Kade Warner, shown sporting his mustache during Nebraska's fan day last fall, has embraced his role as veteran leader of the Husker receivers.
Kade Warner sounds like a football coach. With a thick black mustache, he can look like a turn-of-the-century villain.
And with Nebraska’s season opener barely a week away, the 22-year-old junior receiver is playing like a starter.
Warner held court with media members for 13 minutes on a Zoom call Thursday and offered insight on a variety of topics. He broke down the play of quarterbacks Adrian Martinez and Luke McCaffrey, noting nuanced improvements like pocket presence and deep-ball accuracy. He described what his weeknight NFL white-board sessions are like with other NU receivers and how he’s gone from a former walk-on to position leader.
But first, that mustache. It’s a fall-camp thing, Warner said, though teammates have encouraged him to keep the facial hair into the season. As his picture circulated on social media Thursday afternoon, his father — NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner — jokingly tweeted to not “go embarrassing the family with that look.” His mother, Brenda, replied she just bought face masks with mustaches.
Kade Warner. pic.twitter.com/AEfB07opjN
— Sam McKewon (@swmckewonOWH) October 15, 2020
“Trust me, I don’t think it looks good,” Kade said. “I just think it’s funny.”
The 6-foot-1, 210-pounder takes his football much more seriously. A stress fracture in his leg and torn hamstring limited him to seven games, eight catches and 101 yards last season, though he’s fully healthy now and hasn’t missed any time in camp. A veteran player in a young receiver room, Warner said he was “thrust” into a leadership role that he’s since embraced.
There has been a “culture reset” under new offensive coordinator and receivers coach Matt Lubick, Warner said. The reason the junior’s name keeps coming up in fall-camp interviews, he said, is because he is settled in both his abilities and knowledge of the playbook.
“With Lubick here it’s kind of a blank slate,” Warner said. “And I think with a blank slate comes more confidence. I think I’m able to play with more confidence on the field — I think a lot of guys are.”
The clear leaders of the group are Warner and true sophomore Wan’Dale Robinson, Lubick said Thursday. They lead by example and are the first to go through each drill. It’s “contagious” for younger players when they see the vets going 100 mph.
At home, Warner said he reached out to his teammates and invited them over to watch NFL games and break down what he sees on a white board. He wants to be a coach someday, so he embraces the chance to help others better understand defenses. Even little improvements to things like timing and depth of routes can make big differences.
The sessions have been popular enough that guys began reaching out to the upperclassman to see if they could get together for a game.
Said Warner: “I hope they’ve learned a lot from it.”
No wideout at Nebraska the past two seasons has been a better poster boy for the “no block, no rock” philosophy within Scott Frost’s offense. An attack that pounds receiver screens and swing passes as de facto run plays to the outside require good blocking on the boundaries, and Warner has consistently earned playing time because of it.
There are techniques to holding off defenders on the edge — Nebraska teaches players to get low, strike with their hands and finish the block — but Warner said the biggest key is desire. He’s not alone in that regard right now.
“It’s all the little pieces together,” Warner said. “But the No. 1 thing is the want-to and I think the wide receivers we have this year want to.”
The Husker Camp Countdown of Nebraska's most important players
Our Husker Camp Countdown highlights the 50 most important players on the Nebraska football team.
Honorable mention: We highlighted 20 notable players who didn't make the cut for the top 50 but could still have an impact this season. They are (in alphabetical order):
Brody Belt, Jared Bubak, Turner Corcoran, Chase Contreraz, Niko Cooper, Levi Falck, Will Farniok, Christian Gaylord, Keem Green, Keyshawn Greene, Demariyon Houston, Sevion Morrison, Mosai Newsom, Will Nixon, Nouredin Nouili, Noa Pola-Gates, William Przystup, Logan Smothers, Eli Sullivan, Ronald Thompkins.
50. Blaise Gunnerson: The true freshman's position remains somewhat fluid since he could line up as a defensive end or outside linebacker. His strength as an edge rusher is much more certain. Click here to read more.
49. Brant Banks: Many fans may know Banks from his three minutes of action with the Nebraska men’s basketball team in last spring’s Big Ten tournament. This fall he will make his case to be the backup at one of the most important positions in football. Click here to read more.
48. Broc Bando: Spring was supposed to be a “prove it” opportunity for the former Lincoln Southeast standout, but now fall camp will be perhaps the last best chance for Bando to secure a role in Nebraska’s two-deep depth chart. Click here to read more.
47. Pheldarius Payne: Nebraska coaches sought a change-of-pace presence on their defensive front and found one in Payne, a junior college transfer. Quickness — with an innate ability to make blockers miss in short spaces — will be what can get him on the field. Click here to read more.
46. Chris Hickman: Once considered a future staple for Nebraska at tight end, Hickman expanded his role late last season to include wide receiver. Where exactly he settles — or if he settles anywhere — remains unknown for the former three-star prospect from Omaha Burke. Click here to read more.
