Steve Marik • InsideNebraska
Staff Writer
@Steve_Marik
The annual Red-White scrimmage meant the end of spring ball for the
Nebraska football program, but also the beginning of needed roster reconstruction.
The Huskers ended the spring game with an unofficial count of 98 scholarship players — well over that 85-man limit teams need to reach by the start of the 2023 campaign. With no Huskers entering the transfer portal on Sunday or Monday as head coach
Matt Rhule and his staff used those days to talk with each player on the roster for exit meetings, Tuesday brought change.
First, quarterback
Richard Torres announced he would be entering the transfer portal. Another quarterback,
Logan Smothers, followed, as did receiver
Victor Jones Jr. Currently, the Huskers are unofficially at
95 scholarship players.
Here are quick thoughts on each Husker who entered their name in the transfer portal Tuesday:
Richard Torres. (Zack Carpenter/Inside Nebraska)
Richard Torres
Six scholarship quarterbacks was too many to carry into the fall, so there was bound to be attrition at the position. Torres’ departure isn’t shocking, as he was one of the quarterbacks on the outside looking in when you’re talking about playing time in the present and future.
It’s hard for young Power Five quarterbacks these days. Really, the only way to improve as is with live-bullet game reps. But coaching staffs are more likely to snag an older, more experienced quarterback in the transfer portal than go with a young buck with no experience — and Torres is the definition of a young buck with no experience. The former three-star recruit in the 2022 class came to Nebraska in the middle of recovering from an ACL injury he suffered as a senior in high school. So he's always been behind the eight-ball.
Torres’ departure isn’t a big loss for Nebraska, but this creates a new opportunity for the big-armed Texan. Some program looking to add a quarterback will take a chance on Torres. It’s hard not to be intrigued by the big arm and measurables — the San Antonio native stands 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds.
A few guesses as to where Torres could land:
>> The University of Texas-San Antonio is a good program and in Torres’ backyard. The Roadrunners will be preparing for life after quarterback Frank Harris, who’s started the past four seasons and is coming back for 2023, which will be his seventh season of college ball. There will be a competition when Harris leaves.
>> Incarnate Word, an FCS program located in San Antonio, has gone 22-5 the past two seasons and has been sort of a stepping stone to better jobs for its coaches and quarterbacks.
Eric Morris was the head coach from 2018-21, then left for the OC job at Washington State in 2022. His quarterback at Incarnate Word in 2021, Cameron Ward, followed Morris to Pullman and started for the Cougars in 2022. Morris spent just one season at Wazzu as he was hired to be the head coach of North Texas in December.
GJ Kinne then coached Incarnate Word in 2022 and went 12-2. He was hired to be Texas State’s head coach in December and was rumored for the Tulsa job.
Incarnate Word is becoming a nice destination for up-and-coming coaches and quarterbacks. Maybe Torres fits the mold?
>> Texas Tech was once interested in Torres. Specifically, then-offensive coordinator Sonny Cumbie. Cumbie, a former record-setting quarterback for the Red Raiders, is now the head coach of Louisiana Tech. Maybe Cumbie still sees something he likes in Torres. Cumbie and his Bulldogs — who have former Husker DeColdest Crawford on the roster — will be in Lincoln Sept. 23.
>> Torres officially visited Kansas State before committing to Nebraska. Maybe the Wildcats’ OC, Collin Klein, would be interested once again.
Victor Jones Jr. (Greg Smith Rivals)
Victor Jones Jr.
Like Torres, Jones’ departure isn’t a surprise.
The former three-star recruit in the 2022 class didn’t appear in a game in his first season as a Husker. And while Nebraska’s receivers room could be considered wide-open because there’s not a clear game-changer or go-to guy at this moment — maybe
Marcus Washington or
Billy Kemp can become that — Jones likely wasn’t going to be involved.
The Florida native’s name never came up in discussions with receivers coach
Garret McGuire or other coaches. He clearly had a long way to go if he was going to bully his way into the rotation in the fall.
It’s not out of the question that a few summer-enrolling Class of 2023 wideouts might have overtaken him in the fall, like
Malachi Coleman,
Jaidyn Doss or
Demetrius Bell.
Logan Smothers. (USA Today Sports Images)
Logan Smothers
Smothers was in a tough spot this spring. Due to his rehab following shoulder surgery after the 2022 season, he was unable to compete during spring ball. It’s hard to battle for a starting spot when you can’t throw in front of your new coaching staff.
On the surface, Smothers fits the mold of the athletic quarterback Rhule and OC
Marcus Satterfield seem to prefer. But Smothers’ college eligibility clock is ticking. He’s entering his fourth season of college football and has yet to have a real role with an offense.
In three seasons as a Husker, Smothers played in 11 games, throwing for 413 yards and one interception while completing 63 percent (33-of-52) of his career passes. Smothers is an excellent running threat — he picked up 161 yards and two scores on the ground.
In his lone start of his career, in the 2021 season finale against Cockeye, Smothers went 16-of-22 passing for 198 yards while rushing for 64 yards and two touchdowns. Another program will look at that start and see potential to work with.
One thing to keep in mind about Smothers — the door might not be completely shut for him to return. According to our own Greg Smith, Smothers is entering the portal as a graduate and has made a very good impression on Rhule and Satterfield, who both see him as a great teammate and an asset to have on the team.