Nebraska’s first week in fall camp has already started to reveal where this team might separate itself in 2026. The Huskers are still early in the process, but the picture is getting clearer: the quarterback situation looks sharper, the backfield has talent with some proving to do, and the trenches appear far better equipped to hold up over a full season.
The biggest buzz so far centers on Anthony Colandrea. The 2025 Mountain West Player of the Year has clearly made a strong first impression on Dana Holgorsen, who said he knew Colandrea could run but has been just as struck by the arm talent.
Holgorsen said Colandrea has “checked all the boxes” so far in fall camp. That sentiment seems to be shared around the program.
Offensive linemen, receivers, and running backs have all had good things to say about him, and Matt Rhule called him the “yin to my yang.” The fit between Colandrea and Nebraska’s staff seems to have clicked immediately, and that chemistry is showing up early.
More than anything, he gives the Huskers a different kind of playmaker at quarterback - one Nebraska needed.
That doesn’t mean the running back room is without questions. The staff sounds confident in the talent, but this group still has to prove it over the grind of a full season.
Mekhi Nelson and Isaiah Mozee already flashed in the bowl game against Utah, and that performance gave a glimpse of what this backfield can do when it gets rolling. Nelson finished with 12 carries for 88 yards and a touchdown, plus three catches for 48 yards.
His total line included a 38-yard run and a 24-yard reception, good for 136 yards on 15 touches. Mozee added seven carries for 32 yards and four receptions for 48 yards, giving the duo 216 yards on 27 touches combined.
There are more names in the mix, too. Jamal Rule has been drawing attention, while Tikey Hayes and Kwinten Ives are part of the picture as well.
Nelson and Mozee look like the two most likely to handle the bulk of the workload, but Rule should have a role. It wouldn’t be surprising if all three reached 100 carries.
Nebraska appears headed toward more of a committee approach, and Colandrea’s ability to run, especially in the zone read, should make life easier for the backs than it has been in recent seasons.
The other area that stands out is the line play on both sides. Nebraska spent the offseason adding real experience up front, and that could end up being one of the defining changes on the roster.
The offensive line brought in Brendan Black, Paul Mubenga, and Tree Babalade, three players with nearly 60 combined starts. On the defensive line, the additions of Owen Stoudmire, Anthony Jones, and Jashear Whittington give the Huskers more options and more depth.
There’s also reason to think Nebraska can get more from the players already in place. At defensive tackle, Riley Van Poppel, Tyson Terry, Malcolm Simpson, and possibly freshman Dylan Berymon, listed at about 340, are all names to watch. On the edge, Kade Pietrzak looks ready for a breakout, Williams Nwaerni is in that conversation too, and Cameron Lenhardt may be set for his best season as a Husker.
That kind of depth matters because Nebraska got pushed around in the trenches last season, and the expectation now is that won’t happen again. The Huskers should protect and affect the quarterback better than they have at any point in the Matt Rhule era, and they should be more effective against the run as well. The 4-2-5 will help, but the bigger difference is the size, experience, and quality Nebraska has built up front.
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 🡒]