45. Connor Culp: In Nebraska’s wide-open kicking competition, Culp is perhaps the most high-profile contender and certainly the most experienced at the Division I level. The LSU transfer has found a starting opportunity in Lincoln. Click here to read more.
44. Javin Wright: The son of former Blackshirt Toby Wright may be Nebraska's most versatile defender, capable of playing in the secondary or as an outside linebacker. Click here to read more.
43. Quinton Newsome: Newsome impressed enough in one season that he was among three of Nebraska’s 2019 scholarship recruits to not redshirt their first year in college. His role will likely expand significantly in the coming months. Click here to read more.
42. Zavier Betts: The lone in-state scholarship signee in Nebraska’s 2020 class, Betts joins the roster as potentially a quick-impact player. He offers a combination of length and elite explosiveness the Huskers have had little of in recent years. Click here to read more.
41. Myles Farmer: He is primed to make an immediate and potentially lasting difference in the Nebraska secondary. A physical, hard-hitting safety, Farmer has a reputation around North Stadium for being inquisitive and self-motivating. Click here to read more.
40. Luke Reimer: Reimer is why you try to build a solid walk-on tradition, because the inside linebacker is sniffing a scholarship in a few years if he continues to play the way he did as a freshman. Click here to read more.
39. Casey Rogers: Casey Rogers has looked game ready for some time now. But with the stack of talent in front of him, he didn’t have a lot of chances to prove it. This year he will. Click here to read more.
38. Rahmir Johnson: The running back position is set with Dedrick Mills as the No. 1 guy, but it’d go a long way for Nebraska if Johnson was able to find a regular place on the field. Click here to read more.
37. Nick Henrich: Nebraska’s 2018 Gatorade Player of the Year appears to be back and healthy, and ready to fight for playing time at inside linebacker. Barrett Ruud has been high on Henrich, who has the added pressure of being a scholarship in-state kid from Omaha. Click here to read more.
36. Trent Hixson: Hixson earned a scholarship after winning a starting position on the offensive line last year. But he'll have to fend off some competition if he wants to start again in 2020. Click here to read more.
35. Braxton Clark: Clark is a presence in every room he's in, fitting of a Big Ten corner. He'll have all the chances in the world to take a key role in Nebraska's secondary next season. Click here to read more.
34. Marcus Fleming: With the absence of JD Spielman, Nebraska will be searching even harder for a spark in the return game and through the air. Fleming might be the piece NU’s been looking for. Click here to read more.
33. Daniel Cerni: Nebraska has been searching for answers all over special teams. NU hopes Cerni, who is from Canberra, Australia, can fix some of the punting issues. Click here to read more.
32. Eteva Mauga-Clements: After three seasons in the junior college ranks at Diablo Valley College, Mauga-Clements comes to Nebraska looking to steal time at inside linebacker. NU thinks it has a steal here, and he very well could be. Click here to read more.
31. Ethan Piper: Piper might end up being a real asset for the offensive line. He could play any of the three interior spots, and history shows he’ll find the field at some point based on the frequency of lineman injuries in recent years. Click here to read more.
30. Boe Wilson: Wilson has started the last 21 games at right guard but he'll likely have to compete for a starting in 2020. He has generally been a reliable run blocker, especially in short-area plays. Click here to read more.
29. Luke McCaffrey: Welcome to the most intriguing player on the Countdown. McCaffrey flashed just enough in four games last season to pique the interest of Husker fans for 2020. Click here to read more.
28. Marvin Scott: There's an open competition to be the No. 2 back, and Scott is in that mix. He rushed for more than 2,700 yards over his final two seasons and showed a downhill, no-nonsense style with power and a nice amount of elusiveness. Click here to read more.
27. Austin Allen: NU will have one of the best tight end groups in the Big Ten. Allen, who has steadily improved as a blocker and pass-catcher, is one reason why. Click here to read more.
26. Kade Warner: Warner becomes one of the few receivers at NU who knows Scott Frost’s offense inside out. So even if there is more talent on the roster, Warner’s know-how would favor him playing quite a bit, especially early. Click here to read more.
25. Garrett Nelson: Of the five Nebraskans who signed scholarships in NU's 2019 class, Nelson (Scottsbluff) made the most immediate impact, playing in 11 of 12 games with 15 tackles. Nelson’s energy and hustle were his best attributes as a true freshman. Click here to read more.
24. Travis Vokolek: Nebraska’s 2019 Offensive Scout Team MVP is a Rutgers transfer. The Huskers’ depth chart didn’t exactly need him, but tight ends coach Sean Beckton wanted him, which should give a sense of how much Vokolek was valued by Nebraska's coaches. Click here to read more.
23. Damion Daniels: He played a little bit more in 2019 — typically as a backup to his older brother Darrion — but he didn’t make a ton of plays (13 overall tackles) and usually played just a handful of snaps at a time. Though he could be NU’s starting nose in 2020, he’ll be pushed big time by junior college transfer Jordon Riley. Click here to read more.
