Heinrich Haarberg finding new ways onto the field as Nebraska receiver group thins

The Swiss Army knife lined up offset from the tight end, turning and running parallel to the line of scrimmage after the ball was snapped on third-and-4.

Jeff Sims, the veteran who Heinrich Haarberg backs up, took the snap and faked the handoff to Rahmir Johnson.

The Minnesota linebacker responsible for the flat bit on the play action, leaving Haarberg, a scholarship quarterback who has yet to throw a pass in two years and a game at Nebraska, uncovered.

Sims’ toss was slightly behind Haarberg, who twisted his shoulders back toward the ball to reel it in. He crossed the line to gain before being tripped up and stumbling out of bounds. It was the Georgia Tech transfer Sims’ second completion as a Husker, and on the other end was another member of his position room.

Between Sims, former starter Casey Thompson and Chubba Purdy, Haarberg has disappeared into the shuffle of signal-callers since arriving at Nebraska in January 2021. Coach Matt Rhule has reiterated that Haarberg and Purdy are co-backups; who gets the nod if Sims goes down would be situational. With little clarity and an eligibility clock ticking, a new path onto the field as a pass-catcher has emerged for the redshirt sophomore from Kearney.

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“He’s super athletic, so we just need to get him out there on the field,” offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield said. “If he’s not playing quarterback, he doesn’t need to sit over there with us, waiting his turn, so he can help us in a bunch of different ways, and moving forward, we’ll continue to try to find ways to get him out on the field.”

Minnesota’s Justin Walley (left) tackles Nebraska’s Heinrich Haarberg last week at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

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The 10-yard reception was Haarberg’s only catch of the game. Nebraska had other looks for him schemed up that didn’t come to fruition.

The 6-foot-5 Haarberg has packed extra weight onto his frame, up to around 230 pounds from his listed 215. He was a dual-threat quarterback in high school at Kearney Catholic, rushing for 556 yards as a senior. As a sophomore, he qualified for the state track meet in four events: 100-meter dash, 200 dash, 400 relay and high jump.

As of the spring, however, there hadn’t been any conversations about moving Haarberg out from behind center. But he was open to it.

“If that’s something that we get to the season and that’s what’s best, I’m comfortable playing whatever,” he said in March. “I feel like I have the athleticism, the intelligence to play a variety of positions. Right now, I’m just gonna focus on quarterback development, and that’s what the coaches have asked me to do, so that’s where I’m at.”

The need for Haarberg in the passing game has only grown since his first action. Starting receiver Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda tore his ACL against Minnesota and will miss the rest of the year. A unit that was already thin with the departure of Trey Palmer to the NFL will now have to scrape the bottom of the barrel after the passing game as a whole got off to an ugly start.

Sims completed 11 of 19 attempts for 114 yards with a touchdown and three picks in Minnesota. No wideout had more than three catches.

Out of necessity, there will be differences in Week 2. The Huskers will try to involve transfer receiver Billy Kemp and tight end Thomas Fidone more after both were shut out in their first action. Further down the depth chart, freshmen Malachi Coleman and Jaylen Lloyd are both candidates to see increased playing time.

Somewhere in there will likely be more opportunities for Haarberg, a player the coaches see as too athletic and skilled to keep off the field.

“He’s the backup quarterback but he’s also a guy that’s going to help us play some other positions,” Rhule said. “He can catch it. He knows every position because he is the quarterback so hopefully he can help us all out as we move forward.”

Photos: Matt Rhule era with Nebraska football begins in Minnesota

Minnesota’s Dragan Kesich (99) kicks the field goal to win against Nebraska as teammate Mark Crawford celebrates while Nebraska’s Tommi Hill gets up from the field on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

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Nebraska’s Omar Brown (left) and Quinton Newsome (right) defend against Minnesota’s Brevyn Spann-Ford on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

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Nebraska’s DeShon Singleton (8) celebrates next to teammate Quinton Newsome after defending a Minnesota passing Thursday at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

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Nebraska’s Luke Reimer celebrates a play against Minnesota on Thursday at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

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Nebraska’s Billy Kemp escapes a tackle from Minnesota’s Coleman Bryson on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

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Nebraska’s Jeff Sims looks for room to run against Minnesota on Thursday at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

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Nebraska’s Nash Hutmacher sacks Minnesota’s Athan Kaliakmanis on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

