JD PicKell: How Nebraska can return to a bowl game in 2023

Matt Rhule’s arrival in Lincoln has bred new life into the Nebraska football program since taking over as head coach.

The buzz around the program is on a national stage, and some believe Rhule’s hire is exactly what the Cornhuskers need to get back to perennial dominance for the foreseeable future. Recruits and transfers wants to play in Lincoln under Rhule, and the pressure to succeed right away is immense.

So, what will it take for Nebraska to earn its way into a bowl game right away?

“It’s no secret that Jeff Sims is going to be your starting quarterback. Transferring him from Georgia Tech, he has all the tools in the world, a cannon of an arm, a great athlete, big body — has a lot that you want to run this offense effectively from a skill-set standpoint,” PicKell said. “The reason why I have his name highlighted is because him bringing balance to this offense is going to be a very big factor in them winning football games.”

Sims’ natural dual-threat abilities will force opposing defenses to respect the run-game a bit more than they would otherwise. When Big 10 defenses stack seven or more into the box — can Sims rise to the occasion with him arm, too?

“With his feet, [Sims] will ultimately be an answer to when teams try to take away that running back room, but I’m telling you that with his arm downfield, that is going to be the straw that breaks these defenses backs,” PicKell said. “That’s the thing that could put them over the top. … I don’t have a question about ability — consistency is going to be paramount for Nebraska getting to that six-win markand potentially beyong.”

In three years at Georgia Tech, he rushed for 1,166 yards and 11 touchdowns on 4.3 yards per carry. His game isn’t one-dimensional, either. In three years for the Yellow Jackets, Sims threw for 4,464 yards and 30 touchdowns. He didn’t throw the football as often as a normal ACC quarterback, but still managed to amass 1,000 yards through the air in each of the three season played for Tech. 

Rhule called Sims a passer who runs a 4.40 40-yard-dash. Not a runner who can throw, purely a passer with a gifted ability to run the ball.

The next time Sims will be in a live game setting will be during Nebraska’s season opener on Thursday, Aug. 31 on the road against Minnesota. More interestingly, Sims and the Huskers will travel to Boulder to play Deion Sanders and the new-look Colorado Buffaloes on Sept. 9 the next weekend.