When talking about former Nebraska Football players that might shine in the NFL in 2018, the list is rather short. One former Husker who wants to start getting on more watch lists is a wide receiver who hasn't set foot in an NFL game since 2016. Quincy Enunwa had a breakout 2016 season, thanks to injuries to teammates that were supposed to be the go-to receivers on the Jets.
He entered 2017 hoping he could double down on that success. Then a neck injury ended his season before it even got started. This summer, Enunwa was expecting to be fully healthy and competing for a starting job.
It turns out a thumb injury has kept him sidelined. On Saturday (August 18), the receiver finally took some steps to really start competing for a job for the first time in 2018.
Enunwa gets back on the practice field
After missing the Jets' second preseason game on Thursday (August 16), it looks as though Enunwa is finally getting toward being healthy. It was reported that he finally found the field for the first time since he injured his thumb. That could be big if he can continue to rehab and get healthy before the preseason is over.
Quincy Enunwa is now in team drills for the first time since his thumb injury. https://t.co/JMMxzB5vYm
— Ralph Vacchiano (@RVacchianoSNY) August 18, 2018
Enunwa has to feel as though he's a bit snakebit at this point.
He had a year where he looked like he was going to be a big-time receiver in the NFL. Then he's done nothing but sit on the sidelines since the breakout year. Now that he's actually running routes and catching passes in practice, he can really start the long road back to trying to become a starter in the NFL.
The good news is that the Jets are going to be in a bit of a transition year.
He's not at the top of the depth chart yet, but the former Nebraska football star has the experience and the skill to get there at some point.
Nebraska football receivers don't have long NFL history
Quincy Enunwa stands out among former Huskers, precisely because the wide receiver position is not one that usually translates from Lincoln to the NFL.
Former New England Patriots' receiver Irving Fryar is one name that Cornhusker fans are certainly familiar with. The list beyond Fryar is pretty short.
The reason for that has been rather obvious over the years. The Huskers, which have scheduled a September visit with Javin Wright, haven't been a passing team for all that long when you talk about the history of Nebraska football. Players like Kenny Bell and Jordan Westerkamp have given it a go, but they so far, haven't been able to make it stick. That's just one of the reasons why Husker fans are likely rooting pretty hard for Quincy Enunwa to get healthy and get on the field for the New York Jets. It's also worth noting that Nebraska will miss out on receiver recruit Rashee Rice.