Nebraska Football: Possible Billy Kemp replacement emerges from Tulane
![Oct 13, 2023; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Tulane Green Wave wide receiver Chris Brazzell II (17) runs after a catch during the first half against the Memphis Tigers at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports Oct 13, 2023; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Tulane Green Wave wide receiver Chris Brazzell II (17) runs after a catch during the first half against the Memphis Tigers at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/caacc859978a28afa24425b5cdee8951dd405bd6c439c7077f5a2efb514bcd2c.jpg)
As the Nebraska football team dips into the transfer portal they’re almost certainly looking for someone who can take over for Billy Kemp’s production.
While almost all the talk about Nebraska football and the transfer portal has been who they are going after at quarterback, it’s a safe bet Matt Rhule and company are looking at other positions as well. Chief among those other positions almost has to be at wide receiver.
While the Huskers have a couple of young receivers in Malachi Coleman and Jaylen Lloyd who the coaches hope they’ll take the next step, Nebraska is going to need some veteran pass catchers as well.
Billy Kemp IV is moving on and taking his team-leading 35 receptions and 310 yards with him. While neither of those numbers seem all that hard to replace, they’re both first on Nebraska football by a wide margin. No other Husker wide receiver had more than 15 catches.
Knowing that it seems unlikely Rhule, receivers coach Garrett McGuire, and offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield are going to be ok going into 2024 without someone who has proven to be a big time pass catcher in college football. Luckily more than a few entered the portal on Monday.
One that could stand out is former Tulane star Chris Brazzell. Brazzell appears to be looking for greener pastures after his former head coach Willie Fritz took the Houston Cougars job. At least one Nebraska football recruiting analyst believes McGuire won’t waste any time trying to bring Brazzell to Lincoln.
Have to assume Garret McGuire is going to make an overture here.
— Mike Schaefer (@mikejschaefer) December 4, 2023
6-foot-5 WR with three years of eligibility and experience. https://t.co/ilvzJkRGsO
Chris Brazzell is just what Nebraska football ordered
In 2023, Brazzel caught 44 passes in his redshirt freshman season for 711 yards and five touchdowns. All of those numbers would obviously have been a team-high in Lincoln by a wide margin.
The question now of course, is whether or not Nebraska football can make inroads with Brazzell. It seems likely the Huskers will need to get themselves a quarterback first, before they can lure in any of the big time wide receivers already out there in transfer portal land.