Is Nebraska Football WR Jaylen Lloyd Ready to Break Out in 2024?

The wide receiver proved he could be a deep threat for the Cornhuskers as a true freshman in 2023. In 2024, could Lloyd become one of the breakout players in college football? ESPN thinks so.

Kaleb Henry | Aug 15, 2024

Oct 28, 2023; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers wide receiver Jaylen Lloyd (19) catches a pass for a touchdown against the Purdue Boilermakers during the second quarter at Memorial Stadium. / Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

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A Nebraska native could be on the cusp of a big year for the Cornhuskers.

ESPN listed 32 sleepers who could break out this fall. Among them: Husker sophomore wideout Jaylen Lloyd.

Lloyd played in 10 games as a true freshman, including a start against Maryland. In his rookie campaign, the Omaha Westside grad caught six passes for 237 yards and three touchdowns. All three of his scores were longer than 50 yards.

"He'll be a real guy," ESPN quoted Nebraska coach Matt Rhule as saying. "He's just explosive, fast."

Nebraska Cornhuskers wide receiver Jaylen Lloyd (19) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Purdue Boilermakers.

Oct 28, 2023; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers wide receiver Jaylen Lloyd (19) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Purdue Boilermakers during the second quarter at Memorial Stadium. / Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Lloyd continued being explosive and fast after the football season, competing in the jumps for the Husker track and field team. During the indoor track season, Lloyd finished fifth in the long jump (24-3 1/2) and seventh in the triple jump (50-0) at the Big Ten Championships. Outdoors, Lloyd placed fourth in the Big Ten in the long jump (25-1¾) and 12th in the triple jump (50-1¾).

A potential favorite target for Dylan Raiola, Lloyd hooked up with the freshman quarterback in the Red-White Spring Game for a 64-yard touchdown.

"Jaylen’s been one of the most improved players on the team," Rhule said after the game in April.

Others to make the list from the Big Ten Conference:

Marlin Klein, TE, Michigan Wolverines
Audavion Collins, CB, Penn State Nittany Lions
Anthony Smith, DL, Minnesota Golden Gophers
TeRah Edwards, DL, Illinois Fighting Illini
Denzel Boston, WR, Washington Huskies
Marcelles Williams, CB, USC Trojans
Trech Kekahuna, WR, Wisconsin Badgers
Seth Anderson, WR, Iowa Hawkeyes

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Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, following HuskerMax on X, and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.

Published Aug 15, 2024|Modified Aug 15, 2024

KALEB HENRY

Kaleb Henry is an award-winning sports reporter, covering collegiate athletics since 2014 via radio, podcasting, and digital journalism. His experience with Big Ten Conference teams goes back more than a decade, including time covering programs such as the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Oregon Ducks, and USC Trojans. He has contributed to Sports Illustrated since 2021. Kaleb has won multiple awards for his sports coverage from the Nebraska Broadcasters Association and Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association. Prior to working in sports journalism, Kaleb was a Division I athlete on the Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Track and Field team where he discussed NCAA legislation as SIUE's representative to the Ohio Valley Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.