After suffering an overtime defeat against Illinois last week, Matt Rhule’s Cornhuskers responded with an 28-10 victory against Purdue Saturday. Which Cornhuskers were instrumental to the program’s win in West Lafayette? Let’s break it down.
Dylan Raiola
In his first road game at Nebraska, the former five-star prospect was unfazed by Ross-Ade Stadium. Raiola was also unimpressed with the Purdue defense. In the first half, he showcased his arm talent in a variety of ways against Purdue. Specifically, he was able to connect with sophomore wide receiver Jaylen Lloyd on deep passes. Junior tight end Thomas Fidone was another bright spot. But he had the most help from Purdue junior cornerback Nyland Green. The Georgia transfer committed six pass interference calls covering Isaiah Neyor. But it was to no avail. The Cornhuskers didn’t capitalize. Instead, backup placekicker John Hohl missed three field goal attempts in the first half which kept the game scoreless. But the drought didn’t last long. In the third quarter, Raiola drove the Cornhuskers offense down the field in order to hit wideout Jahmal Banks on a 3-yard score. There’s no doubt that his efficiency will be on display against Rutgers. But can he make the plays that will give NU an advantage over the Scarlet Knights? RU will be another team that is similar to Illinois. Does he take this in stride or will he falter once again?
Jacory Barney Jr
The true freshman from Florida wasn’t a main facet of Nebraska’s offense before Purdue. Instead, he showed up when it counted. This was mostly done through the sweep game. Against Northern Iowa, he caught three passes for 29 yards and had a touchdown. It became more challenging for him to make a large impact against Illinois. But his presence was felt. In the Huskers home loss, he had four catches for 25 yards. Offensive coordinator Glenn Thomas rewarded his efforts with playing time in Nebraska’s win against Purdue. From there, he made a significant impact. Throughout the first half, he confused the Boilermakers’ defense throughout the first half. This led to him averaging 14 yards per catch. And in the third quarter, he was able to boost this number significantly. Late in the fourth quarter, Raiola pitched the ball to the 170-pounder. An Alex Bullock block sprung him free into the endzone for a 25-yard touchdown. Will Barney continue to show off his elite talent against Rutgers? It’s something that we’ll have to watch for. After his production this week against Purdue, Scarlet Knights defensive coordinator Joe Harasymiak will have a game plan dedicated to stopping him.
Nebraska scores 14 points in less than a minute! 🔥 @HuskerFootball pic.twitter.com/hxaOfLV2Nk
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) September 28, 2024
John Bullock
The sixth-year senior from Omaha has been one of the strong points of Nebraska’s defense. In five games, the linebacker leads the team with 29 tackles and three pass breakups. He’s also been aggressive near the football. Against Illinois, he recorded a two-yard sack and had a forced fumble. He would generate a similar impact in Nebraska’s win against Purdue. In the second half, the 230-pounder returned one of Hudson Card’s throws for a touchdown. This pick-six would end up as the first of his college career. Will he make a similar play on one of Athan Kaliakmanis’s throws? Or will defensive coordinator Tony White deploy Bullock closer to the line of scrimmage?
Ty Robinson
The senior defensive lineman has been the heart and soul of the Cornhuskers defense. His Big Ten Media Days appearance proved that he was in control of the Blackshirts. And before the season started, the Arizona native earned a single digit from head coach Matt Rhule. So far, he’s earned the praise he’s been given. Under defensive line coach Terrance Knighton, he’s been able to tie the team lead for sacks and is second in pass breakups. His momentum continued in Nebraska’s win against Purdue. He was able to notch a tackle in Ross-Ade Stadium. And he had a second-quarter sack against Card. This allowed other defenders to get in on the action. Redshirt sophomore James Williams had two sacks, while MJ Sherman had a half sack. Will Robinson and the rest of the Cornhuskers get pressure on Kaliakmanis? Or will this be another home outing in which they struggle to get to the quarterback? It’s something to watch. The Blackshirts didn’t get home against Illinois, and they may struggle against another undefeated team again in Rutgers.
Read more about Robinson’s dominant 2024 opener in Which Nebraska Players Stood Out Against UTEP?
