Nebraska’s third week of fall camp has brought enough clarity to sketch out where things stand for Week 1, even if a few battles are still live.
Matt Rhule said the Huskers are expected to hold some kind of scrimmage on Saturday, though he wasn’t sure what that would look like last weekend. Either way, the confidence around the program is obvious, and the early read on the roster is starting to take shape.
At quarterback, there doesn’t seem to be much mystery at the top. Anthony Colandrea is the starter, with TJ Lateef and Daniel Kaelin behind him. The real fight is for the No. 2 job, and Lateef appears to have the edge because of what he brings as a runner.
The backfield is still unsettled. Mekhi Nelson or Isaiah Mozee look like the lead options, with Jama Rule in the mix as well.
Mozee has put together a strong camp, and Rule has been solid too. Dana Holgorsen said the freshman will play, and he also praised his pass protection, which stood out as an important note.
Nelson may be the most talented pure runner, Mozee the most complete, and Rule the best fit for the Big Ten. That competition is going to carry into the season.
Receiver, though, looks deeper and more established. Nyziah Hunter, Kwazi Gilmer, and Jacory Barney headline the first group, with Quinn Clark, Cortez Mills, and Janiran Bonner right behind them.
Nebraska has three receivers who each posted at least 484 receiving yards last season, so there is real production in the room even without a clear No. 1 target. Clark and Mills are also expected to take a noticeable step forward.
Tight end has not generated a ton of positive buzz, but Luke Lindenmeyer gives the group a dependable presence. He earned Honorable Mention All-Big Ten honors last season after catching 29 passes for 312 yards, and he brings value as a blocker too.
Carter Nelson has played in every game over the past two seasons and should factor heavily on special teams. Whether he can push into the offensive two-deep is still up in the air.
Luke Sorensen and Eric Ingwerson are names to watch, and Ingwerson is said to be having a strong camp.
Up front, the projected line has Elijah Pritchett, Paul Mubenga, Justin Evans, Brendan Black, and Gunnar Gottula, with Tree Babalade, Sam Sledge, Tyler Knaak, and Gibson Pyle listed as backups. Gottula has made a move and at minimum looks like the swing tackle.
With Babalade missing practice this week, it’s possible Gottula could pass him. Geep Wade appears to be high on the 16-game starter from the past two seasons, and now that he’s healthy, a starting nod would not be a surprise.
The defensive interior is anchored by Riley Van Poppel and Jashear Whittington, with Owen Stoudmire, Tyson Terry, Dylan Berymon, and Malcolm Simpson behind them. Whittington may not be on the field as much on run downs, but he’s expected to be a real pass-rush factor.
Nebraska never fully replaced Ty Robinson last season, and the pass rush suffered. Whittington is viewed as the answer to that issue.
Terry has been coming on strong, and Berymon could matter immediately even in a limited role as a run stuffer.
On the edge, Williams Nwaneri and Cameron Lenhardt are the projected starters, with Anthony Jones, Kade Pietrzak, and Willis McGahee IV in reserve. Lenhardt posted three sacks as a freshman and earned freshman All-American honors.
Nwaneri, a former five-star recruit, had 2.5 sacks last season in what was his sophomore year. Both are in position for a major jump, and Nebraska needs it.
Jones and Pietrzak are expected to see plenty of snaps too, while McGahee remains a wild card.
Linebacker may be Nebraska’s strongest group. Javin Wright, Vincent Shavers, and Mikai Gbayor are the projected starters, with Dawson Merritt and Christian Jones giving the Huskers quality depth and three starting-caliber linebackers overall as they enter their sophomore seasons.
Chambliss is the top dog and might be the best player on the defense. Foster and Shavers are right there too, and it sounds like there could be an or between their names.
At safety, Jamir Conn and Dwyane McDougle are the projected starters, with Caleb Benning, Rex Guthrie, and Jasin Shiggs behind them. There has been buzz about Benning working with the No. 1 defense, which is a positive sign and could point to him as the third safety.
McDougle still seems to hold a slight edge. Guthrie also projects more as a big nickel linebacker, with his strength in the box.
Cornerback is still sorting itself out opposite Andrew Marshall. Jaylen Lloyd Evans, Kamari Charles, and Prince Odem are competing for the CB2 job.
Evans, who runs a 4.31 in the 40 and has started games before at FIU, appears to have a slight lead. Charles and Odem are both expected to play, and there’s still curiosity around when Odem will be fully ready.
He was a five-star recruit for a reason.
In Other News...
Nebraska Has An Unexpected Position Problem On Offense
The tight end room has emerged as one of the quieter concerns around Nebraska heading into the 2026 season, and it is not hard to see why the coaching staff has been pressing the issue. Former offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield was not pleased with what he saw in practice, and Dana Holgorsen has already taken aim at the groups summer work, especially when the Huskers have tried to involve the position in the passing game.
For Nebraska, the challenge is less about whether there is talent on the roster and more about whether that talent can turn into dependable production. Luke Lindenmeyer and Carter Nelson are the obvious names to watch as the staff looks for more consistency, while true freshman Luke Sorensen adds another intriguing option to the mix. The upside is there, but this is one of those spots where the Huskers need answers before the offense can feel complete. [Read more 🡒]
Adrian Martinez Just Made His 49ers Roster Fight Even Tougher
Adrian Martinezs bid to stick with the San Francisco 49ers has hit a rough patch in the preseason, and the former Nebraska quarterback is now facing a tougher climb on the roster bubble. Through his first two exhibition games, Martinez has had trouble with accuracy and ball security, completing 24 of 47 passes while throwing two interceptions, a line that has left him behind other quarterbacks on the depth chart.
Martinez still has a path, but it is not the cleanest one. His chances could improve if injuries continue to thin the quarterback room, which would keep the door open a little longer for him to make a case in the weeks ahead. For now, though, he has work to do if he wants to turn a difficult start into a real argument for a roster spot. [Read more 🡒]
Justin Evans Is Giving Nebraska Fans Real Reason To Believe
Nebraskas offensive front has a familiar name drawing national attention heading into 2026. Justin Evans, the fifth-year senior center, has been named a second-team All-American by The Athletic, another sign that his rise has gone well beyond Lincoln. A steady presence in the middle, Evans has started 31 games for the Cornhuskers and has built a reputation as one of the better interior linemen in the country.
The appeal is easy to see for Nebraska fans. Evans started all 13 games in 2025 and was not responsible for any sacks allowed by the offensive line, a strong marker for a player whose job is often measured by what does not go wrong. With his status as a top interior prospect for the 2027 NFL Draft already established, Evans gives Nebraska both a proven anchor now and a clear pro-level storyline to watch as the season approaches. [Read more 🡒]