Nebraska Football loses three of its top four passers from the 2022 season, school record holder Trey Palmer, along with tight end Travis Vokolek and receiver Oliver Martin. The Huskers just added talent that can help replace those departures: Virginia WR transfer Billy Kemp IV has signed for Nebraska.
During a recent press conference, Husker’s new offensive coordinator Markus Satterfield said the team needed more depth in the receiver position and would look to the transfer portal for immediate help.
“We’ve got some good receivers, I just think we need to build some depth in there and the different types of receivers,” Satterfield said. “You don’t want them all to look the same, you need different guys and body types and stuff.”
Satterfield found what he was looking for in Kemp, the announced his decision at halftime Monday night’s CFP national championship game.
Kemp, a prolific and veteran receiver who has spent the last five seasons at the ACC in Virginia, is a graduating transfer for the Huskers. Kemp, a 5-foot-9, 172-pounder, becomes the eighth signing Nebraska has made this offseason. He is the second transferee to join Josh Fleeks by Baylor.
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Kemp has recorded 192 catches over his five seasons, which ranks fourth all-time for the Cavaliers. Those receptions have totaled 1,774 yards and eight touchdowns, and that yardage mark ranks 10th in school history. Kemp was also Virginia’s top punt returner — he led the team in punt returns and punt return yards for four straight seasons from 2019-22 and has a career total of 2,337 all-purpose yards.
Kemp played in seven of Virginia’s ten games in 2022, catching 74 passes for 725 yards and six touchdowns. The Cavaliers’ final two games of the regular season have been canceled after three players – D’Sean Perry, Lavel Davis Jr. and Devin Chandler – were killed in a shootout.
Kemp declared for the NFL draft in December, but entered the portal after the NCAA granted the Virginia seniors an extra year of eligibility following the tragedy.
Kemp walks into a reception room in Nebraska in dire need of his playmaking skills and his sixth-year player experience. The Huskers are only bringing back two receivers that helped last season Mark Washington (31 catches for 471 yards and a touchdown) and Alante Braun (16, 191). The addition of fleeks will also add depth.
The Huskers return a group of inexperienced receivers, including Tommy Hügel, Janiran Bonner, Shawn Hardy II and Victor Jones Jr.
Brody belt and Wyatt Liewertwo receivers with playing experience, are listed on Nebraska’s online list.
The 2023 class included three receiver commits in Malachi Coleman, Jaidyn Doss and Brice Turner, and one athlete who could start his career at the position in Jaylen Lloyd.