JD Spielman is fun to watch. Let's start this spiel right there.
His first step after a catch is NFL-level quick. Plus, he's got some wiggle in tight spaces.
He's also exciting in open spaces. Note his 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in last season's opener against Arkansas State.
You know what else could be fun?
Watching Spielman raise his game in 2018.
"There's always a lot to improve on," the versatile Nebraska receiver said Tuesday. "I feel like a big focal point for me is catching the 50-50 balls. I feel like I dropped a lot of those last year, especially against Wisconsin — I had one in the end zone that I dropped.
"I just have to keep improving on attacking and high-pointing the ball and making sure I get over the DB to catch it."
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Nebraska fans no doubt relish the thought of Spielman continuing to attack his craft. A freshman All-American last season, as named by both the Football Writers Association of America and USA Today, the 5-foot-9, 180-pound speedster piled up school records, including:
* Single-game receiving yards (200 vs. Ohio State).
* Freshman receptions (55).
* Freshman receiving yards (830).
* Freshman all-purpose yards (1,572).
He obviously was a good fit in Mike Riley's pro-style offense.
But he could be even better in Scott Frost's spread system.
"JD's the type of player we like to recruit to this offense," the first-year Nebraska head coach said. "In fact, I went and saw JD, I think it was his junior year (at Eden Prairie High School in Minnesota), my last year at Oregon, because he was somebody we were interested in. I think him and Tyjon (Lindsey) are both the type of kid that flourish in our offense. Guys that can win in space.
"You get them the ball in space and they can make things happen with it. JD's done really good things out here the first couple of days (of practice). He's still learning like everybody else, but I see a lot of potential out of both of those guys."
Although Lindsey had only 12 receptions for 76 yards last season, his name is coming up frequently as coaches and players assess the new-look Huskers.
As for Spielman, folks already have seen him excel at a consistently high level — the sort of consistency one would expect from a veteran player.
If he trends toward being even more of a take-charge type, well, that would be good for everyone in the program. He's a rising star in the college game. I like that he wants the punt-return job. I like that he embraces those moments when he's lined up at running back in Frost's system. I like that he seems hungry for more success. The more Spielman on Saturdays, the better chance of winning.
You pay to watch guys like Spielman.
You hope he adapts to change in the program. My read is it doesn't faze him. After all, his dad is an NFL executive — Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman. In the NFL, change is the norm.
"I felt like winter conditioning wasn't that big of a change — we still conditioned hard with the last staff," JD Spielman said. "But I felt like the biggest change was the accountability. Everyone is being held more accountable for their actions."
For instance, players have to sign in for meals at the training table so coaches can track attendance.
"If you're not eating the right food, it's going to show when you go out on the field," Spielman said. "You're not going to look as fast. …"
You've surely heard about Frost's repetition-heavy practices, a must for his style of offense.
The fast-paced tempo "helps wide receivers because it doesn't give the DBs as good a chance to line up against them," Spielman said. "It gives you a really good chance to catch them off-guard. While they're still lining up, we might be hiking the ball already. You're already releasing on the guy."
Once Nebraska players get used to the pace, Spielman said, practices will become smoother.
Meanwhile, competition for the starting quarterback job adds to the intense nature of these spring drills.
"Everyone's a whole lot more locked in," Spielman said. "The quarterbacks, wide receivers — everyone on the team — is just learning the playbook a whole lot faster. Everyone's been studying a lot harder.
"Just the quarterbacks in general, I feel like with the way the offense is, it gives them more freedom. I've seen them make a lot more throws a lot more confidently than they would've made last season."
Maybe it's because the offense moves so quickly, they don't have as much time to overthink. Just let it fly.
Just make sure No. 10 is getting his share of touches.