Nebraska football concludes spring with ‘Husker Games’: 10 thoughts from the festivities

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LINCOLN, Neb. — Spring turned into summer, figuratively, Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

Nebraska staged the Husker Games, a first-time event, that featured a giant garage sale of memorabilia and apparel, tours of the Osborne Legacy Complex, competitions in the spirit of an NFL Pro Bowl, and, yes, a bit of football.

So was it a hit?

Well, about 8,000 fans attended the scrimmage — approximately 10 percent of the figure on this day in 2018, when the popularity of the Red-White game peaked at Nebraska. Last year and in 2023 under coach Matt Rhule, the crowds exceeded 60,000.

“I just can’t wait til this place is sold out,” said wide receiver Dane Key, the transfer from Kentucky on track to lead his position group in the fall.

The measure of success from Saturday, though, involved more than exposure. Nebraska nixed television options and held its top 60 players out of the scrimmage to avoid transforming the final practice of April into a showcase of talent for interested outside programs.

A year after Nebraska lost two key pieces in the spring game to injury, Saturday was simply a fun finish to five weeks of offseason practice. The Huskers accomplished plenty on the field this spring.

Here are 10 observations from the end of spring in Lincoln:

1. Dylan Raiola is on solid ground atop the roster. The sophomore quarterback took a few snaps with the Nebraska women’s club team in its flag game against Midland at Memorial Stadium. Raiola tossed the ball from 50 yards into a basketball hoop as part of a QB competition during a break in the scrimmage.

DR from downtown. 🎯 pic.twitter.com/kO2kD5HLEN

— Nebraska Football (@HuskerFootball) April 26, 2025

Raiola helped call plays. Rhule used a microphone to speak to fans periodically, but it was Raiola who thanked them at the end for attending.

Little moments illustrate Raiola’s readiness to lead. He’s displayed steady growth since his freshman season ended in December with a win in the Pinstripe Bowl. Raiola said he’s more vocal with teammates. His command of the offense has improved.

His confidence is up.

“As a leader, it becomes who you are,” he said. “You don’t want to be that leader where you’re sometimes on, sometimes off. It’s that consistency of being the same guy every day.”

2. Nebraska’s QB stable is deep but unproven. With Raiola and top backup Jalyn Gramstad on the sideline, true freshman TJ Lateef and Purdue transfer Marcos Davila directed the first two quarters of action. Both of their first drives ended in interceptions, but Nebraska has talent at the position.

Lateef, an early enrollee out of Compton, Calif., showed pocket awareness. Davila, a 6-foot-3, 235-pound redshirt freshman from Midland, Texas, possesses the ideal size to survive in the Big Ten. He threw a touchdown pass to DJ Singleton.

DJ All Day 💯

TD 👉 DJ Singleton pic.twitter.com/4zIL3NzKS2

— Nebraska Football (@HuskerFootball) April 26, 2025

3. Young defenders flashed. Freshmen Tanner Terch and Kahmir Prescott recorded interceptions in the first half of the scrimmage. Defensive linemen David Hoffken and Mason Goldman registered sacks.

The Huskers who scrimmaged Saturday are fighting for position on the bottom half of the roster — and ultimately to move into the top 57. With a 105-player limit likely off the table in 2025 after a federal judge moved last week in the House settlement case to protect active athletes from mandated cuts, a smaller roster is still coming.

Nebraska used the spring to identify 18 to 20 defensive players in spots to contribute as starters or in packages as part of John Butler’s scheme. The final scrimmage helped organize depth pieces.

4. In Rhule’s program, players swap positions in every offseason. This spring, Nebraska shifted Ian Flynt from tight end to defensive line and Landen Davidson from offensive line to defensive line.

Flynt and Davidson, entering their second seasons in the program, moved in a bid to add depth up front on defense. Nebraska is thin on experience behind Elijah Jeudy, Cam Lenhardt and Riley Van Poppel. It signed Jaylen George and Gabe Moore out of the portal in the winter.

Defensive linemen come at a high premium in the spring portal. Nebraska might stand pat with what it’s got.

5. Trent Uhlir and Vince Genatone switched spots. Uhlir, a redshirt freshman, is now playing linebacker, and Genatone, a junior, flipped to running back.

The move for Genatone comes with some intrigue. He’s a 225-pound Montana transfer out of North Platte, Neb., who ran a 10.5-second 100-meter dash while in high school.

Genatone played special teams at Nebraska last season. Can he get traction at running back? The Huskers need someone to break out.

6. Brett Maher, the former NFL kicker who punted and kicked at Nebraska in 2011 and 2012, joined Tristan Alvano and Nico Ottomanelli in a kicking competition before the scrimmage. Maher coaches the Nebraska kickers, and he’s done good work with Alvano. The third-year kicker from Omaha Westside performed well on Saturday. He appears on track to regain his freshman season form after an injury kept him out last year.

John Hohl emerged in Alvano’s absence in 2024, hitting 10 of 15 field-goal attempts. Hohl was sidelined this spring and did not kick Saturday.

7. The Huskers’ new leader on special teams, Mike Eleker, delivered an inspiring performance. Rhule challenged the 53-year-old Ekeler to show his strength on the bench press, pledging $5,000 to the Teammates mentoring program for each rep at 225 pounds that Ekeler completed. He got 13.

Rhule then doubled the donation to $130,000 after former Nebraska linebacker Will Compton finished 15 reps. Compton and his “Bussin’ With the Boys” podcast co-host Taylor Lewan served as guest coaches at the Husker Games.

8. Raiola praised the leadership of Key, naming him among seven Huskers who’ve directed efforts to set a high standard in the offseason. The others, in addition to Raiola, are Lenhardt, offensive linemen Justin Evans and Henry Lutovsky and linebackers Marques Watson-Trent and Gage Stenger.

Rhule has helped Key find his voice as a leader since the receiver arrived in January. Key has embraced the role.

“I feel like everybody on this team respects me,” Key said.

The order of depth at receiver features Key, Jacory Barney, newcomer Nyziah Hunter and Janiran Bonner, with freshmen Quinn Clark, Cortez Mills and Isaiah Mozee also pushing for work under new assistant Daikiel Shorts.

9. Barney won the fastest-man competition. He predicted the victory last week. After his 55-reception season last fall, the sophomore from South Florida set a goal to “be unguardable” in 2025. Barney has worked this year on his route running and body control.

“Mastering my game,” he said.

10. Plenty of smiles at Memorial Stadium followed the NFL Draft selections Saturday of defensive lineman Ty Robinson (fourth round to Philadelphia) and tight end Thomas Fidone (seventh round to the New York Giants).

Wide receiver Isaiah Neyor (San Francisco), safety Isaac Gifford (Carolina), defensive lineman Nash Hutmacher (Baltimore), linebacker John Bullock (Tampa Bay), wide receiver Jahmal Banks (Baltimore) and center Ben Scott (Tampa Bay) signed free-agent deals.

Despite the unorthodox format of the spring conclusion, it allowed for a festive atmosphere and showcased progress in this third year under Rhule.

Nebraska has many strides to take. Chief among the priorities: sign and develop first-round picks. Eleven Big Ten players were drafted in the first round on Thursday. Nebraska’s last first-rounder remains Prince Amukamara, 14 years ago.

(Photo: Mitch Sherman / The Athletic)

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