Dylan Raiola got the headlines but new Nebraska football WRs made the difference

When the smoke cleared on the Nebraska Cornhuskers’ win over the UTEP Miners on Saturday, Dylan Raiola was the beneficiary of quite a bit of love. And he deserved every minute of it.

The true freshman quarterback completed 19 of 27 passes for over 230 yards, 2 touchdowns and no interceptions. He showed poise in the pocket and an arm that can make all the throws. 

Still, it seems a bit unfair that Raiola got all the love when the two brand new Nebraska football receivers showed that it’s not just about the quarterback position that is going to lead to an improved offense in 2024. It will be the guys the quarterback is throwing too. 

Both Isiah Neyor and Jahmal Banks are veteran receivers who have been there and done that. They know how to do it and did it on Saturday. And what’s better is they both appear to have the size, the speed and the talent to do it over and over and over.

Nebraska football wide receivers are the real deal 

On the one hand, 11 players combined to catch 25 passes. On the other hand, Banks and Neyor were very clearly the guys that were the most trusted to make a catch when the Huskers needed one. 

Neyor hauled down 6 catches for 121 yards and a touchdown. That included a 59-yarder. Earlier in the game, he almost had another catch that would have been over 50 yards and could have been a touchdown, but the ball went through his hands.

Meanwhile Banks notched 4 catches for 61 yards and a TD of his own. But more important than the stats were that both players showed they were a problem for the defense. They showed they will continue to be problems.

And next week, they’ll lead Nebraska football against a Colorado secondary that is notoriously undersized. The UTEP game could and should be just the beginning.