Matt Rhule believes Demitrius Bell, Blye Hill suffered significant injuries in Nebraska spring game

Nebraska had a couple of players go down with “significant” injuries during Saturday’s spring game.

According to head coach Matt Rhule, receiver Demitrius Bell and cornerback Blye Hill are set to miss some time after getting banged up on Saturday.

“Obviously in the game, Demitrius [Bell] went down with a significant injury. And Blye Hill with what looks like a semi-significant injury. So both to their patellas,” Matt Rhule said.

“I don’t know long-term. I hate to speak until those MRIs are done and all that, but looks like it could be somewhat significant for each. So from a football perspective, obviously, those two injuries hurt. From a personal perspective, they really hurt. But I know both guys are tremendous competitors, young players, and they’ll bounce back and be great.”

Demitrius Bell joined Nebraska after being ranked as a three-star prospect in the class of 2023, according to the On3 Industry rankings. He was tabbed as the No. 72 receiver in the country.

Bell redshirted last season after signing with Nebraska as a two-way standout at McGavock High School in Nashville. He finished with 702 receiving yards and eight touchdowns as a senior.

Blye Hill was also a member of the 2023 recruiting class. He came to Nebraska after spending one season at Saint Francis. During that one year, Hill played in nine games, recording 21 tackles with 1.0 TFL. He also had six pass breakups and two interceptions.

Matt Rhule updates process in selecting a starting quarterback

Matt Rhule hasn’t decided on Nebraska’s starting quarterback just yet but revealed his process of evaluation this season.

Competing for the job are freshmen Dylan Raiola (the No. 3 quarterback in the Class of 2024) and Daniel Kaelin, as well as redshirt junior Heinrich Haarberg. But none of them, if they separated, went too far from the others.

Rhule wants to keep the competition intense to improve everyone’s play.

“I want the quarterbacks to feel like they have the race and all of a sudden I want the other guy to come along and try to challenge him,” Rhule said. “I think it’ll elevate all of us. And then when we know we know, but I wouldn’t anticipate us saying hey, this guy is the starter like today, you know? Because I thought all three quarterbacks went out there and said, hey, I can be the starter and that’s my challenge for the players is don’t worry about where you stand.”

This type of process and mentality doesn’t just go for the quarterbacks.

“At all positions,” Rhule said. “Don’t worry about how much opportunity you’re getting. Just worry about what the tape looks like. Do you look like a Big Ten winning quarterback? Do you look like a Big Ten winning left tackle? DO you look like a Big Ten Winning d-tackle? And if you do, your time will come. So that’s a long very philosophical answer.

“But I would say it would take a while because I just think there’s so many guys doing good things and I want to give them a fair shot.”