The defensive side of the ball has been the high point of the past few seasons for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. The past two seasons under defensive coordinator Tony White has brought top 20 total defenses, however, a lot of had to do with the talent that were holdovers from the past coaching staff under Scott Frost. Now, looking at 2025, the defense will be led by new defensive coordinator John Butler and mostly Matt Rhule recruited players, with a good portion coming in from the Transfer Portal.
Here are the top five players on the defensive side of the ball for 2025.
2025 Nebraska Top 5 Defensive Players
5. Elijah Jeudy (Senior, Defensive Lineman)
The senior out of Philadelphia is a major wildcard for the Huskers. Elijah Jeudy has been just okay for Nebraska the past two seasons but has been overshadowed by former defensive linemen Ty Robinson and Nash Hutmacher. However with both of them off to the NFL, Jeudy will have his chance in the spotlight on a very young and inexperienced defensive line.
Jeudy has the potential to be a game wrecker on the defensive line in 2025 and will (hopefully) be a strong, veteran voice in the locker room with all of the new freshman like Dawson Merritt, Christian Jones and Williams Nwarneri. He should be an interesting player to watch in the fall.
4. Marques Watson-Trent (Senior, Linebacker)
Marques Watson-Trent, the 2024 Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year was a major get for the Huskers out of the portal this past offseason. Watson-Trent logged 120 total tackles for the Georgia Southern Eagles, including 7.5 for loss, 1.5 sacks and four forced fumbles.
He acts as a great plug-and-play linebacker for Nebraska, who needed veteran leadership at the linebacker position along side Javin Wright, who is also a senior. That experience will be huge for the Huskers and expectations will be high, especially for the first season under a new defensive coordinator.
3. Vincent Shavers (Sophomore, Linebacker)
Another linebacker is next on this list as Vincent Shavers takes the next spot. Shavers got himself a major role for the Nebraska defense in the ladder half of the season, showing his potential and explosiveness at the linebacker position. He started in two games, logging 25 total tackles, 2.5 for loss, one sack and a force fumble. To add to it, Pro Football Focus (PFF) named Shavers as the highest graded true freshman linebacker in the country last season.
He could certainly be a breakout candidate for the Blackshirts for the 2025 season, as long as he shows the same level of speed and physicality as they have shown the past few seasons.
2. DeShon Singleton (Senior, Defensive Back)
DeShon Singleton is the top returning tackler from 2024, logging 71 total tackles, with one tackle for loss and one interception. With Singleton back, it will help lockdown the third level alongside either senior Malcom Hartzog Jr or senior Marques Buford Jr.
2025 will be his fourth and final season in Lincoln and he is expected to be one of the main playmakers on the defensive side of the ball for the Huskers in 2025.
1. Ceyair Wright (Senior, Defensive Back)
Ceyair Wright was a late transfer to Nebraska last season and made an instant impact as soon he made it into the starting lineup. In eight starts, Wright set his career high in tackles with 39 with one for loss, two interceptions and six pass breakups and a forced fumble.
It is expected that he will be the No. 1 cornerback for the Huskers in 2025 and has the potential to make the biggest impact out of all of the defensive backs that returned for another season in Lincoln. With that potential comes with expectations and there is hope Wright can live up to them.
We will see when the season kicks off in Kansas City when Nebraska takes on the Cincinnati Bearcats at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 27.
Main Image: © Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
2025 Nebraska Top 5 Series;Â
