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Report: Heard to leave Nebraska

Braylon Heard

A report by Ohio-based Myvalleysports.com citing anonymous sources reported Monday night that Nebraska junior running back, and Youngstown, Ohio, native Braylon Heard intends to transfer from the program.

Heard, who played at Cardinal Mooney High School, is said to want to play closer to home, according to the report.

An NU athletic department spokesman could not confirm the report.

Heard, a four-star running back out of high school, was initially part of the 2010 recruiting class, but delayed enrollment as he worked to qualify to come to Nebraska. Heard played in seven games as a true freshman in 2011, rushing 25 times for 114 yards and one touchdown as he alternated time with fellow freshmen Ameer Abdullah and Aaron Green.

He moved to defensive back last spring, before moving back to running back prior to fall camp. Last year, he was buried on the depth chart behind Rex Burkhead and Abdullah, who took the bulk of the workload when Burkhead was injured.

Freshman Imani Cross also factored into the picture last season and Nebraska has two talented backs in Terrell Newby and Adam Taylor committed in its 2013 class.

Heard finished 2012 with 348 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 52 carries.

Michael Bruntz

    • This went live on front page but not board for some reason. Had to publish it again.

      shrug

      Kevin Ryan ●

    • I don't even know what to say.

      Nosfera2son

    • This just opens up the door for more carries for Cross or King Frazier or maybe one of the talented freshmen running backs we have coming in this fall. I'd hate to see Heard miss out on an opportunity to be our starting running back in the case that Abdullah goes down with an injury. That happened to Green last season when Burkhead hurt his knee and I kind of wonder if Green regretted transferring out. I wish the best for Heard but he might be walking away from a golden opportunity this fall. He might be.

      IowaHusker79

    • Gotta feel for the kid, he has loads of talent, but just hit our program at the wrong time. I certainly wouldn't want many carries taken from Ameer and with Cross, Newby and Taylor coming up, you just have to figure you are going to really have to separate yourself to be the feature back and I don't know if Heard would ever be that guy.

      Good luck to him, I can't wait to see him become that feature back somewhere, I think he has the potential to be a star!

      Husker Z

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      Husker SF

    • I think Heard was our most natural runner and I'm one who isn't sure Cross will ever be an every down back. This is a tough loss.

      NodakHusker

    • Husker Z said...

      Good luck to him, I can't wait to see him become that feature back somewhere, I think he has the potential to be a star!

      Unless its Kentucky

      TyWebb ●

    • NodakHusker said...

      I think Heard was our most natural runner and I'm one who isn't sure Cross will ever be an every down back. This is a tough loss.

      Agreed on cross

      nustudent ●

    • Wow this one pisses me off. A kid who sacrificed a lot to still end up at Nebraska and Ron Brown has no freaking idea how to distribute touches and now he's leaving. What a disgrace

      iBleedRed6801 ●

    • Not sure how anyone can make this positive. This kid was a big play back that just needed more touches to show it. If the staff did ask him to play slot WR then that is another short sided moved on their part.

      Bills2 ●

    • The big thing for the future is our ties to cardinal mooney or Ohio in general. Yes we will still be able to get some kids from Ohio but Vince was the main guy for that. Also we haven't recruited Texas well lately and we see how Florida is going.

      Sad thing is many of our highly ranked prospects leave the program.
      Green
      Heard
      Moore
      Klatcho

      But non contributors stick around
      Ashburn
      Vestal
      Guy
      Okuyemi

      Scooby

    • The reoccurring issue of players leaving is very worrisome, and this reinforces this issues the staff have with roster management. Sigh

      This post was edited by coolsig3 on 1/29/2013 at 8:01 AM

      coolsig3 ●

    • Did anyone notice that whenever Heard was on the field last year he almost always got the ball? No deception. When he was in, his number got called.

      He rarely, if ever, got a series of downs. Just a few plays here and there.

      Anyone thought why that would be?

      Heard was not an every down back because he could not be counted on to fill that position. In other words, unless he was actually running the ball, he could not be depended on to fulfill his obligations as an every down back. Thus, AA and Rex got most the action, with Heard supplementing with plays called just for him.

      Like most, I liked what I saw when Heard ran the ball, but that's not the whole story for an every down RB. He probably saw that he would be 2nd fiddle to AA and relegated to spot duty this coming year and the next. Obviously, there's some new hotshots on the horizon to complicate matters further.

