A new name is taking over Nebraska’s kicking job, and that’s only part of the shuffle happening around the Huskers right now.
Matt Rhule announced that John Hohl will handle the place-kicking duties after Kyle Cunanan came up short on a critical fourth-quarter field goal against Washington last week and also missed one against Indiana. Hohl, who went 10-for-15 for Nebraska in the 2024 season, was perfect on three tries against Ohio State but also had costly misses of his own, including one against Illinois with a little more than two minutes left and another in the 13-10 loss to Iowa. He did connect on his lone attempt last week.
Nebraska is also tweaking how its offensive staff is set up. Dana Holgorsen and Geep Wade will both be in the booth, while Lonnie Teasley will work from the sideline so he can handle the technique coaching.
Rhule’s setup is a little unusual, especially with an offensive line coach in the booth, and it raises the possibility that Wade could have a larger hand in the play-calling. However it shakes out, Nebraska still needs to show more patience on the ground.
Rhule also addressed quarterback Anthony Colandrea on Wednesday night radio, making it clear he wants him to play freely without overthinking it.
“When you’re the quarterback, everyone’s looking to you. So we don’t want him to be too much.
But we do want him to be Ant,” Rhule said. “Ant’s a dynamic player.
I want him to run around and make plays. Be in the quarterback run game.
I don’t want him to listen to, ‘Don’t run it. Be in the pocket.’
When you’re in the pocket, be great in the pocket. When you’re outside the pocket, go be you.”
There’s also recruiting momentum building on the trail. Tim Verghese of Hurrdat Sports reported that Nebraska is the team to beat for four-star tight end Israel Johnigan, a blue-chip prospect from Missouri in the 2028 class.
The 6-foot-4, 220-pound tight end is ranked No. 216 overall in the 247Sports Composite, visited for the Washington game, and has already made multiple trips to Lincoln. Oregon and Notre Dame have both offered recently, which adds some competition, but Nebraska appears to be in a strong spot.
In Other News...
Nebraska Just Made A Special Teams Change Fans Were Waiting For
Nebraska made a notable special teams switch this week, turning to John Hohl as the new place-kicker after Kyle Cunanan struggled with missed field goals in recent games. It is the kind of adjustment fans had been expecting, especially with kicking issues often becoming magnified in tight Big Ten games, and it gives the Cornhuskers a chance to reset one of the most scrutinized spots on the roster.
The changes do not stop there, either, with offensive coordinators Dana Holgorsen and Geep Wade set to coach from the booth while Lonnie Teasley stays on the sideline. On the recruiting front, Nebraska also appears to be in strong position with four-star tight end Israel Johnigan, who has already visited campus and has other programs in the mix, adding another layer of intrigue to a busy stretch for the program. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Volleyball Just Took A Recruiting Hit Fans Wont Ignore
A key 2027 volleyball target is no longer headed to Lincoln, as Kendall Omoruyi announced she has switched her verbal commitment from Nebraska to Texas A&M. The move comes as a notable recruiting setback for a program that has long made elite front-row talent a priority, and it shifts one of the classs most closely watched prospects to the SEC instead.
Omoruyi said her decision was tied to personal growth and spirituality, while also thanking both schools for their role in her journey. Texas A&M, fresh off its first national championship, now adds her to an already strong group of middle blockers, leaving Nebraska to regroup as it continues chasing top-end talent for the future. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Faces A Friday Night Chance To Change The Season Mood
Nebraska has spent enough recent seasons fighting for traction that even a single game can feel like a referendum on where the program is headed. Under Matt Rhule in 2023, the Huskers showed they could put together a statement win at Illinois, then had to carry that momentum into the rest of the schedule, which is why the next meeting with the Illini already carries a little extra weight for a fan base looking for signs of steadiness.
The 2026 Nebraska-Illinois matchup arrives with the kind of backdrop that makes a Friday night feel bigger than a date on the calendar, from the history between the programs to the broadcast stage that comes with it. It also puts a spotlight on familiar Husker names like tight end Luke Lindenmeyer and defensive back Donovan Jones, part of a roster still trying to turn isolated bright spots into something more lasting, and the real question is whether this trip can again become the kind of game that changes the mood around the season. [Read more 🡒]