Nebraska’s receiver room has a different kind of look heading into 2026, and the coaches aren’t hiding the optimism.
The Huskers lost two major pass-catching pieces after the 2025 season in Emmett Johnson and Dane Key, but the group behind them brings size, variety and experience that could give the offense a real boost. Wide receivers coach Daikiel Shorts sees a room with distinct traits all over the board.
“Quinn’s a big body, Nyziah’s strong, Kwazi’s got some creativity, so does Cortez, Jacory’s got his speed and Keelan’s coming along,” Shorts said.
One of the biggest reasons for that confidence is the return of Janiran Bonner. The senior receiver missed last season after tearing his ACL in Week 1 against Cincinnati, a brutal setback after he posted 11 catches for 67 yards and a touchdown in 2024 and established himself as a key blocker. At 6-foot-2 and 225 pounds, Bonner gives Nebraska something a little different.
“He’s basically his own position offensively,” Shorts said of Bonner. “When you get a guy like that back, it definitely improves the offense from a physicality standpoint.”
Bonner’s value has long gone beyond the box score, especially in the run game, but Shorts thinks he can do more than just muscle defenders around.
“Having him out there is like a security blanket as a coach,” Shorts said. “He’s a guy that's always going to give relentless effort…he’s going to strain to make the play whether that’s in the run game or in the pass game.”
Another name drawing attention is Quinn Clark. The 6-foot-5 sophomore didn’t make a huge statistical splash in 2025, finishing with five catches for 132 yards and a touchdown, but Nebraska expects a bigger role now. His size alone makes him a different kind of target, and it gives senior transfer quarterback Anthony Colandrea a weapon on contested throws.
Clark is the second tallest receiver in the room and stands taller than starting senior tight end Luke Lindenmeyer, who is listed at 6-foot-3. That frame makes him a natural option for 50/50 balls, and the coaching staff believes he’s ready for more work even with veterans like juniors Jacory Barney Jr., Nyziah Hunter and UCLA transfer Kwazi Gilmer in the mix.
“He’s made as many plays as anybody,” offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen said of Clark. “He deserves to be on that field a lot.”
Clark said he’s been taking reps with both the first and second teams during camp, and that most of his work has come against starting senior cornerback Andrew Marshall and junior Jeremiah Charles.
Even with Barney, Gilmer and Hunter expected to draw plenty of targets early, Clark is the kind of player Nebraska wants involved.
Colandrea’s arrival adds another wrinkle to the passing game. The UNLV transfer gives Nebraska something it didn’t have with Dylan Raiola: the ability to extend plays. Shorts said that changes how receivers have to work once the original route breaks down.
"‘If I run my route, and if I don’t get the ball, then I need to run another route,’” Shorts said. “You’re running two routes in one play… So just continue to keep the play on the move, that’s where you get a lot of the explosive and big plays.”
Colandrea can stretch plays to as long as 10 seconds, which is nearly five seconds longer than the average play. Holgorsen said that kind of improvisation helps the whole offense breathe.
"Anthony does a great job at keeping plays alive,” Holgorsen said. “This makes my life a lot easier not having to call perfect plays.”
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