Nebraska football is losing three of its top four pass catchers for the 2022 season in school record Trey Palmer with tight end Travis Vokolek and wide receiver Oliver Martin. The Huskers have just added a talent that can help replace those departures: the transfer of Virginia WR Billy Kemp IV enlisted in Nebraska.
At a recent press conference, new offensive coordinator Husker Marcus Satterfield said the team needed more depth at the receiver position and would seek immediate help in the transfer portal.
“We have good receivers, I just think we need to build depth there and the different types of receivers,” Satterfield said. “You don’t want them all to look the same, you need different types and body types and stuff.”
Satterfield found what he was looking for in Kemp, who announcement his decision Monday night at halftime of the CFP national championship game.
Kemp, a productive and veteran receiver who spent the past five seasons in the ACC at Virginia, is a graduate transfer for the Huskers. Kemp, a 5-foot-9, 172-pounder, becomes the eighth overall transfer addition Nebraska has made this offseason. He is the second transfer receiver, joining Josh Fleeks from Baylor.
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Kemp had 192 catches in his five seasons, which ranks fourth all-time for the Cavaliers. Those receptions totaled 1,774 yards and eight touchdowns, and that receiving yardage mark ranks 10th in school history. Kemp was also Virginia’s leading punt returner — he led the team in punt returns and punt return distance for four consecutive seasons from 2019-22 and totaled 2,337 career all-purpose yards.
Kemp has played in seven of Virginia’s 10 games in 2022, catching 74 passes for 725 yards and six touchdowns. The Cavaliers’ final two games of the regular season were 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 Virginia seniors an additional year of eligibility following the tragedy.
Kemp enters a Nebraska receiver room that badly needs his playing ability and experience as a sixth-year player. Huskers only fire two receivers who contributed last season to marcus washington (31 catches for 471 yards and a touchdown) and Alante Brown (16, 191). Adding Fleeks will also help with depth.
The Huskers fire a group of inexperienced receivers, including Tommi Hill, Janiran Bonner, Shawn Hardy II and Victor Jones Jr.
Brody Belt and Wyatt Liewertwo experienced receivers are listed on Nebraska’s online roster.
The 2023 class included three catcher engagements in Malachi Coleman, Jaidyn Doss and Brice Turneras well as an athlete who could start his career as Jaylen Lloyd.