Matt Rhule in awe of Jaylen Lloyd’s growth in Nebraska’s offense
Nebraska wide receiver Jaylen Lloyd catches a 64-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter of the Red and White Game Saturday April 27, 2024 at Memorial Stadium. (Lynn Harrington/stayaliveinpower5)
LINCOLN, Neb. — It’s no mystery that the Huskers haven’t had a wideout that can take the top off a defense since Trey Palmer.
However, Jaylen Lloyd caught Coach Matt Rhule’s attention during his performance in Nebraska’s Red and White Game Saturday. The Omaha native displayed blazing speed, soft hands and stretched the field on the vaunted Blackshirts.
Lloyd even sent the Sea of Red into a frenzy in the second quarter after he caught a 64-yard touchdown pass from Dylan Raiola. His crisp routes, and yards after the catch opened up the Huskers’ aerial attack. Once the smoke cleared, Lloyd finished with three receptions for a game-high, 97 yards. There’s no denying that Nebraska has a star on the rise, but none of Lloyd’s success comes as a surprise to Rhule.
After all, Rhule admires Lloyd’s work ethic over the spring, how he’s learning Marcus Satterfield’s playbook and the way he’s soaking up football knowledge from Wide Receivers Coach Garret McGuire.
“I think the thing with Jaylen is his ball skills just continues to improve,” Rhule said. “From the first scrimmage to this scrimmage, the ball skills, and catching the football has just improved, and it’s really a credit to Marcus and Garret, they introduced drills that I’ve always been against.”
Lloyd showed flashes of being a deep threat as a true freshman last season too. He caught a 73-yard touchdown in the victory over Purdue. Not to mention Lloyd hauled in a 58-yard touchdown reception at Wisconsin. The former three-star prospect also left a lasting impression, when he posted a 73-yard touchdown catch against Iowa.
Lloyd elevated his play down the stretch, with three touchdown catches in the final five games. In Rhule’s eyes, Lloyd pretty much picked up where he left off, and he’s high on the wideout’s potential. Nebraska’s second-year coach understands that you can’t coach speed, and Lloyd was a National Champion in track and field in high school. Which is why Rhule is eager to unleash Lloyd on opposing Big Ten defenses this fall.
“It’s one thing when guys have great speed, but when you’re like a triple jumper, long jumper, he (Lloyd) has such athleticism and mobility,” he said. “So he can track balls.”
A strong passing attack was missing in 2023. The Huskers threw 16 total interceptions, which was one of the worst in the FBS. The spring game was proof that Nebraska has improved in that department. Raiola looked sharp at quarterback, as well as Heinrich Haarberg. Rhule believes Lloyd gives the offense options with his versatility, and that he’s due for a breakout campaign.
The promising performance by the 5-foot-10, 160-pounder is just the crack of the surface. Lloyd will be able to open up the play-action pass, and may often require two defenders because of his speed.
Bottom line, Rhule is confident in Lloyd’s abilities. After a strong spring, he feels the best is yet to come for the young receiver. Now it’s time to let Lloyd spread his wings in the offense.
“Jaylen been one of the most improved players on the team, his becoming of a receiver is growing exponentially.”
