Nebraska Fall Camp Preview for 2024: Tight end
Head Coach Matt Rhule is entering his second fall camp as Nebraska’s leader. Each position group has changed, whether it’s slightly or dramatically. The HuskerOnline team looks at what to expect from the Huskers with our position-by-position fall camp previews.
Next up in our annual Nebraska fall camp preview are the tight ends. The Huskers have two clear-cut starters, but a freshman could emerge as a lethal threat.
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What we know right now: Nebraska has the potential to be great at TE, a solid FB group
The Huskers have two tight ends with quality experience that have proven they can be highly reliable. NU added Carter Nelson this summer. He can very well be a freshman phenom.
Junior Thomas Fidone played his first fully healthy last season. He recorded 260 yards on 25 catches and led the team with four touchdowns. Nebraska’s offense struggled deeply in 2023. However, an improved quarterback and a smoother offense will greatly benefit Fidone. The more Nebraska gets the ball to Fidone, the better they’ll be as an offense. Offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield, who is also coaching the tight ends, knows that.
After a season of experience, the 6-foot-6, 250-pound TE is ready to take a massive leap and be a leader on offense.
Additionally, Nate Boerkircher is a staple in the Huskers’ pass and running-blocking game. The 6-foot-5, 245-pound junior has played in all 24 games over the last two seasons while starting 11. His blocking is essential to NU’s offense, but becoming an offense threat is the next step.
Luke Lindenmeyer is another player who did a solid job of blocking in 2023. This off-season, the sophomore from La Vista, Neb. focused on becoming a viable passing option for his quarterback(s).
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As for the fullbacks, Barret Liebentritt and Trevor Ruth are returning. Liebentritt played 37 snaps and posted an incredible 91 run-block grade on PFF. Janiran Bonner moved to wide receiver from fullback. Luckily, Liebentritt has a great, high-quality experience. Ruth has not played a snap at fullback.
Key stats and numbers from 2023:
| Player | 2023 Snap Count |
| Thomas Fidone | 478 |
| Nate Boerkircher | 263 |
| Luke Lindenmeyer | 165 |
| Janiran Bonner* | 110 |
| Player | Targets | Catches-Yards | TDs | Y/REC | YAC |
| Thomas Fidone | 41 | 25-260 | 4 rec | 10.4 | 79 |
| Nate Boerkircher | 7 | 5-51 | 0 | 10.2 | 14 |
| Luke Lindenmeyer | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Janiran Bonner* | 3 | 1-5 | 0 | 5.0 | 3 |
Biggest Question: What is Carter Nelson’s impact?
Former four-star tight end Carter Nelson has the potential to be a great player for the Huskers. The Ainsworth, Neb. native arrived this summer after a fantastic spring track season. How long will it take for Nelson to get into college shape physically and mentally?
The Huskers could use another tight end they can rely on to catch balls and make plays.
At Ainsworth, while playing eight-man football, Nelson caught 32 passes for 658 yards and 14 touchdowns as a senior. The 6-foot-5, 225-pound freshman averaged nearly 21 yards per catch. Nelson chose Nebraska over Georgia, Notre Dame, Penn State, Alabama, Tennessee, Wisconsin and many more.
If he gets to work in the weight room and quickly learns the Huskers’ offense, Nelson will be on the field this fall.
Projected Fall Camp Depth Chart:
- Thomas Fidone
- Nate Boerkircher
- Carter Nelson OR Luke Lindenmeyer
Fullback:
- Barret Liebentritt
- Trevor Ruth
