There's been plenty of discussion about one big-targeted newcomer Husker receiver, but what about that 6-2, 200-pound target who had more than 3,300 yards as a star at Bellevue West?
Zavier Betts has had a very useful last couple weeks in his attempt to try help the cause, according to his position coach Matt Lubick.
"All three of those guys we've seen improvement," Lubick said when asked specifically about Zavier Betts, Jamie Nance and Demariyon Houston. "Really good attitudes. Zavier is the newest out of all those guys. He's really the last two weeks come on, and has a chance to help us. That's a challenge for a freshman. And then the other two guys, they were both here last year, and they've all taken steps.
"The good thing about that position is we have a lot of depth and guys that can play for us."
Lubick said during the Thursday Zoom call there was no decision yet on the wide receiver rotation – with Omar Manning not coming up in this particular interview – but Lubick expressing optimism about his group's depth and its overall health nine days from the opener against Ohio State.
The receivers coach and offensive coordinator said Betts was getting some reps with the 2s of late.
He also added, "We do a lot of reps so we're able to rep some of our freshmen and give them shots with the 1s. We have 1s, 2s and 3s and kind of intermix them. It's too early to say (about the opening week rotation). He's made some big improvements. I do think he'll help us this year. But for this week, we haven't decided on that. And when it comes to how many guys you're going to play in the rotation, you're going to play as many guys that can help you win.
If we feel confident in a whole bunch of guys that know their assignments and can help us win, we're going to play those guys. If we feel confident in just four guys, we're going to play just four guys. Fortunately we feel confident that we have multiple guys that we can kind of move in and out there that execute and win us football games."
Amongst the newcomers, there's also curiosity about the progression of true freshman Marcus Fleming, who was known for his speed element as a recruit out of the Miami area.
"The more he's in there, the better he gets," Lubick said in a brief update. "He had a really good practice today and we're excited to see what he can do for us."
Obviously it will be trial-by-fire for the Husker receivers against the Buckeyes, who opening lines had pegged as more than a three-touchdown favorite for the Oct. 24 game.
As Wan'Dale Robinson pointed out, there aren't 21 points on the board already.
And as Lubick pointed out, it will be just as important how his group takes that opening game and grows from it.
"I think most coaches will say you make your biggest improvements after your first game," Lubick said. "Because that's where you see live stuff against other people. Now we've been doing as much as that as we can against ourselves. But it's still different when you're going against a good opponent. So we expect to be ready for our first football game, but you're always going to get improvement after your game.
"To do our best to be ready for the first game, we've done a lot of live football and tried to put them in every situation possible that can come up into a game. In saying that, there's still no substitution for actual game reps."
Betts coming on strong...
Zavier Betts has had a very useful last couple weeks in his attempt to try help the cause, according to his position coach Matt Lubick.
"All three of those guys we've seen improvement," Lubick said when asked specifically about Zavier Betts, Jamie Nance and Demariyon Houston. "Really good attitudes. Zavier is the newest out of all those guys. He's really the last two weeks come on, and has a chance to help us. That's a challenge for a freshman. And then the other two guys, they were both here last year, and they've all taken steps.
"The good thing about that position is we have a lot of depth and guys that can play for us."
Lubick said during the Thursday Zoom call there was no decision yet on the wide receiver rotation – with Omar Manning not coming up in this particular interview – but Lubick expressing optimism about his group's depth and its overall health nine days from the opener against Ohio State.
The receivers coach and offensive coordinator said Betts was getting some reps with the 2s of late.
He also added, "We do a lot of reps so we're able to rep some of our freshmen and give them shots with the 1s. We have 1s, 2s and 3s and kind of intermix them. It's too early to say (about the opening week rotation). He's made some big improvements. I do think he'll help us this year. But for this week, we haven't decided on that. And when it comes to how many guys you're going to play in the rotation, you're going to play as many guys that can help you win.
If we feel confident in a whole bunch of guys that know their assignments and can help us win, we're going to play those guys. If we feel confident in just four guys, we're going to play just four guys. Fortunately we feel confident that we have multiple guys that we can kind of move in and out there that execute and win us football games."
Amongst the newcomers, there's also curiosity about the progression of true freshman Marcus Fleming, who was known for his speed element as a recruit out of the Miami area.
"The more he's in there, the better he gets," Lubick said in a brief update. "He had a really good practice today and we're excited to see what he can do for us."
Obviously it will be trial-by-fire for the Husker receivers against the Buckeyes, who opening lines had pegged as more than a three-touchdown favorite for the Oct. 24 game.
As Wan'Dale Robinson pointed out, there aren't 21 points on the board already.
And as Lubick pointed out, it will be just as important how his group takes that opening game and grows from it.
"I think most coaches will say you make your biggest improvements after your first game," Lubick said. "Because that's where you see live stuff against other people. Now we've been doing as much as that as we can against ourselves. But it's still different when you're going against a good opponent. So we expect to be ready for our first football game, but you're always going to get improvement after your game.
"To do our best to be ready for the first game, we've done a lot of live football and tried to put them in every situation possible that can come up into a game. In saying that, there's still no substitution for actual game reps."
Betts coming on strong...
