Former Nebraska wide receiver JD Spielman has a new place to play, and he offered something of a farewell to Husker fans on his Instagram page.
On Saturday, 247sports reported Spielman was transferring to TCU where he’ll have one season of eligibility. The Horned Frogs, 5-7 in 2019, lost top receiver Jalen Reagor (43 receptions, 611 yards) to the NFL, but five of the six leading receivers in terms of yardage return. Spielman confirmed the news on Monday.
A NEW LIFE, ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY THANK YOU @TCU @TCUFootball 🐸
GHOST pic.twitter.com/8BZWMdcib8
— TAZY (@jdspielman10) July 20, 2020
Spielman left Nebraska’s program on March 2 before the beginning of spring practices, returning home to Minnesota to handle what Nebraska called a “personal health matter.” On June 8, sources told Hail Varsity the senior wide receiver was entering the transfer portal. Spielman has not yet graduated and used a redshirt season in 2016. If he’s to play at TCU in 2020, he’ll need a waiver.
Early Monday morning, Spielman posted the following message:
The full text of his statement is below:
I just want to take a moment to thank my true brothers my family and the Nebraska fans for their abundance of support. I know you celebrated our wins beside us and felt our losses just as much as we did. The loyalty in the Sea of Red runs deep. You’re much appreciated and very important to not only the Cornhuskers’ success but also my personal success. Good mental health is also a key component to my success not only on the football field, but also in life, school, and relationships. Focusing on my mental health allows me to understand who I am, what my passions are, and what my purpose is. Football has taught me how to overcome obstacles and face adversity. It has helped me become disciplined, determined, and resilient. At the end of the day, please remember life is so much more than football. I am and always will be much more than just an athlete. Every day is a new opportunity. Thank you again to those who have supported me on my journey. I’m forever grateful. Lots of Luv and Go B1G Red. ❤️- Tazy
Spielman was the first Husker receiver in school history with three 800-yard seasons and left Nebraska third all-time in receptions and receiving yards. He also ranked second in 100-yard receiving games, third in combined kick return touchdowns, seventh in punt return touchdowns and eighth in receiving touchdowns. He had 170 receptions for 2,546 yards and 15 touchdowns to his credit.
Nebraska entered the offseason with the second-most returning production in the country on offense according to weighted calculations from Bill Connelly of ESPN. That’s usually a sign of good things to come in the season ahead, but the departure of Spielman, and, to a lesser extent, backup quarterback Noah Vedral, have taken a decent chunk of yardage out of that calculation.
If Spielman is granted a waiver, he offers a nice boost to a TCU offense that ranked 75th in those same returning-production rankings. The Horned Frogs returned just 61% of their yards on offense prior to the addition of Spielman, but do return starting quarterback Max Duggan. The former star for Lewis Central High School in Council Bluffs, Iowa, started 10 games in 2019, and was honorable mention Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year after throwing for 2,077 yards and rushing for 555 with 21 total touchdowns. His best performance as a freshman came in TCU’s 37-27 win over Texas where Duggan completed 70% of his passes and found the end zone three times, earning conference newcomer of the week honors.
TCU was scheduled to open the season Sept. 5 at California, but the Pac-12 decision to limit games to conference-only play eliminated that possibility. The Horned Frogs are currently scheduled to host Prairie View A&M on Sept. 12 in what will be their first game of the 2020 season.
Brandon is the Managing Editor for Hail Varsity and has covered Nebraska athletics for the magazine and web since 2012, Hail Varsity’s first season on the scene. His sports writing has also been featured by Fox Sports, The Guardian and CBS Sports.
