It’s no secret that Nebraska football was the beneficiary of the transfer portal in the offseason. They got two key additions in running back Markese Stepp and wide receiver Samori Toure. Both figure to be a huge part of the equation for Nebraska football offensively this fall. They are quality players, and it appears that some of the national recruiting services think so as well.
247Sports put together a list of their top 100 transfers heading into this season. For starters, let me just say that this list is extremely exclusive. Over 2,000 players have entered the transfer portal. The fact that Nebraska football has two of those players on this list is encouraging.
Stepp was No. 41 on this list while Toure was No. 95. As long as the running back can heal from the foot injuries he has been dealing with this spring, he can certainly climb his way up the list. In my opinion, I think Toure should have been a little bit higher, but I am satisfied with the fact he is on the list.
Stepp should help stabilize the running back room, and adds a veteran presence that Nebraska football did not have at the position last year. His running style and explosiveness should fit well within the offense, and gives Nebraska another added weapon. The running backs that Nebraska football currently has are talented, but they are young, and do not have a lot of experience. The experience that he brings to the table is going to be crucial for this offense. In a conference as wide-open as the Big Ten, experience at multiple positions is going to be key for Nebraska.
Toure should help Nebraska with the downfield passing game, and give them that downfield threat that they were missing last season. He has great hands, and runs his routes well. He also adds experience to the room. Nebraska football has a lot of young talent at wide receiver, but they do not necessarily have experience. He can help provide that. In that way, the wide receiver room is extremely similar to the running back room.
In any event, these two should be able to play big roles for Nebraska during their time here. They have skill sets and ability that Nebraska football will certainly be able to use. I’ll be interested to see what their role is for Nebraska, and how they fit into the offense. We know that the Huskers want a more wide-open offense, and now it is just about executing it.
