After the 2025 season and the transfer portal, the Nebraska Cornhuskers again have a relatively new look team. The Huskers will see new O-lineman, QB’s, RB’s, WR’s, and a whole lot of defensive players. Heading into 2026, Nebraska will look to break onto the scene after two 7-6 seasons back-t0-back. Here are the grades for Nebraska’s positions heading into spring ball after last season and the transfer portal.
Grading Nebraska’s Positions
Offense:
QB: B+
Nebraska lost Dylan Raiola, Marcos Davila and some others at the QB position. However, it is pretty fair to say Nebraska recovered pretty well from that. Now, Nebraska doesn’t have one clear starter of the 3 that could start. First, theirs TJ Lateef, who Husker fans are very familiar with; as a true freshman, he had some nice moments and could start.
Next, theirs the transfer from UNLV, Anthony Colandrea, who is probably favored for the starting job after a nice season that saw him throw for 3,459 and 23 TD’s. Finally, Nebraska got back former 3-star recruit, Daniel Kaelin, who originally was at Nebraska before transferring to Virginia and then back to Nebraska, he too could compete for the starting job. With the room having depth, it definitely is one the best in the BIG Ten.
RB: B
One position that Matt Rhule probably should have addressed in the portal and didn’t was halfback position. However, last season, Rhule did the same thing and pretty much wasn’t hurt too much by it. The Huskers got a doak-walker award kind of season from Emmett Johnson, with the worst thing being no solid halfback number two during the season. Unlike what many may think though, Nebraska has three capable running backs, who all are pretty good prospects to be the next great back. Melki Nelson, Kwinton Ives, and Isiah Mozee offer some speed, skill and capability. The position and the depth of it isn’t eye-popping, but it should be just fine in 2026.
WR and TE: A+
Some might not agree, but Nebraska’s receiver room is among the best if not the best in the BIG Ten (other than maybe Ohio State). Nebraska will see the return of two speedy, dangerous receivers in Jacory Barney Jr. and Nyziah Hunter, who were both potential 1,000 yard receivers before the Raiola injury. They are joined by transfer Kzazi Gilmer, who racked up 500 yards last season for the UCLA Bruins. The depth is also pretty insane, as Nebraska could see a healthy Janiran Bonner and Demetrius Bell, and still, Nebraska saw some good moments from youngsters Quinn Clark and Cortez Mills Jr. To put it simply, half the room could go down and Nebraska would be just fine.
As for the tight end position, that is also a position that Nebraska is pretty good with. Luke Lindermeyer had a nice 2025, and he will be joined by highly touted recruit Carter Nelson and true freshman Luke Sorenson, both could be big parts of Nebraska’s offense in 2026.
OL: A
Finally, there is the offensive line, which had it’s struggles in 2025. However, there it will be different in 2026 with both returning stars and portal additions. Nebraska added three players in Tree Babalade, Brendan Black, and Paul Mubenga. The O-line will also see the return of two NFL prospects, Justin Evans and Elijah Pritchett. Nebraska will have one of the biggest offensive lines in the country will all of these additions. And this position too, without injuries, is going to be a very good one.
Defense:
DL: C+
Nebraska’s defensive line went from insanely good in 2024 to one of the worst in quite possibly program history in 2025. The big problem coming into spring ball is if the underexperienced defensive line can put things together. The Huskers added Jaysear Whittington, Owen Stoudmire, and Dylan Berrymon this offseason to the interior defensive line, in addition to still having Riley Van Poppel, Kade Pietrak, and others.
This part of the D-line is pretty worrying but also exciting, because it has a ton of potential but little experience. As for the DE’s, that is Anthony Jones and Williams Nwaneri. When it comes to prospects, Nwaneri is the kind of player that can make a D-line good by himself, while Jones adds some experience to the position. Overall, the D-line is still pretty young, but does have potential. At the very least, it should be a little better than last season.
LB: A
Nebraska got a good and bad version of their linebackers this season. For one, they were very good against defending the pass, on the other end, they forgot how to tackle the running back or QB. Nebraska already knows they have a starter in Vincent Shavers Jr., who has big potential, but the Huskers also added on the best LB’s in the country according to PFFN in Owen Chambliss. Chambliss nearly doubled the Huskers leading in sacks last season as he had 4 and Nwaneri had 2.5. He also can defend against the pass.
The Huskers still even added a player with lots of potential in Dexter Foster and another one with potential, Will Hawthorne. Nebraska still has depth as well, and a healthy Dawson Merritt, who is a highly touted recruit could be amazing. There is absolutely no reason for this position not to be very exciting to watch in 2026.
DB: B+
The one thing Husker defensive backs need to do in 2026 is be better in the running game. Other than that, Nebraska had the second best secondary in the country last season. They will lose many players, but they retained Andrew Marshall among others. Nebraska added a big safety in Dwayne McDougle, who absolutely destroyed defenses last season.
Nebraska also added CB Victor Evans III and S Jason Trigg’s. But wait, there’s more! Nebraska also got the second best cornerback in the nation in Danny Odem, who might start immediately for Nebraska. Not to mention Nebraska saw many others start last season who could do it again in 2026. Nebraska probably won’t have the kind of secondary they did in 2025, but it still looks pretty good.
Main Image: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images
