JD Pickell: Nebraska has a different feel this season

Nebraska may not have had a winning season since 2016. But according to On3’s JD PicKell, this is the season where fans should be optimistic in seeing that change. On the latest episode of The Hard Count with JD PicKell, he penciled in the Cornhuskers for seven wins this upcoming season, mainly because of upgrade at the quarterback position and the overall energy within the program.

“It’s different this time y’all because there’s that belief within the program now. I would venture to say in previous years it’s been trying to convince yourself, ‘okay Adrian Martinez is our guy, no no no I know what happened last year Adrian Martinez he’s our guy this year,’ ” PicKell said.

Adrian Martinez was a three time captain for Nebraska, with his name all over the school’s offensive record book. But he transferred to Kansas State and new Texas transfer Casey Thompson could be the x factor this season that could take those eight losses from last season by one score and change them into some wins.

“Folks you have someone who is in my opinion much more proven in Casey Thompson and someone who it means just as much to him right now as it does to this program. We talked about it, they are both in backed into a corner mode where they’ve gotta make it happen, and so I think that’s honestly reason for optimism. You’ve had cause for optimism, you have reason for optimism now at Nebraska,” PicKell said.

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Thompson is an electrifying dual threat that appeared in only 19 games for the Longhorns during his four year career, 10 of which were starts in the 2021 season. In that one season, however, Thompson had three games with five or more touchdowns, a Texas school record.

Thompson’s play combined with the Husker’s strength of schedule (or lack thereof), the team’s activity in the transfer portal this offseason, and the overall confidence of the program that they can make it over the hump may be all they need to get back to their winning ways of the past.