Veteran Nebraska Cornhuskers wide receiver finally ready to show what he can do

Heading into the 2024 season, if there’s one group of Nebraska Cornhuskers that might have the most talent and the most question marks, it would be the wide receiver corps. There’s seemingly a ton of talent in the group, but there there are not many veteran presences. At least the veterans who have been in Lincoln for so long.

Wake Forest’s Jahmal Banks and Texas’ Isaiah Neyor certainly offer veteran voices when it comes to guys who have played in college football, but they haven’t been around for the Huskers that long.

The Nebraska Cornhuskers also returned Jaylen Lloyd, Malachi Coleman and Alex Bullock, while adding new faces like true freshmen Jacory Barney Jr., Quinn Clark, Keelan Smith, Dae’vonn Hall and Isaiah McMorris. So there’s talent, but very few seniors.

All of which leaves perhaps the biggest question of all. Can Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda provide both veteran presence and finally have the kind of season he’s long hoped for in Lincoln? He certainly hopes so.

“A new number is kind of like a new me in a positive way,” Garcia-Castaneda said recently. Steve Marik, rival of Rivals.

Knowing that injuries That’s part of the reason he needs a fresh start. Garcia-Castaneda is determined to attack his rehabilitation and strengthen his body during the offseason. He gained 10 pounds and now weighs 198 pounds.

“At first it was tough, really tough obviously, just with the way everything went with the injury,” he said. “But I went in with the mindset of trying to control what I could control, and in January when we started winter workouts, I wanted to focus and start making progress for myself individually and come back a completely different receiver, stronger, bigger, more physical.”

He also formed deep ties with the Nebraska Cornhuskers. wide receivers coach at Garrett McGuireThis might help him too.

“He’s one of the smartest coaches I’ve ever been around,” Garcia-Castaneda said. “He’s a true players’ coach and I’ve learned to work with him. He has a great work ethic and he’s taught me a lot and he brings us a tenacity and an extra level of work ethic.”