Nebraska Linebacker Roger Gradney Enters Transfer Portal After Injury-Shortened Stint
Roger Gradney is looking for a fresh start.
The Nebraska linebacker announced Monday night that he’s entering the transfer portal, signaling a new chapter after an injury-hampered two-year run in Lincoln. A highly touted four-star recruit out of Texas, Gradney arrived with the kind of athletic profile that had coaches and fans alike envisioning a versatile weapon on both defense and special teams. But a torn ACL in the preseason of 2024 derailed his freshman campaign, and his redshirt season was followed by limited action in 2025 - just four total snaps across two games.
Now, he’s hitting reset.
Gradney’s story is one of raw athleticism and two-way potential. At Rice Consolidated High School in Texas, he was a do-it-all standout.
On defense, he racked up 46 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and six sacks as a senior. Offensively, he was a hybrid threat - part running back, part receiver - and made the most of limited touches, rushing six times for 108 yards and a touchdown.
He also flashed as a return specialist, bringing a dynamic edge to special teams.
And it wasn’t just the football field where he stood out. Gradney’s track résumé is no joke: a 10.88-second 100-meter dash, a 43-foot, 4.5-inch triple jump, and a 130-foot discus throw. That blend of speed, explosiveness, and strength made him one of the more intriguing athletic prospects in Nebraska’s 2024 class.
When he first joined the Huskers, Gradney made it clear he wasn’t just a one-position player. “They see me doing anything: cornerback, safety, linebacker, D-end, wide receiver, running the ball out of the wildcat, taking back kick returns - and I know I can do all of it,” he told Husker247 at the time. That kind of confidence, backed by his multi-sport pedigree, made him a Swiss Army knife in the eyes of the coaching staff.
But the injury changed the trajectory, at least for now.
On Monday, Gradney shared a message of gratitude as he officially entered the portal. “I would like to thank my coaches, teammates, and the support staff for their guidance and commitment throughout this journey,” he wrote. “The culture, expectations and daily standards at Nebraska have played an important role in shaping me as a student-athlete.”
There’s no doubt Gradney’s time in Lincoln didn’t unfold the way many expected. But the talent is still there, and the door is wide open for a resurgence. Whether he lands in a system that taps into his linebacker instincts, his return-game explosiveness, or even his offensive versatility, Gradney brings a unique toolkit to the table - and a chip on his shoulder.
He’s not done yet.