Matt Rhule impressed by early impact of Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda

He almost wasn’t on the team this year, but Nebraska is better for having a wide receiver like Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda around. From his age and experience to his play on the field, Matt Rhule is happy to have him around.

After entering the transfer portal in the fall but coming back to Nebraska with the new coaching staff, Garcia-Castaneda has quickly become a leader in the receiver room. Rhule explained that his dependability might be his best trait.

“He’s really, really, really dependable. He’s talented, good hands, gets in and out of his breaks. But the biggest thing we’re trying to express to this team is dependability is one of the greatest traits you can have as a teammate, as a member of the team,” Rhule said. “I know that you’re going to be where you’re supposed to be and do what you’re supposed to do.” 

As for Garcia-Castaneda’s entering and then pulling out of the transfer portal, Rhule said it’s a “blank slate” now.

“And Isaiah is a guy, especially with his story, transferring in and leaving the team, there’s a lot of questions in terms of ‘Hey what happened.’ I’ve never really delved into it with him. I try to give everyone a blank slate. I think he’s been awesome. I think he’s a guy that can really help us this fall,” Rhule said.

Garcia-Castaneda recently discussed his path to the portal in the fall and why he came back.

He doesn’t regret doing what he did and entering the portal, but he’s glad he’s staying in Lincoln, ultimately. While it might’ve been in his best interests to open up the door to other opportunities, he never did want to leave.

“I never wanted to leave, really, in the first place. I didn’t expect last year to go the way it did, necessarily,” Garcia-Castaneda said. “So I just felt like it’s almost like a fresh start for me, for everybody. For the team — coaches, players. And I was fortunate enough to be able to get an opportunity again and come just show what I can do with the new staff and everything.”

After starting his college career at a junior college, Garcia-Castaneda played two seasons at New Mexico State — though one season was just two games in the spring of 2021 due to Covid-19. As a sophomore, he appeared in 10 games and caught 37 passes for 578 yards and four touchdowns.

Ahead of the 2022 season, he transferred again and landed at Nebraska. He burst out of the gates for the Cornhuskers, reeling in four receptions for 120 yards and a touchdown in the opener against Northwestern. Then he went two games without a touch and had one catch for no yards against Oklahoma, a blowout loss for Nebraska.

“I think last year was — I don’t really like to talk about it too much. I think last year was last year. A lot of things were kind of all over the place in every aspect of the team. So I just think it was, at the time, in my best interests. I’m not mad at myself for deciding to enter the portal when I did because I felt at that time it was the best thing for me,” Garcia-Castaneda said. “But, with things now, I’m very thankful to be here again and I think everything kind of happened for a reason. And things are supposed to be how they’re supposed to be.”