Nebraska’s running back room could get a lot clearer - or a lot messier - before fall camp opens.
The biggest question hanging over the Huskers right now is Mekhi Nelson, the team’s most experienced back and, for the moment, a player stuck in limbo. Nelson was arrested in Florida a few weeks ago on battery charges against his girlfriend, and Nebraska has said very little since the news broke. When the arrest first became public, the university confirmed it had seen the report but offered no further comment.
Then came a key development last week: prosecutors in Florida declined to file charges against Nelson. That decision appeared to reopen the door to a return, even as Nebraska added another running back in former Penn State back Tikey Hayes, who came over from Iowa Western Community College.
Some viewed Hayes as a possible replacement if Nelson were gone. But with the charges dropped, there’s at least a chance he simply becomes another piece in a backfield that has talent but not much experience.
For now, Nelson seems to be in an unofficial suspension of sorts. He has not taken part in team activities since the arrest, and while he was never formally suspended or publicly removed from the program, he also hasn’t been brought back into the fold. The real question now is whether the dropped charges change that status.
If Nebraska does move on from Nelson, or if he decides to leave, the depth chart would take a hit. Freshman Jamal Rule and sophomore Isaiah Mozee are both intriguing options, but neither comes with much college experience. Mozee was a wide receiver before moving to halfback, and Rule is a true freshman who has yet to play a snap at the college level.
Mozee did flash last season. He finished with 26 carries for 115 yards, including a long of 21 yards, and added 14 catches for 155 yards. But with Emmett Johnson handling the bulk of the work, there weren’t many touches left to distribute.
That’s what makes Nelson such an important piece. He leads all returning Nebraska backs in rushing and entered the offseason looking like the early favorite to start in 2026.
Last season, he ran 27 times for 147 yards and two touchdowns and also caught 8 passes for 102 yards. His best showing came in the bowl game against Utah, when he carried 12 times for 88 yards and a touchdown and added 3 receptions for 48 more yards.
The next move should come soon. If Nebraska doesn’t address it before then, Matt Rhule and the Huskers will be at Big Ten Media Days beginning July 28, and it’s hard to imagine they’ll make it through those three days without facing direct questions about Nelson’s future.
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