When Nebraska football fans talk about the ongoing rebuild of the roster, the position group that doesn’t get discussed enough is tight end. The team returns its top two guys in juniors Thomas Fidone II and Nate Boerkircher, but that’s basically it.

The only other returnee is Ismael Smith Flores, a late addition to the 2023 class. Smith Flores was always a long-term play on potential having only played one season of high school football. He comes into next season still a complete unknown after redshirting and not seeing the field.

One of the first targets of the 2024 class was Katy (Texas) Taylor High School’s Ian Flynt, who had received preliminary contact from the previous staff. Nebraska’s director of player personnel and recruiting, Vince Guinta, was retained by head coach Matt Rhule and offered Flynt on Dec. 21, 2022.

Guinta had helped identify Flynt as a target for the 2024 class and brought his film to Rhule after he took over the program. Rhule okayed the offer even before he had finalized hiring a tight ends coach, that’s how impressed he was with his film and athletic profile.