Quinn Clark has been looking to make his own mark on the Nebraska football program for the last few years. Following the Huskers' spring game and the end of spring practice, his teammates think the big receiver might be ready to do just that.Â
Evan Bland of the Omaha World-Herald put together a piece after the spring game where he talked to the players about who they were most impressed by during the previous session. There were a couple of names that popped up, but none were quite as hot as the son of the former Nebraska running back.
At the top of the list is Nebraska defensive back Jeremiah Charles. He used to be able to push Quinn Clark off the line of scrimmage, even though the redshirt-sophomore has five inches on him and about 35 pounds. That's changed this spring.
Quinn Clark built major buzz during Nebraska football spring practices
"He's been playing a lot more confident," Charles told Bland. "And honestly, he's getting stronger."
The tallest Nebraska scholarship receiver made one of the highlight plays of the spring game when he went up and nabbed a one-handed, back-shoulder grab in the end zone for an 8-yard touchdown. While it will be hard for Clark to grab a starting spot with so many veterans like Nyziah Hunter, Kwazi Gilmore, and Jacory Barney around, the latter knows that the youngster is pushing for playing time.
"You seen the catch he made today," Barney said after the last scrimmage of the spring. "That guy’s going to be really good for us this year. He going to pop onto the scene."
"If you throw it up in the vicinity, I feel confident he’s going to come down with it," quarterback Daniel Kaelin added.
Clark has appeared in 14 career games with Nebraska and made his first start in the Las Vegas Bowl. He notched 5 catches for 132 yards last season, including a catch-and-run touchdown against Akron. He's also someone whom Dana Holgorsen pinpointed as a real weapon when he joined the staff.
He also got some serious words of encouragement from head coach Matt Rhule. Rhule singled out Clark for not just accepting a behind-the-scenes role in a deep, wide receiver corps but fighting to accelerate his timeline.
Clark will need to keep battling to really see playing time, but it's clear the Nebraska coaches know he could be a weapon, and his teammates think he's hit another level this spring.