On December 28th, Nebraska goes to New York City to play in the 2024 Pinstripe Bowl. What could the Huskers offense look like against Boston College? Here’s who offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen and wideouts coach Daikiel Shorts might pick to represent Nebraska inside Yankee Stadium.
Who Will Step Up to Lead the Huskers Against the Eagles?
Dylan Raiola
The former top quarterback in the 2023 cycle struggled to find consistency in his freshman campaign. Raiola’s effectiveness with the deep ball sometimes led to dazzling touchdown catches. But it reduced NU’s chances to get into the endzone in critical moments. Luckily, the Georgia native has an opportunity to grow from his mistakes against Boston College. However, it will take a superb effort. Under defensive coordinator Tim Lester, Boston College defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku earned first-team All-American honors. The senior led the Eagles with 80 stops and three forced fumbles. In addition, he was also dangerous as a pass rusher. The New Jersey native had 16 sacks in the regular season and led all of the FBS in sacks per game. Can the Huskers’ offensive line block a player of his caliber? If not, it will be interesting to see if the Nebraska front can keep Raiola upright in New York.
Emmett Johnson
The junior from Minnesota will take over Dante Dowdell’s duties. After one season with the Cornhuskers, Dowdell decided to explore other options in the transfer portal. This leaves a path for Johnson to nab the starting spot. His strong start to the 2024 season began to taper off against the school’s Big Ten opponents. However, he was able to rebound in a big way against Wisconsin. The Badger’s defense let Johnson run for 113 yards inside Memorial Stadium. This leads us to believe that Nebraska’s rushing attack will do well against Boston College. But nothing is set in stone. EJ Barthel’s unit might be too nervous under the lights. And for good reason. Yankee Stadium is one of the most iconic venues in all sports.
Jacory Barney Jr.
Jacory Barney Jr. was electric in his first season at Nebraska. In just 12 games, he led the Huskers with 52 receptions for 431 yards. He also tallied three rushing touchdowns. He’ll be a great weapon for Shorts to mold. Sophomore Jaylen Lloyd should also get some targets. The Omaha native was a secondary target for Raiola in 2024. But there’s plenty of evidence to suggest that he’ll be one of Raiola’s main targets for the Huskers against Boston College. After this season, Neyor will be headed to the NFL Draft. Jahmal Banks will consider other options as well. This leaves the door open for Lloyd to take the reigns as a starter. Watch out for Cal transfer Nyziah Hunter as well. As a freshman with the Golden Bears, he was the team’s leading receiver with 578 receiving yards and five touchdowns. He also was excellent at generating first-down yardage. Throughout 2024, he averaged 14.4 yards per catch. But can Barney and Hunter make an impact at the same time?
Luke Lindenmeyer
After Nate Boerkircher’s commitment to Texas A&M, tight ends coach Marcus Satterfield is left with inexperienced underclassmen at the tight end position. Luke Lindenmeyer could remedy this situation rather quickly. Lindenmeyer played four games this season for the Huskers and almost had a game-winning touchdown grab against Illinois. Thomas Fidone is another name to watch. The Iowa native suffered injuries at the beginning of his career. But since then, he’s become a key part of Nebraska’s downfield attack. In 2023, he had 260 receiving yards and four touchdowns. He wasn’t as effective in scoring touchdowns this season. But he was still able to contribute with 323 yards. It will be interesting to see if the veteran can produce for the Huskers against Boston College.
Read more about Luke Lindenmeyer’s performance against the Fighting Illini in What Led To Nebraska’s Loss Against Illinois?
