Nebraska Football: JD Spielman right to take time off

The Nebraska football wide receiver needs to do what’s best for him.

Okay , the news about Nebraska football wide receiver JD Spielman is not as bad as I thought. In case you haven’t heard by now, the Nebraska football wide receiver is taking a leave of absence from the team. He is expected to be back for summer conditioning in May.

Initially, I thought he was leaving the program, but that does not appear to be the case. That is a very good development for Nebraska football. Spielman is one of the top wide receivers on that offense, and he was a huge producer in the passing game last season. Furthermore, he’s been a huge producer throughout his entire career. He has 170 catches for 2,546 yards and 15 touchdowns in his career.

Nebraska is calling it a “temporary absence.” If this is what he needs to get his mind right, I am all for it. Sure, spring ball is important. However, there are a few exceptions I would make for players on the roster. Spielman is definitely a player that doesn’t necessarily need spring ball. Throughout his Nebraska career, he has been consistent. We know what we are getting from him by this point. If he needs this time to regroup, then it makes sense to let him do so.

Spielman is definitely going to be counted on heavily this year. Unlike last year, there is a considerable amount of depth at the receiver position. However, the depth is young. Spielman brings a veteran voice to the position. That will definitely be needed in 2020 as he looks to finish out his Nebraska football career.

This will also give other receivers a chance to show what they are made of. There are a ton of names that can make an impact. Now, they will have an even greater chance to show what they can do. That is certainly a good thing, and it prepares some of the younger players for big-time college football. This is their chance to show that they, along with Spielman of course, can be counted on. Especially with this group, they need to be groomed for beyond 2020. Many of these receivers are the future of the program.

Hopefully, JD will be able to use this time in Minnesota to sort things out. As always, I hope he fixes whatever needs to be addressed. Nebraska football certainly needs him, and a mentally-healthy Spielman is crucial for the success of this team.