The five most impactful opponent transfers on Nebraska's 2023 schedule
With all the talk about the additions Nebraska has made from the NCAA Transfer Portal this offseason, what about those NU will see on the other side of the ball?
We take a look at five of the most impactful opponent transfers the Huskers will face during their 2023 schedule…
The Quarterbacks
Seven of Nebraska’s 12 upcoming opponents this season will likely be rolling with starting quarterbacks from the transfer portal. Rather than make this list five QBs, here is a rundown of all the first-year signal callers the Huskers will see in 2023:
- Colorado: Shedeur Sanders (Jackson State)
- Illinois: Luke Altmyer (Ole Miss)
- Iowa: Cade McNamara (Michigan)
- Louisiana Tech: Hank Bachmeier (Boise State)
- Northwestern: Ben Bryant (Cincinnati)
- Purdue: Hudson Card (Texas)
- Wisconsin: Tanner Mordecai (SMU)
All seven quarterbacks are carrying lofty expectations for their new teams.
There’s been plenty of national hype surrounding Sanders playing for his dad, Colorado head coach Deion Sanders. Louisiana Tech gave the keys to Bachmeier, who started 25 games in four seasons and amassed 6,605 career passing yards and 41 touchdowns in Boise.
Altmyer started one game with nine appearances in two seasons at Ole Miss but emerged as the leader at Illinois coming out of spring ball. Bryant joined Northwestern in May and immediately became the frontrunner for the No. 1 job.
There’s no question that it’s Card’s show at Purdue, as his play will likely define the success of Year 1 under Ryan Walters.
A two-time Davey O’Brien Award semifinalist, Mordecai was hand-picked by Luke Fickell from SMU to run the Badgers’ offense. Iowa is banking on the former Michigan starter McNamara to revive its offense after owning one of the worst passing attacks in college football last year.
RELATED: Nebraska’s five most important transfer portal additions for 2023
Sean Tyler, RB, Minnesota
One of Minnesota’s most critical tasks this offseason is replacing star running back Mohamed Ibrahim, its all-time leading rusher and focal point of a run-heavy offense.
The leading candidate for that role is Western Michigan transfer Sean Tyler. The fifth-year senior was a second-team All-MAC selection last season after leading the conference and ranking ninth nationally with 146.8 all-purpose yards per game.
Tyler might not get the overwhelming workload that Ibrahim did. But P.J. Fleck has a long history of producing high-level running backs, and Tyler appears to be the next in line.
RELATED: Where do Nebraska’s 2023 transfers rank?
Travis Hunter, WR/DB, Colorado
No program in the country overhauled its roster through the portal this offseason more than Colorado. There might not have been a higher-profile addition than Travis Hunter.
A former five-star recruit, Hunter was ranked the No. 2 overall player in the 2022 class and is now the No. 1 transfer prospect in the 2023 portal cycle. He shocked everyone by committing to Sanders at Jackson State out of high school. But few were surprised when he followed Prime to Boulder.
Hunter is expected to play wide receiver and defensive back for the Buffaloes, and he’ll arguably be CU’s best player at both positions.
Ernest Hausman, LB, Michigan
If Nebraska fans prefer to skip this one, it’s understandable. Ernest Hausmann broke onto the scene as one of NU’s brightest young stars last season. He played in all 12 games with seven starts as a true freshman and ranked sixth on the team in tackles.
But after the Huskers’ coaching change, Hausmann stunned many in Lincoln by entering the portal and committing to Michigan soon after. He’s now rated the No. 21 transfer prospect in the cycle – and No. 2 overall in the Big Ten – and is expected to be a Day 1 starter.
The Wolverines’ defense was already loaded, and now Hausmann figures to be a fixture on the unit for years to come.
Nick Jackson, LB, Iowa
Middle linebacker is arguably the most important piece in Iowa defensive coordinator Phil Parker’s historically dominant scheme.
After losing a first-round draft pick at the position in Jack Campbell, the Hawkeyes got one of the most productive ILBs in the country to fill that role.
Nick Jackson racked up 326 tackles in three seasons at Virginia, including at least 104 stops each year. The three-time All-ACC selection should feast in Parker’s linebacker-friendly system and will have a chance for All-Big Ten honors and more.
