JD PicKell: Questions remain for Nebraska transfers after positive start

Scott Frost’s overhaul at Nebraska included more than multiple coaching changes. The Cornhuskers picked up 15 transfers via the transfer portal, led by former Texas quarterback Casey Thompson and former LSU wide receiver Trey Palmer.

But with so many new faces, they could be looking for leadership. On3’s J.D. PicKell addressed that, saying more players will have to step up besides Thompson and Palmer.

Former TCU EDGE Ochaun Mathis and former Florida State quarterback Chubba Purdy are among the 15 transfers in the fold as Nebraska tries to bounce back from a 3-9 2021 season marred by one-score losses. Although the transfers appear to be doing well in camp, PicKell argued they’ll still need leaders to emerge as the Week 0 gets closer.

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“When you have so many new faces, it causes for some hesitation with stepping up into the leadership roles,” PicKell said on The Hard Count. “Doesn’t sound like that’s so specific to Casey Thompson, but in this team in general — especially on offense — they need more leaders to step up because what happens is when you get a bunch of transfers, there’s that first day of school syndrome. You don’t really want to ruffle any feathers, you don’t want to step on anybody’s toes. You just want to keep your head down, go to class, do what’s right in front of you. That’s good, but for Nebraska to get to where they want to be, they need leaders.

“And with so many transfers on this team, you need some of those transfers to step up as leaders because they’ve played football before at a high level. They’re not bright-eyed and bushy-tailed true freshmen. They’ve been in the college football atmosphere before. They know what is required. So, we need some transfers at Nebraska to step up, especially on the offensive side of the ball, and Casey Thompson has said as much in press conferences. He said, ‘Hey, I’m trying to do what I can. I’m trying to be the guy that steps up on offense, but we need more guys. Defense has a lot of those guys. On offense, we need more guys to step up.’ So I think that’s a call to action for the transfers.”