Spring grade out: Wide Receiver
As we continue our spring grade outs, today we breakdown the wide receiver position, which arguably may be the strongest position on the entire team.
What we learned: Not a lot of flaws with this group when fully healthy
On paper this is the best group of receivers Nebraska has ever returned in a season. No other group of receivers compares to their overall production level, other than the group the Huskers brought back to start the 2007 season after QB Zac Taylor was named the Big 12 offensive player of the year the prior season.
When it's all said and done Jordan Westerkamp will leave Nebraska with almost every single major receiving record. Brandon Reilly put up nearly 800 yards as a junior, and is arguably the fastest player on NU's roster. Alonzo Moore is an athletic mismatch with all the things he can. Stanley Morgan Jr. is poised to be the next Westerkamp, while when healthy there may be no player more talented on this Husker team than De'Mornay Pierson-El.
The biggest challenge now for wide receivers coach Keith Williams is putting the best combination of players on the field for each and every situation.
Biggest spring concern: Injuries and off-the field incidents
Westerkamp missed nearly all of this spring after having sports hernia surgery in Germany, Reilly got a DUI before spring break, Pierson-El continues to recover from his injury he suffered against Purdue and Morgan Jr. battled a nagging groin injury this spring.
The only thing that really can stop this group is themselves. Hopefully they can shake the injury issues and be ready to go this fall. We also don't know how much time, if any Reilly will miss for his DUI. Conventional wisdom says it will be no more than one game.
Spring Surprise: Bryan Reimers and his emergence for the future
With so much veteran talent at receiver, it's hard for any new faces to emerge, but one player to keep tabs on is Lincoln East walk-on wide receiver Bryan Reimers.
The Husker coaching staff went out of their way more than once to recognize Reimers for his play, and it appears he's poised to be a factor in the future.
He may not be somebody we see much in 2016, but there's no doubt he'll be in the conversation in 2017 based on the improvements he's made.
Looking ahead: Nebraska needs to start preparing players for the future
With Westerkamp, Moore and Reilly all seniors, it will be important for Nebraska to start putting the puzzle together for the future.
Morgan Jr. and Pierson-El are clearly NU's top underclassmen on the roster, but another promising name to watch closely is true freshman Derrion Grim. In high school Grim had 1,928 yards receiving and 34 touchdowns in 10 games, and he showed right away this spring why he was so productive.
Another intriguing name to follow this season behind the scenes is former quarterback Zack Darlington, who no doubt has the desire and athletic ability to be a factor some day, but he still needs to transition to his new position. Fresno State transfer Keyan Williams and redshirt freshman Lavan Alston are two others who could be a factor some day.
Williams must sit out this season, while Alston missed all of 2015 with a knee injury he suffered in Fall Camp.