Nebraska Huskers Football

It doesn't seem like Kyle McCord will end up at Nebraska after all.

While the Ohio State transfer quarterback visited the fellow Big Ten school, Pete Nakos of On3 reported he "will be moving forward with his recruitment, keeping his options open and looking at another batch of schools. The Huskers will not be in the mix."

Nakos noted there was a time when it seemed like Nebraska was the "favorite" to land McCord, but that is no longer the case.

McCord is one of the most prominent players in the transfer portal for multiple reasons.

For one, he was a 5-star prospect in the 2021 recruiting class, per 247Sports' composite rankings. He was also the starting quarterback all season at Ohio State, which is not a position players traditionally leave when they occupy it.

He led the Buckeyes to an 11-1 record, which would be good enough at almost every other program. However, the loss came against archrival Michigan, which left the Scarlet and Gray outside of the Big Ten Championship Game and College Football Playoff.

McCord threw two interceptions in that game.

It is a testament to just how high the bar is at Ohio State that his season can now be seen as a big-picture disappointment, but he was also following in the footsteps of recent Heisman Trophy finalists in Dwayne Haskins, Justin Fields and C.J. Stroud.

McCord may not have lived up to the standard that trio set working under Ryan Day, but he is still a talented quarterback with plenty of big-game experience. Some teams in need of a starter at the position will surely reach out to him, even if it won't be Nebraska moving forward.

As for the Cornhuskers, highly regarded recruit and Georgia verbal commit Dylan Raiola is set to visit the program ahead of signing day.

Convincing Raiola to join Nebraska and not the powerhouse Bulldogs would be far more than a consolation prize for missing out on McCord.

It appears the Nebraska Cornhuskers may look to a pair of Ohio State Buckeyes to help the program take the next step.

Max Olson of The Athletic reported that transfer portal quarterback Kyle McCord and wide receiver Julian Fleming are expected to visit Nebraska this week.

Ohio State transfers QB Kyle McCord and WR Julian Fleming are expected to visit Nebraska this week, sources tell @TheAthletic.

McCord is one of the top QBs available on the transfer market: https://t.co/La2nuDXMYW

— Max Olson (@max_olson) December 10, 2023

McCord was the Buckeyes starting quarterback in 2023 while Fleming was a four-year member of the Ohio State receiving core. Both players entered the portal in December.

McCord spent two seasons backing up C.J. Stroud in Columbus and helped lead the Buckeyes to an 11-1 record in his one season as the starter. He threw for 3,170 yards with 24 touchdowns and six interceptions and had a 65.8 completion percentage.

The one loss on the season outshines any of the wins, however, as Ohio State fell to arch-rival Michigan for the third consecutive season. McCord was 18-of-30 for 271 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in that game, with the second interception coming on the final drive as the Buckeyes were looking to try to win the game.

While his inability to lead Ohio State to victory in the rivalry game will cloud his time with the program, he orchestrated a game-winning drive against Notre Dame, led the Buckeyes to a victory over a strong Penn State team and would be an excellent addition to a Cornhusker team that could benefit from strong quarterback play.

Fleming was a five-star recruit and the No. 1 overall wide receiver in the Class of 2020 but a hyper competitive position group impacted his ability to be a difference maker. He made 79 catches for 963 yards and seven touchdowns across his four years in Columbus, but never exceeded 550 yards in a single season and sat behind star receivers like Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka this past season.

A change of scenery may be the best thing for both players, and Lincoln is surely in need of some talent. Also, a matchup against the Buckeyes would be in the cards as the Cornhuskers are set to take on the Buckeyes Oct. 26 at Ohio Stadium.

Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule is one of the many coaches who will be scouring the transfer portal for players who can make immediate impacts next year.

However, Rhule knows that things are different nowadays, as he told reporters on Wednesday that he believes, "A good QB in the portal costs $1 million, $1.5, $2 million" in NIL deals.

Rhule is coming off his first year with the Cornhuskers, which didn't pan out the way he had hoped after the team finished with a 5-7 record. One of the biggest issues he dealt with in his first year at the helm was inconsistent quarterback play, which explains why he's eyeing the possibility of using the transfer portal to improve the position.

Jeff Sims, a junior transfer from Georgia Tech, opened the year as the starting quarterback but was quickly supplanted by sophomore Heinrich Haarberg, who completed just 49.0 percent of his passes this season but led Nebraska with 967 passing yards, seven touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also led the team with 477 rushing yards and five scores on the ground.

Sims, who officially lost his starting job in the third game of the year, continued to play sparingly and finished with 282 yards, one touchdown and six interceptions while also adding 189 rushing yards and another score. Sophomore quarterback Chubba Purdy also saw action this season and threw for 382 yards, two touchdowns and three picks.

Rhule added Wednesday that he saw "a lot of positives" from his current crop of quarterbacks. Both Haarberg and Purdy have two years to continue to develop and gained valuable experience this past season. Still, Rhule plans to get started with recruiting on Friday, and he hopes to add players through the transfer portal who will make an instant impact or have multiple years of eligibility remaining.

