A look at five players with the potential for much bigger performances and contributions in the second half of the year.
With the second half of Nebraska’s season set to get underway this week, here’s a look at a few players who could emerge in the second half of the season with bigger roles or even more production.
Malachi Coleman
There had been plenty of clamoring for Coleman through the first six games of the season from Nebraska fans, and following the season-ending knee injury to Marcus Washington against Illinois, Coleman will be playing plenty the rest of the way.
Coleman played nearly 60 snaps in the team’s win over Illinois, and made his first career catch. Coleman also showed himself to be a willing blocker on the edge against the Fighting Illini, and was open more than his final stat like would have suggested. Coleman has always been seen to be a prospect with an extremely high ceiling. The pace of development will just need to speed up going forward.
Jaidyn Doss
The freshman was only cleared to return to the practice field a couple weeks ago, and found his way into the game in the win over Illinois. Of Nebraska’s young group of wide receivers, it was Doss who we’d heard the most about coming out of the summer and fall camp.
The bye week came at a perfect time for the freshman wide receiver, as he now has time to get up to speed and has also had that first taste of college football to understand how the speed of the game works.
Isaac Gifford
It seems odd to have a player on this list who is leading the team in tackles at the midway point, but in fits and starts you’ve seen elite play from Gifford, who has become a leader for the Blackshirts both on and off the field. With DeShon Singleton out for a stretch this season, Gifford will need to raise his level of play against opponents who will test the Huskers in a variety of unique ways.
Gifford will likely have to wear a number of different hats if the Blackshirts want to continue their strong level of play in the second half of the season.
Anthony Grant
Grant’s fumbling issues were once again a topic of conversation following Nebraska’s win over Illinois. Grant fumbled in the Illinois red zone when the Huskers had an opportunity to put the game out of reach. At his Monday press conference, Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule said that players who regularly fumble aren’t going to be on the field, however the senior back, when he’s on, gives Nebraska a physical presence in the run game.
Injuries have also limited the coaching staff’s ability to sit a player for fumbling — there just aren’t enough bodies at the running back spot to rule a guy out. That said, Grant is getting into the final few games of his college career — one that has taken him from Florida State to the junior college ranks in New Mexico to Lincoln. When players hear the clock ticking down on their collegiate careers, it sometimes causes players to raise their level of play. We’ll see if Grant can change his narrative in the second half of the season.
Jimari Butler
Butler has always been seen as a high-ceiling prospect ever since he committed to Nebraska out of Mobile, Alabama. Nebraska defensive coordinator Tony White has found ways to feature Butler as a pass rusher early in the season, and you’ve begun to see Butler get into the offensive backfield with more regularity. The 6-foot-4, 245-pound sophomore has 3.5 sacks this season and has shown himself to be one of the Husker pass rushers who can win one-on-one on third down.