Red Report: Nebraska OC Satterfield not ruling out impact freshmen at WR

4 hrs ago
The Nebraska football roster is loaded with true freshmen wide receivers — seven of them to be exact — and they're already reaping the benefits of NU's split practice system.
Offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield said Thursday that Nebraska's practice setup has allowed some younger players to get up to 100 reps in the first four practices. At other places, Satterfield said, freshmen could go through fall camp without reaching that number of reps.
As for the first impression he's gained of those incoming freshmen? Only one word comes to mind for Satterfield.
“A lot, a lot of speed; it’s pretty impressive," he said. "They don’t know what to do yet, obviously, but when they’re just out there running routes one-on-one, they have a lot of speed.”
Given the playing time up for grabs at wide receiver, it's possible the Huskers could turn to one of those freshmen for immediate playing time. Over the course of his career, Satterfield said he's only had "a handful" of freshmen wideouts who were ready to see the field in September.
However, he's not ruling out a freshmen wide receiver making an impact sooner rather than later.
“You will see in the later parts of the season where a kid develops and gets into a position where he can contribute in some phases of the game. Obviously, it’s not unheard of; there’s freshmen all over the place that come in and play early," Satterfield said. “If those guys can learn what to do and play and match the physical elements that they need, then we’ll put them in. We don’t care how old they are as long as they produce.”
Keeping it consistent: Nate Boerkircher enters his redshirt sophomore season at Nebraska with the same natural chip on his shoulder that drove him as a walk-on. He’s slightly bigger, up to 245 pounds after playing closer to 240 last year. He’s quietly become one of the longest-tenured players at his position, going into his fourth season with the Huskers.
The other major difference from previous seasons is that he isn’t a walk-on anymore. The tight end was awarded a scholarship over the offseason.
“It means the world to me, being a Nebraska boy, a walk-on,” Boerkircher said. “Just come in and the goal is to outwork everybody, being a walk-on for Nebraska. For my mindset, it stays the same, nothing different. Can’t change that up.”
Boerkircher made four starts while appearing in every game in 2022, although he’s likely the third tight end option on the depth chart as it stands now. With that said, there are question marks surrounding those ahead of him. Arik Gilbert, a two-time transfer, is waiting for a decision from the NCAA on his waiver to be eligible this season. Thomas Fidone II has been limited to a single game over the past two years.
Limited as a receiver last season, Boerkircher caught six passes for 52 yards and a touchdown. He led the Huskers in receiving yards in the spring game with 44 on three receptions.