Nebraska may have found an answer in the backfield, and it comes with a freshman label attached.
Jamal Rule, a true freshman running back who arrived early and turned heads all spring, is suddenly one of the most talked-about names around the Huskers. CBS Sports recently included him among 11 Big Ten true freshmen to watch who could make an immediate impact in 2026, and it’s easy to see why Nebraska people are buzzing.
At 6-foot and 205 pounds, the three-star recruit from Charlotte, N.C., made his spring game impossible to ignore. Rule ripped off a 75-yard touchdown run, finished with 119 yards on 10 carries and added a 15-yard catch. For a player who is supposed to be developing in the background, that’s a loud introduction.
Nebraska coach Matt Rhule didn’t hide his excitement after the spring game.
“Jamal had a really good spring,” Rhule told reporters after the spring game. “What he looked like today, he looked like all spring long.
He’s very conscientious. He’s big, he’s tough, he’s fast, he’s got home run ability.”
That kind of praise matters even more now, because Nebraska’s running back situation has shifted fast. The Huskers lost 2025 Big Ten Running Back of the Year Emmett Johnson to NFL Draft and the Kansas City Chiefs after Johnson piled up a conference-best 1,451 rushing yards last season. That departure already left the room looking uncertain.
Then came another hit: presumed starting running back Mekhi Nelson was arrested in Key West, Fla., last week and charged with aggravated battery, according to Pete Nakos of On3. The legal fallout is still unclear, and so is what it means for Nelson’s football status.
Against that backdrop, Rule’s rise looks even more important.
Brad Crawford of CBS Sports pointed to the freshman’s recruiting profile and spring performance in explaining why Rule made the list. “Some would say he was overlooked a bit by the elite programs during the recruiting process, but this three-star out of Charlotte, North Carolina, was identified early as a must-have for the Huskers and checked every box for coach Matt Rhule and his staff.
“Virginia Tech, Michigan State and Syracuse were in on Rule as well, but Nebraska won his commitment and may have grabbed an unexpected freshman starter as a result.
“Hoping to prove a point during spring camp, Rule showed aggression and ran hard on every rep. The expectation is that the Huskers will take a by-committee approach in the run game this season following the departure of leading rusher Emmett Johnson, and Rule should get some totes along with Isaiah Mozee and Mekhi Nelson."
Rhule also said after the spring game that Rule is “certainly preparing to play this year as a freshman.”
That matters for a Nebraska offense that could use a dependable ground game to help new quarterback Anthony Colandrea settle in. If Rule can carry over what he showed in the spring, the Huskers may have a runner who can change how defenses line up against them.
A back with big-play juice can force opponents to account for the run even on passing downs, which opens up the rest of the offense. It can also pull some attention away from the passing game and give Nebraska a chance to create balance.
That’s the old Nebraska formula, the kind built on a strong run game first. And with the season only two months away, the Huskers won’t have to wait long to find out whether Rule can turn spring hype into real production.
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