22. Bryce Benhart: It’s time for a ballyhooed Husker offensive line recruit to pan out in a big way. Maybe Benhart — one of the country's top O-line prospects in the 2019 class — is that guy. Click here to read more.
21. Ty Robinson: If you’re looking for a young guy to make a really big leap, Robinson may be your man. He didn’t play a ton last season — NU wanted to preserve his redshirt on a defensive line that had plenty of experience — but his brief flashes were promising. Click here to read more.
20. Deontai Williams: When Williams is healthy, he makes plays. Now armed with a robust knowledge of NU’s scheme, he's a strong bet to start opposite fellow senior Marquel Dismuke. Click here to read more.
19. Alante Brown: Brown would like to pick up where he left off in the spring, when he impressed coaches with his speed and versatility after two practices. His strengths match up well with Nebraska’s needs. Click here to read more.
18. Will Honas: He and fellow senior Collin Miller are the unquestioned veterans of the linebackers now and will set the tone for what the group becomes in 2021 and beyond. Yet another Blackshirt with the talent and chance to make a big jump in the coming months. Click here to read more.
17. Marquel Dismuke: Dismuke started every game last season and produced a career-high 67 tackles (tied for third on the team) while proving trustworthy as a run stopper and against the pass. Click here to read more.
16. Deontre Thomas: Thomas cracked the line’s regular six-man rotation last year. What’s next? Now opportunity is knocking again on a D-line that must replace all three starters. After years of paying his dues behind the scenes, Thomas has as good a chance as anyone. Click here to read more.
15. Jack Stoll: Stoll has been the most productive tight end on the team the previous two seasons. The question now is whether the fifth-year player will build on last year’s output or maintain his steady performances as a blocker and pass catcher through 24 straight starts. Click here to read more.
14. Jordon Riley: Known for occupying blockers against the run, Riley will begin at nose tackle before learning other positions on the front. He joins what should be a robust competition along the line. Click here to read more.
13. Caleb Tannor: Tannor will likely get many more chances to be a playmaker — and an edge rusher in particular. Two full years immersed in the defense should also help his cause. Click here to read more.
12. Cameron Jurgens: The investment from player and program appears ready to pay off. O-line coach Greg Austin said Jurgens has a “command presence” about him these days, making him the on-field leader of the line who can mentally handle game speed in real time. Click here to read more.
11. Collin Miller: Few current Huskers have endured as much football change as Miller, but he thrived in the stability at inside linebacker last season, making his first 12 career starts and tying for third on the team with a career-best 67 tackles (seven for loss). Click here to read more.
10. Matt Farniok: Farniok can do serious damage to a linebacker at the second level when he reaches it, and when Nebraska chooses to run that QB dart play, he’s a devastating lead blocker. He’s also become a leader of the line and the offense. Click here to read more.
9. Ben Stille: Stille, the taciturn, tough leader of the defensive line, is the kind of guy who will sacrifice statistics for a winning season. His redshirt season in 2016 was NU’s last winning year, and Stille would clearly love for his senior season to be the same. Click here to read more.
8. Dicaprio Bootle: One of the most consistent, smartest and toughest players on the team, Bootle has been a starter for three seasons and a real leader for the last two. He’s almost a lock to be a captain in 2020 as he tries to become a lockdown corner. Click here to read more.
7. JoJo Domann: Nebraska’s Swiss Army knife on defense, Domann can do a little bit of everything. He can blitz, play coverage, spy a quarterback, knife off an edge toward a ballcarrier. He can take chances and get away with them, making big plays in the process. Click here to read more.
6. Omar Manning: What will Nebraska get in Manning? A hungry player with NFL potential. A willing, physical blocker. A deep threat who can draw a safety away from the middle of the field. Click here to read more.
5. Dedrick Mills: He runs angry, breaks tackle at the second level and has worked on his pass-catching skills. Teammates appreciate his toughness, too. And he has a chance at a 1,000-yard season. Click here to read more.
4. Cam Taylor-Britt: The junior had three interceptions and four forced fumbles last season. He recovered one. He had six pass breakups, too. Pretty good for a guy who played safety for the first time in his career. Click here to read more.
3. Wan'Dale Robinson: Many of Nebraska’s top recruits haven’t panned out over the last decade, so it was nice to see Robinson, the crown jewel of NU’s 2019 class, prove his recruiting rating true in his first year. Click here to read more.
2. Brenden Jaimes: He’ll likely be one of the best left tackles in the Big Ten because of his pass-blocking skill and overall athleticism, and Jaimes has faced good enough pass rushers along the way to be considered seasoned in the role. Click here to read more.
1. Adrian Martinez: For the third straight year, Martinez is No. 1 on the Camp Countdown. Each year it’s been for slightly different reasons. Click here to read more.
evan.bland@owh.com, 402-444-1201, twitter.com/EvanBlandOWH
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The mustache may be 'funny,' but Kade Warner takes leadership role to Husker receivers seriously - Omaha World-Herald
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