Marcus Satterfield says Nebraska is 'above average' on retaining offensive information

It’s never easy learning a completely new playbook in one offseason, but Nebraska offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield has seen his group jump ahead of the curve and really study his offensive schemes early in the spring training period.

Satterfield, who is coming in from South Carolina, is also in the same boat. It’s a new program, team and all new players. It takes time to develop that trust and chemistry that every successful offense has between its coaches and players. Nebraska is on its way there now.

“The ebb and flow of practice are pretty consistent with what it has been over the past couple of years,” Satterfield said. “A lot of guys are grinding at it. We’ve practiced more since we met during spring break. They left for a week after we installed a lot of the stuff before spring break.

“They were on their own and then right back into practice. I would say they’re above average from a retention standpoint. It’s one thing to retain it. It’s another thing to go execute it consistently.”

Preserving that knowledge early on is key for a Huskers team that will look toward its recent transfer portal acquisitions. Former Five-Star Plus+ TE Arik Gilbert, four-star QB Jeff Sims and four-star WR Josh Fleeks will be looked at immedietely for leadership in Satterfield’s new offense.

On the ground, Nebraksa returns junior RB Anthony Grant, who is comnig off a 915-yard rushing season in 2022. The only problem with him in this aspect is that he is suspended for the start of spring training for academic purposes.

In his place, emerging sophomore Gabe Ervin Jr. has been one of Nebraska’s stars this offseason, according to head coach Matt Rhule. “He’s one of the fastest guys on the team at 221 pounds, 222 pounds,” Rhule said. “To me, he hopefully can be that battering ram who puts games away.”

Ervin was limited to 20 rushing attempts and 94 rushing yards as a true freshman. The way he’s shown out in Grant’s absense has surely won him a spot in Satterfield’s rotation, for now at least. Grant was a one-man show last season, so having Ervin as a reliable second option only adds to Nebraksa’s offensive repertoire.

With a whole new cast of characters throughout the Cornhuskers’ program, Rhule and Satterfield are hoping that they’ve put together the right group to take back their stake in the Big 10 title picture for the first time in over a decade.

It might not happen right away, but this is the group on the ground floor ready to build back Nebraska football.