Dakiel Shorts likes what he has in Nebraska’s wide receiver room. He also knows exactly where the pressure points are.
With Nebraska set for its first - and possibly only - full scrimmage of fall camp Saturday morning, Shorts used Friday’s practice to push a few of his pass catchers, including a name Husker fans already know well: Jacory Barney Jr.
Barney’s value is obvious. He was one of 39 players named to the preseason Paul Hornung Award Watch List earlier this week, and his return-game explosiveness already makes him one of the most dangerous all-around weapons in the Big Ten.
But Shorts isn’t asking for more trickery or more versatility from him. He wants something simpler and harder: consistency as a receiver.
“I just want to see the guy be consistent,” said Shorts. “Jacory is a really good football player.
We all know what he can do in the return game and how he can change the game on punt returns. Now, it's time to take that, you know, electricness from the return game to the receiver position.”
Barney has had help in that push from UCLA transfer Kwazi Gilmer, who arrives in Lincoln with 81 catches, 880 yards and 6 touchdowns over the last two seasons. The two have been working together, each helping the other sharpen his game. Still, Shorts sees Gilmer as a player Nebraska is still shaping into the exact role it wants.
“Kwazi is a very unique player,” Shorts said. “He's got a lot of, you know, savvy and creativity to him.
Obviously, he was a two-year starter at UCLA. So, you know, as he continues to adjust here, it's just molding him into the vision that we want him to be, while allowing him to still be himself.”
Nebraska also gets back a familiar piece in fifth-year senior Janiran Bonner, who has long served as the offense’s do-everything option. Healthy again for his final season, Bonner gives Shorts a different kind of comfort because of how many jobs he can handle.
“He's basically his own position offensively,” Shorts said. “[Marcus Satterfield] does a great job with him in the tight end stuff.
[Dana Holgorsen] does a great job with him in the receiver stuff. When you get a guy like that back now, it definitely improves the offense from a physicality standpoint.
Having him out there, it's like a security blanket as a coach.”
"It's his first time playing football in a while, since the injury," Shorts continued. "But he's doing really well.
He's an extremely good blocker. With his size and his presence, he wants to thump you.
It's nice to have that out there."
Cortez Mills is another receiver Nebraska is expecting to keep growing. The true freshman played in all 13 games in 2025 and finished with nine catches for 147 yards and a touchdown, giving the Huskers useful depth as a rookie. Now Shorts wants the former four-star recruit to keep stacking steady progress.
“Just consistency from Cortez,” Shorts said when suggesting what he wants to see. “He's such a likable kid, and I really do think he likes football.
Just trying to get a step better every day. So, if he can continue to do that, I think he'll be just fine.”
Mills should remain in the rotation this fall, though a starting job would require another level of development.
Holgorsen’s background as a college wide receiver means the Nebraska offensive coordinator can be demanding with that position group, and Shorts has seen it up close. The message to the receivers, he said, is to absorb what Holgorsen is teaching and not get hung up on how it sounds.
“When he's on the field, he's very hard on those guys,” Shorts said. “I tell them, just take the message and not the tone.
He loves football. He likes having an explosive offense.
He likes having a good offense that can put up points. So, having the guys just buy into him and his coaching style, which they have been doing a great job of (is the biggest takeaway).”
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