Monday Morning Quarterback: With Spielman gone, who’s the Huskers’ go-to receiver?
Tough, but not unexpected, news this week that JD Spielman is putting in for the transfer portal and leaving Nebraska. The number three all-time receiver in career catches and receiving yards, Spielman averaged over 18 yards a catch while playing slot receiver requiring him to run routes across the middle where he took a lot of hits.
Wan’Dale Robinson had a very good freshman year, splitting his time between receiver and running back, and was named second-team freshman All-American. He had with 40 catches, averaging 11 yards per reception. But it could be Coach Frost needs Robinson more in the role of the multi-purpose slot back role in the spread option offense, making catches from out of the backfield – rather than lining up as the mid or deep field threat.
Omar Manning appears to be the leading non-Robinson candidate to fill Spielman’s shoes for making the tough catches across the middle and being the deep threat the Huskers sorely need. Manning was the top-ranked wide receiver coming out of junior college, averaging 21 yards per catch. At 6’4″, 225 lbs, Manning has the NFL size to out-battle defense backs and also take the hits across the middle. But his 4.66 time in the 40, compared to Robinson’s 4.2, suggests he isn’t going to be blowing past anybody off the ball.
What do you think, is it going to be Wan’Dale Robinson, or is somebody else going to be the top receiving threat for the Huskers this year?