Nebraska tight end Arik Gilbert, who is awaiting a transfer eligibility ruling from the NCAA, was arrested for burglary Friday for the second time in less than three weeks, UGA Sports' Radi Nabulsi reported.

Gilbert was arrested in Lumpkin County, Georgia for alleged obstruction of officers and smash and grab burglary, per Nabulsi.

The arrest comes two and a half weeks after Gilbert was arrested on suspicion of burglary in Lincoln, Nebraska, per ESPN's Adam Rittenberg.

Arik Gilbert was arrested today in Lumpkin County, Georgia, two and a half weeks after being arrested in Lincoln, Nebraska. https://t.co/Z4Hm0z4TmR pic.twitter.com/Vy4XdioowS

— Radi Nabulsi (@RadiNabulsi) September 16, 2023

A former five-star recruit, Gilbert began his college career at LSU in 2020 before transferring to Georgia, where he missed the 2021 season due what the team described as "personal issues." He saw action in three games in 2022.

Gilbert then transferred to Nebraska. Because of his multiple transfers, he will need to get a waiver from the NCAA in order to play this season. Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule said in August there had been "twists and turns" regarding the eligibility decision.

In his earlier arrest, Nebraska police reported that Gilbert was found leaving a liquor and vape store with a shattered door holding more than $1,600 in stolen items, including vape and Delta 8 products, per Rittenberg and On3's Nick Schultz.

When asked about Gilbert's initial arrest, Rhule told reporters the tight end was dealing with some "issues" in his life and "had some struggles" during camp, per 247Sports' Michael Bruntz.

Nebraska tight end Arik Gilbert was arrested Tuesday on a burglary charge after allegedly robbing a vape shop in Lincoln, Nebraska.

According to Lincoln police (h/t The Athletic's Mitch Sherman), Gilbert was apprehended around 2 a.m. local time at SJ's Liquor and Vape Shop when he was "carrying a bag that contained $1,672 in vape products, Delta 8, cigars and lighters."

Gilbert was cited for felony burglary and was taken into police custody without incident.

Per the Lincoln Police Department's official statement (h/t Nick Schultz of On3.com), officers observed "a glass door that had been shattered with large cement chunks from the parking lot" when they arrived at the vape shop.

In addition to the value of the items in the bag, officers noted "damages to the business were approximately $650."

Nebraska is the third school Gilbert has attended in his college career. He was a 5-star recruit and the No. 10 overall prospect in the nation, per 247Sports, when he committed to LSU before the 2020 season.

After spending one season with the Tigers, Gilbert transferred to Georgia in June 2021. The Marietta High School alum won back-to-back national titles with the Bulldogs, but he only appeared in three games over the past two seasons.

Nebraska landed Gilbert in January after he entered the transfer portal for the second time in his career.

As a two-time transfer, Gilbert needs a waiver from the NCAA to be eligible to play this season. Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule told reporters last week Gilbert's appeal is "still in progress" and they are "hoping before we head to Minnesota that we'll have a little more finality on it."

Gilbert wasn't included on Nebraska's first official depth chart that was released on Aug. 25.

The Cornhuskers will open the 2023 season against Minnesota at Huntington Bank Stadium on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET.

Bob Wager has resigned from his position as Nebraska's tight ends coach after a DUI arrest early Wednesday morning.

Kaleb Henry of KLIN Radio relayed Wager's resignation statement:

Coaching change for #Huskers football after TE coach Bob Wager resigns. pic.twitter.com/O4rN1aCjIu

— Kaleb Henry (@iKalebHenry) July 28, 2023

Amie Just of the Lincoln Journal Star relayed the charges from the police report.

The citations Bob Wager received Wednesday at 1:24 a.m. near PBA, per public records:

Refuse prelim test
Possession/consumption open alcohol container in vehicle
Careless driving
Driving under the influence 0.15+ (1st offense)
Refusal of chemical test (1st offense)

— Amie Just (@Amie_Just) July 28, 2023

Wager was in his first year with Nebraska after joining new head coach Matt Rhule's staff. He previously coached Arlington Martin High School in Texas from 2006-2022, winning 210 games and never missing the playoffs, per ESPN's Dave Wilson.

Special teams analyst Josh Martin will take over Wager's role. Martin has coached at Arizona State, Tarleton State, Texas Tech and SMU. He notably coached tight ends at SMU from 2018-2021.

Willis McGahee IV, the son of former NFL and University of Miami running back Willis McGahee, committed to play his college football at the University of Nebraska on Saturday.

McGahee IV, who is a linebacker, announced his decision on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/McgaheeIv/status/1649787317136117766

According to Mitch Sherman of The Athletic, McGahee made his choice while visiting Lincoln, Nebraska, for the annual Red-White spring game.

The 247Sports scouting service rates McGahee IV as a 3-star prospect in its composite rankings and the No. 42 linebacker in the 2024 recruiting class.

In addition to Nebraska, several high-profile FBS programs offered McGahee a scholarship, including Auburn, Louisville, Michigan, Maryland, Syracuse, Tennessee and West Virginia.

