Nebraska’s offense has a chance to look very different in 2026, and the transformation starts in the middle of the line.
Senior center Justin Evans just landed on the 40-man preseason watch list for the Rimington Trophy, the award given to the top center in Division I football. That honor fits the way Evans has developed. A former two-star recruit, he’s gone from under-the-radar prospect to legitimate NFL name, and Pro Football Focus now lists him as the highest-graded returning center in college football with an overall mark of 78.6.
Evans made the switch from guard to center before the 2025 season and handled it without a hitch. The New Jersey native allowed only one sack in 443 pass-blocking snaps last year and posted a 75.0 run-blocking grade, which ranked 12th nationally. For Nebraska, that kind of stability is the foundation of everything else.
The Huskers will need it, too, because new quarterback Anthony Colandrea and an inexperienced running back room are walking into a situation that demands help up front. Evans can anchor the unit, but he won’t be carrying the load alone.
Nebraska also brings back senior left tackle Elijah Pritchett, a former five-star recruit who finished 2025 on a much stronger note after an uneven start following his transfer from Alabama. Like Evans, Pritchett heads into 2026 with NFL Draft buzz attached to his name.
Behind those two, Nebraska attacked the transfer portal last winter and added more size, experience and talent. Brendan Black comes in after a strong run at Iowa State, where he emerged as one of the Big 12’s better interior linemen.
Tree Babalade arrives with real starting experience after holding up on a South Carolina front that was often fighting uphill. Paul Mubenga adds another veteran body with a strong résumé from LSU before his transfer.
Put it all together, and Nebraska’s projected starting five lines up as Evans, Pritchett, Black, Babalade and Mubenga. There’s also depth waiting behind them in Grant Brix, Tyler Knaak, Preston Taumua, Gunner Gottula and Clade Mpuoma.
The next step is making the whole thing function under new offensive line coach Geep Wade, who takes over after successful stops that included Georgia Tech.
That kind of upgrade matters because Nebraska’s pass protection was a real issue a year ago. The Huskers gave up 33 sacks, a total that tied for 115th nationally. Colandrea’s mobility gives the offense a different look, but he and that young running back group would still benefit from a front that can take over games.
With Evans at center and a deeper, more experienced line around him, Nebraska has the pieces to be much tougher in the trenches in 2026.
In Other News...
Nebraska Fall Camp Takes A Hit In A Crucial Young Position Group
Nebraskas fall camp has already produced its share of notable headlines, from center Justin Evans landing on the Rimington Trophy Watch List to the Big Ten adjusting travel rosters to 80 players under its new eligibility rules. There was also a bit of good news on the pro side, with former Husker defensive tackle Ben Stille getting a shot with the Detroit Lions, while Roger Craigs Hall of Fame weekend brought a sobering reminder of the long-term toll football can take.
The concern for Nebraska right now, though, is in a young position group that could use every rep it can get. Freshman wide receiver Larry Miles is expected to miss six to eight weeks with a lower-leg injury, leaving the Huskers thinner at a spot where development and depth matter in a hurry. It is the kind of setback that can ripple through camp, especially for a newcomer trying to carve out a role before the season gets moving. [Read more 🡒]
Gunnar Gottula Just Raised The Stakes In Nebraskas Tackle Battle
Gunnar Gottula is back in the mix for Nebraska after missing two offseasons to rehab, and that alone gives the Huskers tackle competition a different feel. Matt Rhule pointed to Gottulas experience and versatility as reasons the coaching staff is watching him closely, especially with the offensive line still taking shape and every useful piece mattering along the front five.
What makes Gottula interesting is not just that he is competing for a starting tackle job, but that he can help the line in more than one spot. Rhule also tied the discussion to offensive line coach Geep Wade and the value of depth, which is where this battle really gets going for Nebraska: the more a player can do, the harder it becomes to leave him out of the plan. [Read more 🡒]
Matt Rhules Early Camp Take Is Fueling Nebraskas Biggest Debate
Nebraska has already gotten through the first stretch of fall camp with pads on, plus a fan day event that gave supporters their first look at the 2024 version of the Huskers. Matt Rhule also used the moment to note that Damon Benning is joining the personnel department, while making clear he likes the way the roster is taking shape with returning starters and a batch of newcomers from the transfer portal.
The early practices have naturally pushed the biggest debate back into focus: whether the offense has enough weapons and offensive line depth to match the defensive side of the roster, especially with Rob Aurich settling into his role as coordinator. Rhules early read has been encouraging, but camp is always where optimism gets tested, and Nebraskas next few weeks will go a long way toward showing whether the pieces he likes can actually fit together the way the staff wants. [Read more 🡒]