After listening to Dana Holgorsen last week, one of the biggest questions concerning Nebraska’s tight end room is how they’ll be used. Nebraska has never used tight ends, say like Iowa does, and Holgorsen hasn’t exactly made tight ends a focal point in his offenses. With Holgorsen’s “Air Raid” concepts and comments about four wide receiver sets we may see times when there aren’t any tight ends on the field. But Holgorsen knows the tight ends can play a big role in his offense with a scrambling Colandrea. It’s why he’s pushed the room to get better.

“I was pretty disappointed with them in June and July and they’ve been challenged. We’re doing some different personnel groupings that’s taken them off the field and they’re not happy about it,” Holgorsen said.

Holgorsen didn’t go into detail as to what it was, he was disappointed in, whether it was the amount of work they put in on the field or in studying the play sheet. Whatever it was, he didn’t like the effort. However, he did recognize Eric Ingwerson and Carter Nelson as two guys on the move when discussing the room. With Ingwerson in his second year and Nelson in his third, Holgorsen likened tight ends to offensive linemen who take time to come into their own.

“We all want the first- and second-year guy to be great. But tight end and O-line are different positions, and it takes time for those guys to get to the point where they can be successful in the league,” Holgorsen said.

Holgersen is looking for growth and consistency from the room, and it appears he is doing that with accountability. It’s one of the things I admire about Holgorsen. He doesn’t hold back. He tells it like it is and players always know where they stand with him. If you’re butthurt. Too bad, get better.

The leader of this room is Luke Lindenmeyer. It all starts with him. He’s the veteran of the room and Holgorsen likes him and his work ethic. He’ll look for Lindenmeyer to set an example and get his teammates right.

Luke Lindenmeyer –6’3”, 255-pounds

Experience: Senior (39 games, 20 starts)

Outlook: It was Lindmeyer’s blocking ability that got him on the field as a true freshman. Case in point, he saw action in 13 games with five starts before having a reception. Last season he finally came on as a receiving threat with 29 receptions for 312 yards and 2 TDs. He walked on at Nebraska as one of the state’s top two tight ends in 2021. At Papillion-La Vista he had 64 receptions for 868 yards and 9 touchdowns over two seasons. His adaptability as both a blocker and a receiver allows him to stay on the field in any situation. Underutilized in Nebraska’s offense, Holgorsen will look to use Lindenmeyer in multiple sets and formations this season.

Luke Sorensen –6’3”, 255-pounds

Experience: Freshman (0 games, 0 starts)

Outlook: While Sorensen was only a 3-Star recruit coming out of high school he was ranked among the nation’s top 25 tight ends by both ESPN and 247Sports. Said to be one of the strongest tight ends on the roster, he understands pad level and his experience as a wrestler gives him exceptional knowledge with leverage and hand usage. The fact he has 11-inch hands also doesn’t hurt either. He’s a smooth runner and displays quickness with a 4.7 40-yard dash. Sorensen’s strength, size, speed, blocking and receiving ability make him a every down tight end. He is expected to see immediate playing time and may find himself number two on the depth chart. So much for the O-line learning curve.

“If you watch him run, with his power, I don’t know how we can keep him off the field, honestly,” Holgorsen said this spring.

Carter Nelson –6’5”, 250-pounds

Experience: Junior (26 games, 0 starts)

Outlook: Even though Nelson played eight-man football he was a highly sought after recruit, garnering attention from schools like Notre Dame and Alabama. He was ranked the number one player in Nebraska by all major recruiting outlets in 2023 and was ranked No.2 among tight ends nationally. Penciled in as a tight end when recruited Nelson started his Nebraska career as a wide out. This was mostly due to his weight and lack of experience blocking. As a freshman he had 10 receptions for 86 yards and 1 TD. His sophomore season saw him take a step back with only 2 receptions for 11 yards. He did, however, have an impact on special teams. Nelson has also been set back with injuries requiring two surgeries in as many years. One on his shoulder and another on his hip. Now healthy, OC Dana Holgorsen has been using him more as a tight end/wide out hybrid, similar to what he has done with Janiran Bonner. With Nelson’s elite athleticism and versatility, he could finally be a factor.

Eric Ingwerson –6’7”, 265-pounds

Experience: Sophomore (9 games, 0 starts)

Outlook: Ingwerson has yet to make a catch as a Husker. As the biggest of the tight ends, he was recruited due to his size and ability to block. In high school he was part of a run first offense but had 7 touchdown receptions and averaged 17.5 yards per reception as a junior. He has shown elite blocking skills and has continued to grow as a receiver. Considered one of the best blockers among the tight ends, look for Ingwersen to be on the field when Nebraska goes to a double tight line-up.

Cayden Echternach –6’4”, 260-pounds

Experience: Junior (12 games, 0 starts)

Outlook: Not overly productive as a receiver at Bellevue West high school, Echternach had 27 receptions for over 420 yards and 2 touchdowns. He too has earned his spot on the team as a blocker and played a role last season in Nebraska having the leading rusher in the Big Ten. Echternach has shown to be disciplined and resilient with good work ethic and leadership skills. He will once again play a large role as a blocker in the upcoming season. As far as receptions are concerned, opportunities could be limited.

Danny King –6’4”, 250-pounds

Experience: Sophomore (2 games, 0 starts)

Outlook: A standout tight end at Jefferson High School in Minnesota, King had 34 receptions for 481 yards and 5 touchdowns in 2023. He also played defense and was a multi-sport athlete playing baseball as well. He is seen as someone who has the skills needed to contribute in multiple ways. He has displayed a high football I.Q. and the potential for growth.

Like many of Nebraska’s position rooms, this group has a limited number of starts. Even though five of the six have seen action in games, only Luke Lindenmyer has started for the Huskers, making this room inexperienced when Lindenmeyer isn’t on the field. That’s why Carter Nelson needs to take his game to the next level and we’ll probably see Luke Sorensen in action often and early.

I haven’t talked about Janiran Bonner as he’s currently a wide out on the roster. But as we know he’s played tight end, and he can line up all over the field. Holgorsen loves Bonner and what he brings to his offense.

“But then I can kind of motion him around and he’ll get in there and start thumping D-ends and linebackers. So, he’s a receiving/tight end. That’s what he’s done since he’s been here and he’s very, very effective,” Holgorsen said.

If Holgorsen doesn’t see the production he wants, fans may see Bonner lining up at the tight end spot. Maybe that was the problem In June and July, he wasn’t seeing the Bonner type play he’s asking for.

With a couple of running backs being good receivers and a talented wide receiver room jockeying for playing time, QB Anthony Colandrea will have a lot of mouths to feed. If Colandrea scrambles as expected, the tight ends will need to find open holes in the defense or beat linebackers one-on-one. If they don’t, they won’t see many balls coming their way.

Overall, I like this room, and I am looking for Lindenmeyer, Nelson and even Sorensen to make some big plays this season. As for Ingwerson, Echternach, and King, they’ll see their share of action, but it’ll probably be in the running game.

GO BIG RED!! SIMPLE, FAST, VIOLENT!!

Photos courtesy of the Falls City Journal Home – Falls City Journal – Falls City, NE

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