Ex-Nebraska football star caps extraordinary comeback career

A former Nebraska football quarterback has found a way to turn his career into one that could lead to the NFL at his new school.

In the transfer portal era, every college sports team has a number of players that have gone onto other schools to try and jumpstart their careers. Billy Kemp, for instance, left Virginia in order to try and do something different for the Nebraska football team.

There have also been a number of players that left the Huskers to try and better their careers. Logan Smothers comes to mind in that regard.

There may not be a former Nebraska football player who’s had the kind of career that Luke McCaffrey has had. It’s safe to say that by the end of 2023, he put together the kind of career that makes the transfer portal worth it.

McCaffrey found a way to become someone who might even see the NFL come calling. That was certainly never going to happen if he stuck around Lincoln.

The younger brother of NFL star Christian McCaffrey came to the Nebraska football team as a quarterback but left after it was clear the Huskers didn’t know how to use him and didn’t really have a place for him.

He ended up at Rice and originally tried to quarterback there as well. But then the Owls decided to move him to wide receiver. That’s where the former Husker really flourished.

Ex-Nebraska football star caps comeback career in 2023

McCaffrey had a solid season in 2022. Impressive in fact. He finished with 58 catches for 723 yards and 6 touchdowns. In 2023, he took the next step.

On Saturday, McCaffrey put an exclamation point on another solid season. He finished the year with 68 catches for 963 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Against Florida Atlantic, the former Husker exploded for 12 catches, 141 yards and a touchdown. He also had two carries for 31 yards.

The cherry on top of the sundae is that the ex-Nebraska football star gets to go to a bowl as his performance helped Rice win their sixth game of the year.