With Nebraska’s fall camp set to open Wednesday, the offense already has a shape to it - even if the Huskers aren’t ready to put anything in ink just yet. There are battles still to be settled between now and the Sept. 5 opener, but a few spots look a lot more stable than others.
The biggest wrinkle around the roster is on the defensive side, where Nebraska is working with its third defensive coordinator in four years and shifting from a 3-3-5 base to a more traditional 4-2-5. Rob Aurich got a look at some of these players in the Las Vegas Bowl against Utah, though he wasn’t on the sideline coaching that game. He also brought in a number of new players who will be fighting returnees for jobs in 2026.
Offensively, though, the picture is easier to sketch out.
At quarterback, Anthony Colandrea looks like the guy. Matt Rhule has said Nebraska will have a legitimate battle there this fall, but the former Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year didn’t arrive in Lincoln without believing he had a real path to QB1.
TJ Lateef projects as the backup thanks to what he brings as a dual-threat option, while Daniel Kaelin’s more accurate arm keeps him in the mix. Bode Soukup sits further down the board for now.
Running back is another spot that changed quickly. A week ago, the room looked far more unsettled.
Now Mekhi Nelson is the projected starter after Emmett Johnson declared for the draft, and Nelson backed up the staff’s confidence with a strong showing against Utah. His return to full availability after spring legal issues makes him the clear favorite.
Isaiah Mozee is next up, helped by the fact that he can catch the ball after making the move from receiver. Behind them, Jamal Rule, Tikey Hayes, Kwinten Ives and Conor Booth remain the wild cards, with Hayes, Rule and Ives all having a chance to climb.
Receiver might be the most loaded group on the offense. Nyziah Hunter, Kwazi Gilmer and Jacory Barney Jr. project as the starters, with Gilmer arriving from UCLA this offseason and sliding right into the top group.
That trio gives Nebraska a dangerous first wave. Behind them, Cortez Mills Jr., Quinn Clark and Janiran Bonner are the next names to watch, even if none has a big body of work yet.
And the depth doesn’t stop there: Keelan Smith, Demitrius Bell, Jackson Carpenter, Roman Mangini, Connor Schutt, Hayes Miller, DJ Singleton Jr., Nalin Scott and Larry Miles give this room a level of volume that stands out. One of those players could end up making a real move in 2026.
Tight end is the one place where the depth chart feels thinner. Luke Lindenmeyer is the starter, and Carter Nelson is behind him.
Nebraska has options at the position, but Lindenmeyer looks like the one offensive player who has truly locked down his job as firmly as Colandrea has at quarterback. Nelson and Sorenson have drawn praise this offseason, but both are still relatively untested, and the rest of the room doesn’t bring much game experience either.
Up front, Nebraska’s projected line has a settled look as camp begins. Elijah Pritchett is at left tackle with Gunnar Gottula behind him.
Paul Mubenga is the left guard, Sam Sledge the backup. Justin Evans anchors the middle at center with Jake Peters behind him.
Brendan Black is listed at right guard, backed up by Gibson Pyle. Tree Babalade is at right tackle, with Tyler Knaak next in line.
The offensive line has been uneven during the Matt Rhule era, but there’s real optimism around this group now that Geep Wade is coaching it and the roster has picked up more talent this offseason. Evans stands out as one of the best centers in the country, and that matters even more with a new quarterback set to operate behind him.
In Other News...
Nebraska Freshmen Could Be Thrust Into Key Roles Right Away
Nebraskas 2026 recruiting class was built with immediate needs in mind, and the early conversation around it has already started to center on a few newcomers who could factor in before long. The Huskers signed 12 recruits in the cycle, with the biggest emphasis landing on areas of clear roster need, especially along the defensive line and at tight end, where added size and depth are always at a premium.
Among the freshmen drawing the most attention are defensive tackle Dylan Berymon, tight end Luke Sorensen and cornerback Danny Odem. Each arrives with the kind of physical profile Nebraska wants in those spots, and each is being viewed as a possible candidate to see the field early in the season, a sign that this class may not spend much time waiting in the wings. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraskas Brand Still Stands With College Footballs Biggest Powers
The Athletics latest look at Power 4 program valuations offered a reminder that Nebraska still carries real weight in the college football marketplace. At $1.06 billion, the Huskers landed tied for 15th nationally and sixth among Big Ten programs, a standing that keeps them in the same broad conversation as the sports biggest brands even in a changing financial landscape.
What stands out is not just the number, but what it says about the programs place in the modern game. Nebraska remains one of the few athletic departments that can sustain itself financially, and the school has continued putting significant resources back into its teams, a point that helps explain why the brand still travels well even as the on-field results have not always matched the name on the helmet. [Read more 🡒]
Anthony Colandrea Gives Nebraska Fans A Reason To Believe Early
Anthony Colandreas arrival has already given Nebraska a little more buzz around its quarterback room, and the early signs have only added to it. After stops at Virginia and UNLV, where he was the Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Year, Colandrea came to Lincoln with a rsum that suggested he could bring immediate credibility to the Huskers offense. Being named to the Maxwell Award watch list only sharpened the attention around him as Nebraska heads into the season looking for stability and playmaking at the games most important position.
Matt Rhule has pointed to Colandreas adjustment and growing confidence as the kind of progress Nebraska wanted to see from a transfer quarterback. For a fan base that has spent years waiting for the offense to take a real step forward, Colandrea represents more than another offseason storyline. If his transition keeps trending the right way, Nebraska could have a quarterback who not only settles in quickly but also gives the program a reason to think bigger about what the season can become. [Read more 🡒]