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Nebraska offensive line players, including Korver Demma (54), Nouredin Nouili (63), Ben Scott (66), Ethan Piper (57) and Turner Corcoran take to the line of scrimmage as quarterback Jeff Sims gets ready for a play against Minnesota on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

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Nebraska’s Jaylen Lloyd fights for yardage against Minnesota’s Logan Richter (from left), Tre’Von Jones and Tyler Nubin on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

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Nebraska’s Marcus Washington (13) celebrates his yardage against Minnesota in the fourth quarter on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

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Nebraska’s Jeff Sims runs with the ball in the first quarter against Minnesota on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

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Nebraska’s Luke Reimer (bottom) takes down Minnesota’s Brevyn Spann-Ford in the first quarter on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

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Minnesota’s Aidan Gousby (left) and Justin Walley (right) try to recover Nebraska’s Anthony Grant’s fumble (bottom right) as Nebraska’s Ethan Piper looks on Thursday at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

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Nebraska’s Billy Kemp escapes a tackle from Minnesota’s Coleman Bryson on a punt return Thursday at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

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Nebraska’s Jeff Sims (left) is sacked by Minnesota’s Jalen Logan-Redding last week at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

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Nebraska’s Luke Reimer (4) walks off the field after the Huskers lost to Minnesota on Thursday at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

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Nebraska’s Jeff Sims looks to make a throw during the first quarter against Minnesota on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

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Nebraska’s Jeff Sims fakes a handoff during the first quarter against Minnesota on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

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Nebraska’s Jeff Sims gets ready for his first play from scrimmage as a Husker against Minnesota on Thursday at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

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Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule looks on during the game against Minnesota on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

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Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule speaks to a referee during the game against Minnesota on Thursday at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

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Nebraska’s Mikai Gbayor (42) celebrates with teammate Brian Buschini after he limited Minnesota to a short yardage after a kickoff return on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

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Nebraska’s Jeff Sims fights for yardage against Minnesota in the third quarter on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

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Nebraska’s Princewill Umanmielen pressures Minnesota’s Athan Kaliakmanis on Thursday at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

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Nebraska’s DeShon Singleton (left) and Quinton Newsome break up a pass intended for Minnesota’s Daniel Jackson in the third quarter Thursday at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

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Nebraska’s Jeff Sims throws a touchdown pass in the third quarter against Minnesota on Thursday at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

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Minnesota’s Dragan Kesich (99) kicks the field goal to win against Nebraska next to teammate Mark Crawford on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

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Nebraska’s Tristan Alvano kicks off the game against Minnesota on Thursday at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

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Nebraska’s Alex Bullock (right) celebrates his touchdown with teammate Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda in the third quarter on Thursday at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Bullock was Nebraska’s leading receiver with three catches for 56 yards.

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Nebraska’s Nash Hutmacher walks off the field after losing to Minnesota on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

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Minnesota’s Dragan Kesich (99) celebrates as his game-winning field goal through the uprights as time expires to give the Golden Gophers a 13-10 win over Nebraska on Thursday in Minneapolis. 

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Nebraska’s Anthony Grant fumbles as Minnesota’s Justin Walley hits the ball from behind in the fourth quarter of the Huskers’ loss Thursday at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

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Nebraska’s Jeff Sims (left) tries to fend off Minnesota’s Tariq Watson in the third quarter on Aug. 31 at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

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Nebraska’s Gabe Ervin can’t quite score in the second quarter as he is held back by Minnesota’s Jalen Logan-Redding on Thursday at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

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Nebraska’s Anthony Grant runs the ball in the second quarter against Minnesota on Aug. 31 at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

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Minnesota’s Justin Walley (left) tackles Nebraska’s Heinrich Haarberg last week at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

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Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule points to the team during the first quarter against Minnesota on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

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Minnesota’s Tre’Von Jones (2) intercepts Nebraska’s Jeff Sims in the second quarter Thursday at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

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Minnesota’s Tyler Nubin (left) celebrates his second-quarter interception against Nebraska with teammate Jack Henderson on Thursday at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

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Nebraska’s Jeff Sims throws an interception in the second quarter against Minnesota on Thursday at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

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Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule gives instruction to his team during the first quarter of the game against Minnesota on Thursday in Minneapolis.

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Nebraska players take the field to warm up against Minnesota on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

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Nebraska Athletic Director Trev Alberts walks onto the Huntington Bank Stadium field on Thursday in Minneapolis.

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Nebraska coach Matt Rhule (right) has a pregame conversation with Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck on Thursday at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

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