Nebraska football loses transfer WR as spring shakeups continue in receiver room

Much of the excitement around the Nebraska football team this spring, has been seeing just how the wide receiver room is going to mesh with quarterback Dylan Raiola. With a new offensive coordinator and wide receivers’ coach there may not be a unit that fans and media members are more interested in watching.

That’s still the case on Sunday morning, though the announced departure of one of the young, talented pass catchers that were new additions this offsesaon is a bit of a blow to that excitement.

On Saturday afternoon, Nebraska football head coach Matt Rhule announced that transfer receiver Hardley Gilmore is no longer with the team. Rhule didn’t offer up any details as to why he’s gone. Though he did say it wasn’t a situation where the young man committed a crime or “anything like that.” 

Hardley Gilmore exits Nebraska football just months after transfer

The departure of Gilmore is blunted a bit by the fact that we simply don’t know what he was going to provide this season. It’s entirely possible he felt as though he was already sliding down the depth chart and that caused him some dissatisfaction with the program.

On the other hand, the Huskers know they need all the playmakers they can get. While he didn’t have a huge 2024 season, he showed enough flashes that shortly after it was announced he was no longer a Husker, there was already talk about Kentucky fans and analysts that he might head back to Lexington.

Gilmore entered the portal shortly after then UK wide receiver coach Daikiel Shorts left the Wildcats for Lincoln. Shorts ended up bringing both Gilmore and Dane Key over with him. Key is of course, still with the program.

In 2024, Gilmore caught 6 passes for 153 yards and 1 touchdown. His 25.5 yards per catch average certainly got the attention of the Nebraska football coaches. This one will be interesting to watch if for no other reason than to see if Gilmore heads back to his old school.