Nebraska’s 2026 Early Enrollees Get Valuable Head Start at Las Vegas Bowl Practices
LAS VEGAS - For five members of Nebraska’s 2026 recruiting class, this week’s Las Vegas Bowl prep has been more than just a sneak peek - it’s been their first real taste of college football.
Running back Jamal Rule, offensive lineman Rex Waterman, kicker Michael Sarikizis, wide receiver Nalin Scott, and tight end Luke Sorensen all suited up and participated in practice with the Huskers during Saturday’s open session. These early enrollees aren’t just watching from the sidelines - they’re getting reps, absorbing the playbook, and starting to learn what it means to be a Nebraska football player.
Head coach Matt Rhule sees this as a crucial developmental window. Bowl practices, he says, offer a unique opportunity for young players to get a jump on their transition - not just physically, but mentally and culturally - before the grind of winter conditioning kicks off in January.
And he’s got a recent example to back it up.
“Just a year ago at Fordham, TJ was throwing his first couple passes,” Rhule said, referring to quarterback TJ Lateef. “Here a year later, he’s starting for us.”
That’s the kind of trajectory Rhule is hoping this group can follow. The message to the newcomers?
Find a veteran at your position. Watch how they move, how they train, how they prepare.
Learn what it takes to be a pro - because that’s the standard.
This isn’t just about running routes or hitting the sled. It’s about learning how to be accountable, how to show up on time, how to approach every practice with purpose. Rhule’s philosophy is clear: if you want to play like a pro, you’ve got to act like one - from Day One.
Two other freshmen, wide receiver Larry Miles and offensive tackle Claude Mpouma, joined the team in Lincoln last week and are expected to be part of the early development group. Meanwhile, cornerback Danny Odem is set to play in the Navy All-American Bowl in early January before enrolling. The final two members of the class - linebacker Jase Reynolds and offensive lineman Hayden Ainsworth - will arrive on campus in May.
But for the five already in Las Vegas, this week has been about more than just getting a head start. It’s been an introduction to the expectations that come with wearing the Nebraska jersey.
“Our whole team, it’s real simple,” Rhule said. “We want them to be a pro while they’re here.
To be on time, practice and play as hard as they can - and when the time comes, go have fun. But don’t let anything get in the way of football.”
That mindset is already being instilled in the next wave of Huskers. And if history is any indicator, this early exposure could pay dividends down the line.