Matt Rhule has been hard at work in his early days as Nebraska’s new head coach.

With spring practice in full swing, there are plenty of intriguing story lines. But perhaps none as enticing as a juicy QB competition. Returning starter Casey Thompson has been limited during spring drills while still recovering from shoulder surgery in the offseason.

Meanwhile, Jeff Sims, a junior transfer from Georgia Tech, has turned heads with his athleticism and play-making ability. Sims battled injuries in 2022 as the starter for the Yellow Jackets, missing the final 5 games with a sprained foot.

Prior to his injury, Sims threw for 1,115 yards and completed 58.5% of his throws. His best game came in a 23-20 win over Duke in which he threw for 227 yards and rushed for another 95.

Thompson’s strong numbers

Thompson and Sims bring different skillsets to the table. Thompson, playing through nagging injuries, put up arguably his best game as a Husker in Nebraska’s 24-17 upset win over Iowa on Black Friday. He finished 20-for-30 for 278 yards and 3 TDs.

Thompson didn’t run as much as many expected him to in 2022. An arm injury caused him to miss the Minnesota and Michigan games before returning against Wisconsin. It became clear that Thompson was more comfortable in the pocket throwing the ball. When given time, his accuracy was good. And he developed a strong chemistry with the NFL-departed Trey Palmer — especially on the deep ball.

Even with missing a pair of games, Thompson managed to throw for 2,407 yards and 17 touchdowns. He surpassed 300 yards in the air on 3 occasions and completed 63.1% of his throws. His experience in big games — both at Nebraska and with Texas the previous year — can’t be overlooked.

Sims’ imposing stature and big-play ability

The 6-4, 220-pound Sims started 23 games over 3 season at Georgia Tech. He’s no stranger to the spotlight.

He’s put up big numbers against the likes of Duke, Virginia, Pitt and Florida State to name a few. He lit up the Panthers defense in 2021 for a career-high 359 yards. A week later he threw for 297 and 3 TDs against Duke. Sims didn’t come to Nebraska to play second fiddle, and his work this spring suggests he won’t.

One thing Rhule and new OC Marcus Satterfield like about Sims is his size and dual-threat capability. His ability to run and turn broken plays into positive gains can’t be overlooked. It’s an X-factor that Nebraska didn’t have this past year with Thompson.

During a brief scrimmage early in spring practice, Sims demonstrated that ability. He’s tough to bring down and can get yards after contact. Plus, he’s still in the early stages of learning Satterfield’s offense. Once he becomes more comfortable, his ceiling will be even higher.

Battle will continue through summer and fall

Don’t expect Rhule to declare a winner early in this competition. He’ll want to see numerous practice and scrimmage reps from each player before deciding who to name as the starter.

It will be interesting to see how Thompson performs without Palmer as his main target. Palmer was a reliable deep threat as well as a sure-hands guy over the middle. Not having him as a security blanket will change the dynamic. Virginia transfer Billy Kemp IV is a guy to keep an eye on at receiver, regardless of whether Thompson or Sims is behind center.

With Nebraska’s spring game set for April 22, it’s unclear how much, if any, Thompson will play. Coaches want to ease him back and not rush things after surgery. Now is likely Sims’ time to make a push. A solid spring game outing could put him in the driver’s seat entering summer workouts and fall camp.

Rhule and Satterfield have to be pondering what type of QB gives them the best chance to win in 2023. Is it Thompson’s experience and accuracy? Or will it be Sims’ dual-threat, playmaking ability?

Cutting down on mistakes and turnovers is a key emphasis for the Huskers entering 2023. Thompson threw 10 interceptions in 2022, Sims had 3 in 7 games. It seems Sims has improved drastically in that category. He was picked 13 times as a freshman in 2020, but just 7 as a sophomore in 2021.

Four months of competition ahead

Nebraska opens the 2023 season Aug. 31 with a road game at Minnesota. For Rhule, there are no cupcakes early on to test the waters. The following week the Huskers travel to Boulder to take on Coach Prime and Colorado. Having a solid, veteran presence under center will be a massive priority.

It’s those factors and more that make the next 4 months intriguing in Huskerville. Practices, scrimmages, workouts … they’ll all play a part in who wins the job.

For many Nebraskans there’s 2 times of year: Football season and the offseason. Coming off a 4-8 campaign and Scott Frost’s firing, it goes without saying that this offseason is as critical as any in the program’s history. A once renowned program is teetering on the brink.

Rhule has to push the correct buttons and get it right. Making the right call on the QB position would be a solid start.