As Husker Veterans Celebrate Bowl Win, Emerging Youth Movement Provides Hope for the Future

T.J. Birkel

Nebraska beat Boston College 20-15 in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, finishing 7-6 in Matt Rhule’s second year leading the program. It was the Huskers’ first winning season since 2016 and first bowl win since 2015. While Nebraska fans will undoubtedly be hungry for more in 2025 and beyond, it was a satisfying breakthrough for a program that has struggled for far longer than the Husker faithful would care to remember. 

We cover all the high points in the topline takeaways. 

CHEERS TO THAT

Hats Off to the Old Guys. Is there a better story coming out of the bowl game than running back Rahmir Johnson? The Harlem native playing 15 minutes from his home rushed for 60 yards and a touchdown, and had the game-clinching run on 4th down to seal the victory for Nebraska late in the game. Coach Rhule shared after the game that Rahmir’s mother passed away in November, but he refused to tell his teammates because he didn’t want to be a distraction. You have to be happy for the 6th year senior who has battled injuries and faced so many challenges to go out on such a high note. 

Several other veteran Huskers left their mark on Saturday. Ty Robinson and Nash Hutmacher had their way with Boston College’s offensive line. With the NFL likely calling for both of them, they didn’t have to play in the bowl game at all, but it was important for them to play one final game in a Nebraska uniform. John Bullock, Isaac Gifford, Javin Wright, Bryce Benhart, Jahmal Banks, and multiple other seniors made impact plays during the game. 

These guys deserved this moment. They earned this moment. Especially for the seniors who have been at Nebraska their entire careers, it’s likely been more of a roller coaster ride than they ever could have expected. The Huskers were one win away from bowl eligibility in 2019, turned down an opportunity for a bowl game in the Covid-shortened 2020 season, saw Scott Frost get fired three games into the 2022 season, and were once again one win away from bowl eligibility in 2023. They finally got their bowl game, and they made it count. 

Emerging Youth Movement. As we’re tipping our cap to Nebraska’s seniors, it was impossible to miss that the core of Nebraska’s 2025 team will be made up of a group of young, talented playmakers on both sides of the ball. The offense is of course led by Dylan Raiola, who had a stellar true freshman season and figures to take a leap next year under offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen’s tutelage. Jacorey Barney, another true freshman, has been making electric plays all season long. Offensive tackle Gunnar Gottula was forced into a starting role after multiple injuries and has more than held his own. Heck, even Emmett Johnson–who feels like a veteran after making a massive impact in the second half of this season–is only a sophomore. 

On the defensive side of the ball, nine players who are sophomores, redshirt freshmen, or true freshmen saw action on Saturday. Linebacker Vincent Shavers looked like a missile out there, finishing with six tackles including one sack and two tackles for loss. Look for him to not only start but to be a leader on the defense next season. Willis McGahee IV also had a major impact at the linebacker spot, finishing with four tackles and seemingly being all over the field. Freshman Donovan Jones stood out in the secondary, with fellow freshman Caleb Benning and Amare Sanders also seeing time. On the defensive line, Cam Lenhardt, Keona Davis, Riley Van Poppel, and Jordan Ochoa all saw meaningful snaps. 

In addition to the valuable game experience…

CONTINUE READING FOR FREE ON SI.COM

Make sure to check out our website, www.commonfan.co. We went to TS Web Services to build the site for us. Their team of experts is dedicated to providing top-notch solutions tailored to your needs. Whether you need web development or hosting, they’ve got you covered. You can trust TS Web Services to take your online presence to the next level. We had a great experience working with their team, they were very responsive and delivered high quality work. TS Web Services can help improve, redesign, or host your website. Check out their website for more information today!