      It's not unlike the Aaron Green deal. Some guys think they deserve the bulk of the action whether that's truly warranted or not. What's ironic, is that if Rex hadn't got hurt, we would have seen practically nothing of BH this past year. It's additionally ironic that BH didn't have the foresight to see what happened to Rex in 2012 could happen to AA in 2013 (or even in practice), and he might end up the #1 guy by default. Injury to the 1st stringer is what paved the way for Abdullah.

      As far as the supposed position move, I just see that as an attempt to get Heard on the field more often. He was only getting 5-6 plays a game as a RB, and as part of the regular rotation at WR would have likely been on the field more often. As far as catches, who knows what would have happened.

      Hate to see him go, as I do think there would have been a greater effort to get him on the field this year, even if he's deficient in pass-pro or what have you.

      TheUnknownFan

    • This just sucks. I was expecting big things out of him these next two years. I truly thought he had a chance off becoming the starter due to AA's fumbling issues and the fact that Heard might be the better of the two.

      Will he have to sit a year if he goes to a D1 school? Will that still give him 2 years or does the year he had to miss as a freshman factor into this at all?

      If he goes to Kentucky I'm going to flip out.

      KoRnhusker

    • TheUnknownFan said...

      Did anyone notice that whenever Heard was on the field last year he almost always got the ball? No deception. When he was in, his number got called.

      He rarely, if ever, got a series of downs. Just a few plays here and there.

      Anyone thought why that would be?

      Heard was not an every down back because he could not be counted on to fill that position. In other words, unless he was actually running the ball, he could not be depended on to fulfill his obligations as an every down back. Thus, AA and Rex got most the action, with Heard supplementing with plays called just for him.

      Like most, I liked what I saw when Heard ran the ball, but that's not the whole story for an every down RB. He probably saw that he would be 2nd fiddle to AA and relegated to spot duty this coming year and the next. Obviously, there's some new hotshots on the horizon to complicate matters further.

      It's not unlike the Aaron Green deal. Some guys think they deserve the bulk of the action whether that's truly warranted or not. What's ironic, is that if Rex hadn't got hurt, we would have seen practically nothing of BH this past year. It's additionally ironic that BH didn't have the foresight to see what happened to Rex in 2012 could happen to AA in 2013 (or even in practice), and he might end up the #1 guy by default. Injury to the 1st stringer is what paved the way for Abdullah.

      As far as the supposed position move, I just see that as an attempt to get Heard on the field more often. He was only getting 5-6 plays a game as a RB, and as part of the regular rotation at WR would have likely been on the field more often. As far as catches, who knows what would have happened.

      Hate to see him go, as I do think there would have been a greater effort to get him on the field this year, even if he's deficient in pass-pro or what have you.

      Hearing the staff tried to move him to WR. Which would be his 3rd position and 4th position change since he has been here. (HB-CB-HB-WR). That level of short sidedness by your coaches would worry anyone.

      And sorry, but I completely disagree that Heard was not an every down back.

      Bills2 ●

    • TheUnknownFan said...

      Did anyone notice that whenever Heard was on the field last year he almost always got the ball? No deception. When he was in, his number got called.

      He rarely, if ever, got a series of downs. Just a few plays here and there.

      Anyone thought why that would be?

      Heard was not an every down back because he could not be counted on to fill that position. In other words, unless he was actually running the ball, he could not be depended on to fulfill his obligations as an every down back. Thus, AA and Rex got most the action, with Heard supplementing with plays called just for him.

      Like most, I liked what I saw when Heard ran the ball, but that's not the whole story for an every down RB. He probably saw that he would be 2nd fiddle to AA and relegated to spot duty this coming year and the next. Obviously, there's some new hotshots on the horizon to complicate matters further.

      It's not unlike the Aaron Green deal. Some guys think they deserve the bulk of the action whether that's truly warranted or not. What's ironic, is that if Rex hadn't got hurt, we would have seen practically nothing of BH this past year. It's additionally ironic that BH didn't have the foresight to see what happened to Rex in 2012 could happen to AA in 2013 (or even in practice), and he might end up the #1 guy by default. Injury to the 1st stringer is what paved the way for Abdullah.

      As far as the supposed position move, I just see that as an attempt to get Heard on the field more often. He was only getting 5-6 plays a game as a RB, and as part of the regular rotation at WR would have likely been on the field more often. As far as catches, who knows what would have happened.

      Hate to see him go, as I do think there would have been a greater effort to get him on the field this year, even if he's deficient in pass-pro or what have you.

      True.

      I'm just thinking to myself, "Da*n...another transfer?" You are correct though.

      coolsig3 ●

    • Bills2 said...

