Pinstripe Bowl Notebook: Heinrich Haarberg's decision to move to TE has been brewing for quite some time

NEW YORK – Former Nebraska quarterback Heinrich Haarberg’s decision to move full time to the tight end position has been brewing for some time, he told reporters Thursday.

He played TE exclusively in bowl practice Thursday.

RELATED – New Nebraska WR coach Daikiel Shorts wants to blend development with talent acquisition

“This has been a thing, even going back to last winter, I was just thinking about it in my head,” the 6-foot-5, 225-pound junior said. “I didn’t know exactly how the transition was going to move. I wanted to do my due diligence to the team and be the best team player I could.

“Just talking to coach (Matt) Rhule, especially after Dylan (Raiola) was named the starting quarterback this year, I wanted to be more involved in the offense.”

Haarberg has played in 11 games this season, being efficient as Nebraska’s No. 2 quarterback while also figuring into the offense as a runner and receiver. Haarberg has completed 10-of-18 passes for 101 yards, rushed 25 times for 102 yards and caught one pass for eight yards.

“It’s been a theme throughout the season, I think, trying to get me more involved,” Haarberg said. “These bowl practices have allowed me to really kick that into full gear.”

He added, “There was no set, ‘Heinrich, you’re going to move to tight end at this certain time.’ It was really fluid.”

He noted he did some drills at positions on defense.

“Just trying to find the best fit to continue my career,” he said. “That’s really the biggest thing. I want to help this team, but at the same time I have dreams and aspirations to go play at the next level. Hopefully, this transition gives me the best opportunity to do that.” 

Haarberg said with Dana Holgorsen in charge of the offense, the scope of the system has been narrowed down.

“That’s made it a lot easier,” Haarberg said of his transition.

-Steven Sipple

Shavers excited about his new Blackshirt

Many things have happened with Nebraska’s roster over the last few weeks, particularly on the defensive side of the football.

One player who should have an excellent opportunity to get more playing time in the Pinstripe Bowl because of some of those changes is freshman linebacker Vincent Shavers, who was awarded a Blackshirt this month.

“It felt great,” Shavers said of earning his Blackshirt. “I kept working and working and being patient. I waited for my time to come, and just kept putting in the work, and I finally got my Blackshirt. I’m proud, and I’m happy. I’m ready to work.”

The bowl trip has also been a great experience for Shavers. However, being from Miami, it’s been a weather adjustment for him this week.

“This is like my second time seeing snow in my entire life,” Shavers said.

-Sean Callahan

Simpson is relishing return to NU, reuniting with Florida recruits

Phil Simpson was a member of Rhule’s initial Nebraska coaching staff in 2023 defensive quality control coach. His deep connections to the state of Florida, particularly the Miami area, helped the Huskers land some top talent from Sunshine State.

Simpson left NU last offseason to take a defensive analyst position at Florida State. When the opportunity arose to return to Lincoln as Rhule’s outside linebackers coach, the Simpson jumped at the opportunity.

To little surprise, the Florida players he helped bring to Nebraska couldn’t have been happier about his return.

“When I seen that (Simpson was coming back), my mom sent it to me first,” said freshman linebacker and Miami native Vincent Shavers. “She texted me that Phil was coming back. Phil called me and said, ‘Let’s get it.’ I was very happy. I didn’t know what to do. I was running around in the house saying, ‘Let’s get it! We’ve got Phil back!’”

Becoming a full-time position coach at Nebraska was a draw in itself. But Simpson said being able to reunite with former recruits like Shavers played an equally important role. 

“In this recruiting world, I always try to tell guys to try to find some stability in an unstable world,” Simpson said. “That’s the reality of football – players and coaches. To be here Year 1 (under Rhule), helping get them in the program and then leaving; unstable world. 

“But now to come back and be here and see them through the process, it means a lot for them and it means a lot for me. I take a lot of pride in getting those guys up here.”

-Robin Washut

Quick hits

***New wide receivers coach Daikiel Shorts had one connection to Nebraska. His former roommate with the Buffalo Bills was NU wide-out Brandon Reilly. They came in with the same draft class. Shorts joked that they called Reilly “White Lightning,” and he’s actually been able to connect with him since getting to Lincoln.

***Fordham’s stadium in the Bronx is named after former Nebraska assistant Joe Moglia. He was the former CEO of TD Ameritrade and launched his football coaching career under Bo Pelini before taking over the Omaha Nighthawks and then Coastal Carolina. Moglia was a 1971 graduate of Fordham.

*** The team visited the 9-11 Memorial before Thursday’s practice. On Wednesday, NU held a short workout in New York’s famed Central Park before attending the New York Knicks game and a Christmas show at Radio City Music Hall.

***A handful of Nebraska’s incoming freshmen were at bowl practice on Thursday. Most notably, freshman quarterback TJ Lateef was dressed and fully participated in practice.

***A group of Husker players and officials will ring the New York Stock Exchange opening bell on Friday morning to kick off the day of trading. Rhule and Boston College’s Bill O’Brien will also hold a pregame press conference at noon local time on Friday.

-Sean Callahan

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