While the Nebraska football team continues its youth movement, it announced that several upper classmen who joined the program as walkons are going to be full scholarship players. The announcement certainly brings a smile to every Husker fans' face as the regular season is now just a week away. If there was one player who didn't receive a scholarship yet that might be a bit of a surprise it would have to be a walkon running back who has been competing for a starting job.
Jaylin Bradley was not in the group of six players that received their scholarships on Thursday night.
The running back out of Bellevue, Nebraska is a true freshman who has been raising the eyebrows of several coaches throughout fall camp. There has even been some talk that he might be able to avoid a redshirt season, if he continues to practice the way he has so far. Despite talk of getting some serious playing time, he's going to remain someone who is paying his own way at this point.
Nebraska football team rewarding veterans first and foremost
The Land of 10 has the list of six players who were officially given scholarships and it's obvious that Mike Riley and his staff are making sure to reward those who have dedicated a few years to the program. Junior offensive lineman Cole Conrad, senior fullback Luke McNitt, senior receiver Gabe Rahn, junior receiver Brett Classen, and senior tight ends Tyler Hoppes and Connor Ketter are all officially scholarship athletes for the Cornhuskers.
That list is very obviously devoid of any freshman or sophomores. It would seem as though Bradley is going to have to show that he can put in the work that goes along with getting a scholarship before he gets one. This isn't the wrong approach, though his competing for the running back spot does make it a bit surprising that he'll spend the season as a walkon.
Injury bug continues biting Nebraska football team
Bradley's position has been relatively healthy, with everyone on the running back depth chart managing to practice basically the entire fall camp. The same can't be said for the wide receiver position. The position has been extremely banged up and while most injuries have been relatively minor, it appears as though junior receiver Keyan Williams could miss some time.
After Thursday's Nebraska football practice, Riley admitted Williams had suffered a strained hamstring. At the moment, there isn't a timetable for his return. That kind of an injury likely means he'll miss the season opener against Arkansas State.