Nebraska Football: Illinois WR transfer could be just what the doctor ordered
The Nebraska football team is very clearly looking high and low when it comes to players to bring in this off-season. Matt Rhule and company are playing the transfer portal hard. Especially in the last few days.
Who they have gone after so far in the portal is certainly a tip of who they might go after as the offseason continues. That includes former Illinois wide receiver, Brian Hightower. \
Hightower entered the portal earlier this week and while the Nebraska football team might start looking his way, there’s a chance the team will have quite a bit of competition before things are all said and done. That’s because he had a pretty decent final season with Illini. During a season in which the Illini struggled on offense plenty of times.
Hightower was 3rd on the team in catches with 37 for 452 yards and two touchdowns.
It also makes some sense that he might be looking for greener pastures. There’s likely to be some worry whether Illinois can repeat the kind of season it had in 2022. The team is losing its best offensive weapon in 1,600-yard rusher Chase Brown.
Without Brown in tow in their bowl game, the Illini struggled offensively against Mississippi State. It could be more of the same in 2023.
So now Hightower is out on the transfer portal looking for a new team. The Nebraska football team brought in Josh Fleeks and it appears they will be going after other transfer receivers. It does appear that the program is narrowing things down.
That includes apparently parting ways with North Carolina A&T receiver Sterling Berkhalter. That separation might mean that the Cornhuskers have narrowed down their targets to the point that Hightower won’t be on the radar.
Likewise, the former Illinois receiver might be looking for a team that is more of a sure-fire thing when it comes to competing. Even if Nebraska football isn’t a contender for Brian Hightower’s services, it should do its collective toe in those waters and see if they can reel him in.