: 31-35
With Nebraska's 2024 season around the corner, the HuskerOnline team voted on the Top 40 Husker players going into Matt Rhule 's second season in Lincoln.
The voting criteria were to rank the players based on their importance to the team, overall talent, and future potential for the upcoming season. Our voters focused specifically on the 2024 season, not future seasons, a player's long-term importance, or future talent.
The voting panel consisted of HuskerOnline publisher Sean Callahan, columnist Steven Sipple, senior writer Robin Washut, and staff writer Abby Barmore. Each voter submitted their own Top 40 list from which the votes were tallied.
Our annual Top 40 Huskers series continues with players 31-35 on Nebraska's 2024 squad, which has a mixture of experience levels and a few transfers.
Series: 36-40
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Husker offensive lineman Justin Evans has a shot at being a major contributor at Nebraska's guard position. He'll most likely battle for the right guard position. Evans played in all 12 games in 2023 and started five as a redshirt freshman. He played 314 snaps last season.
In the four games he played more than 60 snaps, Evans recorded a pass-blocking grade of 81 or higher in four of the five games, according to Pro Football Focus. He allowed three quarterback pressures, all of which were against Michigan State.
Evans will get an opportunity this season and will likely be in Nebraska's top-seven starting offensive linemen.
Mikai Gbayor played in all 12 games for the Huskers last season. He did not play in his first two seasons while redshirting in 2021. However, when Rhule's staff arrived, they immediately saw that Gbayor could make an impact.
The 6-foot-2, 230-pound backer recorded 24 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks in his first season of playing time. He also started four games, including Colorado, Northern Illinois, Louisiana Tech and Maryland. He played 242 snaps and earned five quarterback pressures.
Gbayor is projected to take another big step forward with more experience and a big off-season.
Heinrich Haarberg is entering this fall going head-to-head with freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola for the starting quarterback job. However, the true freshman, a former five-star, is projected to be crowned QB1. Either way, Haarberg has an opportunity to create a role for himself on this 2024 squad.
Haarberg started eight games in 2023 after an injury and turnover problems plagued Jeff Sims. He threw for 967 passing yards and completed 49 percent of his 157 passes. The Kearney, Neb. native displayed his running abilities, racking up 477 rushing yards on 120 carries. It became clear that his strength is his legs.
Raiola is more of a pocket passer but is capable of running. NU will likely limit his designed rushing attempts. But if Haarberg doesn't win the starting job, his ability to create explosive plays with his legs could be a part of Nebraska's game plans.
Saint Francis transfer Blye Hill took Nebraska's cornerback room by storm this off-season. The 6-foot-3, 185-pound corner capitulated to be the Huskers' projected starter at cornerback with Tommi Hill
Unfortunately, Hill suffered a patella injury during the Huskers' Red-White Spring game on April 27. Luckily, his injury was not season-ending and he could make an appearance as early as September. His injury prompted Nebraska to pick up cornerback Ceyair Wright from the transfer portal.
Naturally, there is uncertainty about Hill's return and his ability to return this spring form. But, if he can be what the Huskers anticipated in April, Hill will be a big piece to NU's defense.
Ceyair Wright is Nebraska's only Division I transfer addition this spring. The injury to Hill inspired the Huskers to look for a cornerback with experience in the transfer portal. Enter a 6-foot-0, 180-pound transfer who left USC late last fall.
Wright has two seasons of eligibility. He spent three seasons at USC and played in 23 games, starting 15 games. The California native left the Trojans with 41 career tackles, one tackle for loss, one interception and six pass breakups.
Wright has a great opportunity to claim Nebraska's starting cornerback job. His other contenders – Jeremiah Charles and Dwight Bootle II – have limited experience. Malcolm Hartzog has more experience than all three, but NU prefers him at safety. So yes, Wright has a clear path to a starting job.