McGahee's father starred collegiately at Miami, putting up massive numbers for the Hurricanes during his sophomore season in 2002.

In 13 games that season, McGahee rushed for 1,753 yards and 28 touchdowns while also catching 27 passes for 355 yards.

He seemed well on his way to being a top-five or top-10 pick in the NFL draft, but a brutal ACL tear put his NFL future in doubt.

Even so, the Buffalo Bills selected McGahee with the No. 23 overall pick in the 2003 NFL draft, and he went on to have a productive 10-year NFL career.

As a member of the Bills, Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos and Cleveland Browns, McGahee was a two-time Pro Bowler who rushed for 8,474 yards and 65 touchdowns and caught 210 passes for 1,339 yards and five additional scores.

McGahee IV will look to follow in his father's footsteps as a collegiate star and potentially an eventual NFL player as well.

In 2024, McGahee IV will attempt to help turn around a Nebraska team that has not finished with a winning record or played in a bowl game since 2016.

HEIGHT: 6'5"

WEIGHT: 250

HAND: 10 3/4"

ARM: 35 1/4"

WINGSPAN: 84 3/4"

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40-YARD DASH: 4.74

3-CONE: 7.19

SHUTTLE: 4.41

VERTICAL: 33.5"

BROAD: 9'10"

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POSITIVES

– Good length and has room for growth on his frame.

– Has enough speed off the ball to beat offensive tackles with slow feet around the edge.

– Decent dip-rip and cross-chop moves as a pass-rusher.

– Good bend at the top of the rush with flexible ankles to help turn tight corners.

– Quick to sniff out screens.

– Solid block recognition to put himself in a position to take on blocks and stay in his gap. Doesn't get too far up the field and squeezes when unblocked against the run.

– Takes on blocks with a wide base and good leverage.

– Decent strength and long arms to get extension versus offensive tackles. Uses the cross-chop move well to get off blocks.

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NEGATIVES

– More measured and not very physical at the point of attack. Aggressive offensive linemen will take the fight to him and push him around a bit.

– Stops his feet on contact, leading to getting scooped or pushed out of his gap by double-teams.

– Struggles to fight back against pressure from down blocks.

– Not a quick-twitched pass-rusher, and isn't sudden enough to effectively turn speed to power.

– Off with timing of his hands when working pass-rush moves. Often late or telegraphs his chops, allowing offensive linemen to knock his hands down.

– Lacks a plan when rushing. Doesn't throw many counter-moves if his initial move doesn't work.

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2022 STATS

– 12 G, 48 TOT (24 SOLO), 5 TFL, 3.5 SK, 2 PD

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NOTES

– Born January 8, 1999

– TCU transfer

– A 3-star recruit in the 2018 class, No. 746 overall, No. 44 WDE per 247Sports' composite rankings

– No major injuries

– 36 career starts

– 2021 Honors: Second-team All-Big 12

– 2020 Honors: Second-team All-Big 12, Honorable Mention Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year

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OVERALL

After being a three-year starter at TCU, Ochaun Mathis transferred to Nebraska and took on more of a rotational role there. His production did increase from the previous year, but his best season was by far the 2020 campaign, when he was in the running for Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year.

Overall, Mathis is a solid all-around player who could be a starter in the right situation. He'd be best as a 5-technique defensive end for a team that uses a lot of even fronts. He's a player you can win with, but he isn't going to be a game-changer in the front seven, making him a good option in the mid-Day 3 range.

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GRADE: 6.1 (High-Level Developmental Prospect/Round 5)

OVERALL RANK: 180

POSITION RANK: EDGE20

PRO COMPARISON: Carl Granderson

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Written by B/R NFL Draft Scout Matt Holder

A felony assault case against former Nebraska interim football coach Mickey Joseph has been dropped after the accuser decided not to testify, per Eric Olson of the Associated Press.

"A preliminary hearing was scheduled, but prosecutor Erica Pruess told Lancaster County Judge Laurie Yardley the accuser emailed her in February to say she wouldn't testify," Olson wrote.

"Pruess said authorities in Arizona, where the woman who lodged the complaint now lives, were unsuccessful in their attempt to serve a summons requiring her to appear."

Joseph was arrested in November on suspicion of strangulation and third-degree domestic assault, per the Lincoln Police Department.

Per Olson, police responded to a Lincoln home on Nov. 30 on a domestic disturbance call. A woman told police that Joseph pushed her onto a couch and placed his hands around her throat. She told police that Joseph impeded her breathing until she pushed him off.

The affidavit stated that the woman said Joseph grabbed her hair from behind and dropped her to the floor. The woman also said Joseph hit her left temple with a closed fist.

Police said they noticed visible redness and swelling around the woman's left eye as well as multiple strands of hair on her upper pant leg.

Joseph served as the Cornhuskers' interim head coach after Nebraska fired Scott Frost following a 1-2 start last season. He went 3-6 to finish the season before the Cornhuskers hired Matt Rhule to be their full-time head coach.