      Hearing the staff tried to move him to WR. Which would be his 3rd position and 4th position change since he has been here. (HB-CB-HB-WR). That level of short sidedness by your coaches would worry anyone.

      And sorry, but I completely disagree that Heard was not an every down back.

      I loved his vision and natural running ability, but to be an every down back at Nebraska, you have to be able to block.

      HuskerB

    • Bills2 said...

      Hearing the staff tried to move him to WR. Which would be his 3rd position and 4th position change since he has been here. (HB-CB-HB-WR). That level of short sidedness by your coaches would worry anyone.

      And sorry, but I completely disagree that Heard was not an every down back.

      Well, he was never in the game when we needed the RB to block on a pass play. If he was viewed as an every down back, I doubt that would have been the case.

      I do not view the position merry-go-round Heard was on in the same fashion. They were attempts to put Heard in the best position to be a contributor. Not saying Heard should have liked it, but I do think it was based on trying to get him on the field instead of watching from the sidelines.

      TheUnknownFan

    • KoRnhusker said...

      This just sucks. I was expecting big things out of him these next two years. I truly thought he had a chance off becoming the starter due to AA's fumbling issues and the fact that Heard might be the better of the two.

      Will he have to sit a year if he goes to a D1 school? Will that still give him 2 years or does the year he had to miss as a freshman factor into this at all?

      If he goes to Kentucky I'm going to flip out.

      I agree, i thought we'd see more BH next year.

      I don't think he'd be trusted to be THE GUY unless there was a signigicant improvement in pass protection.

      He will sit out a year if he transfers to a D1 school. He would be a 2 for 2 guy.

      If he goes to Kentucky, itd be dumb and i'd be a bit angry but in the end who cares? His loss. I guess it might cause some to believe he helped steer McWilson in that way, but its all in the past now so nothing i can do but move on.

      RB is not a concern to me. We will be fine at RB, of this i am completely confident.

      beardown2489

    • Scooby said...

      The big thing for the future is our ties to cardinal mooney or Ohio in general. Yes we will still be able to get some kids from Ohio but Vince was the main guy for that. Also we haven't recruited Texas well lately and we see how Florida is going.

      Sad thing is many of our highly ranked prospects leave the program. Green Heard Moore Klatcho

      But non contributors stick around Ashburn Vestal Guy Okuyemi

      Are you serious? Klatchko ended his football playing due to concussions. Moore was homesick -- he was a starting tackle so playing time wasn't his problem. Green was a 5* kid that wanted to be the man immediately -- didn't want to wait behind Burkhead -- had he stayed, he could have been Ameer last year instead of Ameer. And Heard, failed to qualify initially and Nebraska stuck with him. He got 58 carries (or so) -- didn't return kicks. Kid is quick and talented but not more talented than Ameer or Cross. The coaches were trying to get him on the field by switching him to WR but even then he was behind more or equally talented guys.

      I wish Heard the best but this isn't a crippling or all that damaging loss to Nebraska's product on the field -- especially if Newby is as good as you all have said he is.

      cmurchison ●

    • Heard IMO was our best RUNNINGback on the roster. He wasnt great at pass pro, but the kids natural ability to run was unreal.

      I wish him all the luck and success where ever he lands.

      This post was edited by joshwfo on 1/29/2013 at 8:32 AM

      joshwfo

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      Mike Schaefer ●

    • joshwfo said...

      Heard IMO was our best RUNNINGback on the roster. He wasnt great at pass pro, but the kids natural ability to run was unreal.

      I wish him all the luck and success where ever he lands.

      He's the best running back based on what? Certainly isn't on field production or you think the coaches got it wrong by having Ameer take the majority of carries when Rex went down? We have Ameer, Cross, apparently King Fraizer and the two 4* freshmen coming in. Georgia used to 2 true freshmen last year so I think we can be okay. Didn't want to see Heard leave but if he wants to play more, probably the best decision for him.

      cmurchison ●

    • Not sure i get the whole BH love-fest. Some of you guys are acting like we just lost Adrian Petersen, even tho BH was only a back-up and we have great running backs coming in next year. Idk if you guys are just referring to how good you think Braylon was in high school before he got on campus, but he has had very little productivity here. You can all censored about how he didn't have enough carries to show his talent or whatever but fact is the coaches see these guys in practice everyday and if BH was as good as you all claim he is he wouldn't have been behind Ameer. I still think he is a great back and wish him the best wherever he ends up, but personally I'm not worried about this at all.

      n3bhsker ●

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