Nebraska’s recruiting attention is already pushing into 2028, and one of the biggest names on the board is a familiar in-state target.
Justin Parish, the 6-foot-4, 270-pound offensive lineman from Omaha Westside, sits at No. 311 overall in the 2028 class in the 247 Sports composite rankings and is the top-ranked player in Nebraska for that cycle. Geep Wade, Nebraska’s new offensive line coach, has made Parish a priority early, and the Huskers appear to be in a strong spot.
The Rivals Recruiting Prediction Machine has Nebraska as the favorite, and that outlook could get even better this fall. According to Bryan Munson of Husker Online, Parish is expected to return to Lincoln for a gameday visit. That trip matters, especially after Parish did not make it to campus this summer even though Nebraska offered him in May.
Nebraska won’t be alone in the chase. Parish told Munson he also plans to take gameday visits to Georgia Tech, Missouri, Iowa, Tennessee, and Penn State this fall. He did visit other schools over the summer, so the Huskers will need to make the most of his time back in Lincoln.
There’s also new information on Nebraska’s latest running back addition, Tikey Hayes, and it paints a pretty clear picture of the kind of player the Huskers are getting.
Iowa Western head coach Scott Strohmeier told Husker Online, “He’s physical. He’s not afraid, to say the least,” Iowa Western head coach Scott Strohmeier told Husker Online.
“We run some jet sweeps with the slot receiver, and he was our lead blocker. He was really good there, and really good in pass protection.
Strong player.”
That pass-protection piece stands out. It’s often the hidden skill that decides whether a back can stay on the field, because if a runner can’t protect the quarterback, defenses can sniff out what’s coming. Strohmeier’s comments suggest that won’t be an issue for Hayes.
The blocking angle also matters with Nebraska’s backfield picture. Jamal Rule still has to prove he can do enough to earn steady carries, and blocking could help Isaiah Mozee win the starting job even though some are overlooking him.
Mozee looks like a strong secondary option, someone who could handle about 10-15 touches per game. If Mekhi Nelson is suspended, his knowledge of the offense and ability to block could put him in line to start the season.
But Hayes could force his way into the mix quickly. If he learns the offense and keeps showing that same edge in pass protection, he has a path to early playing time in Nebraska’s 2026 season.
In Other News...
Carter Nelson Faces A Huge Camp Test As Huskers Wait On Ahmad Hudson
Carter Nelson is heading into fall camp with a different kind of spotlight on him, one that has less to do with where Nebraska first recruited him and more with where he might fit best now. The Huskers have enough help at tight end to at least entertain a move, and Nelsons best trait has always been as a pass catcher, which is why the conversation around him has started to tilt toward wide receiver and away from the traditional tight end role.
That shift has plenty of believers inside the Nebraska orbit, including Damon Benning, who now has Nelson inside his top group of wideouts and called it his biggest turnaround opinion on a player. Elsewhere in the Big Ten conversation, The Athletic slotted Anthony Colandrea in the conferences fourth tier of quarterbacks, a reminder of how crowded and unforgiving the leagues passing landscape can be. For Nebraska, the more immediate issue is still sorting out how Nelson is used, while the wait on Ahmad Hudson stretches on without any real sign of a quick resolution. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraskas QB Hype Comes With One Concern Fans Know Too Well
Anthony Colandreas first offseason as Nebraskas starting quarterback has already produced the kind of mixed national buzz that tends to follow a player with real tools and a few lingering questions. The Athletics survey of FBS quarterbacks put him at No. 39 and in Tier 4, a slot that reflects both the appeal of his arm talent and dual-threat ability and the uncertainty that still hangs over how it all plays in the Big Ten.
The concern is familiar to anyone who has watched a talented quarterback try to sharpen his game at a higher level: Colandrea can create plays outside the structure of the offense, but the same style has also raised turnover worries. His strong 2025 season at UNLV helped fuel the optimism, while his earlier years at Virginia left more doubt about consistency, and Nebraska is now left to find out whether the version it gets is the one that can steady the offense or the one that keeps the volatility attached. [Read more 🡒]
Two Healthy Huskers Could Change More Than Fans Realize
Carter Nelson and Rex Guthrie are back in the mix for Nebraska after both third-year Huskers finished their rehabs and turned their attention to the coming season. Guthrie, a safety, said he feels confident in where his body is now after offseason labrum surgery, while Nelson, a tight end, has been talking about a mindset shift as he gets ready to help the offense in a bigger way.
For Nebraska, the timing matters because both players are young enough to matter for the future and experienced enough to matter right away. Guthrie has been focused on sharpening his game rather than just getting healthy, and Nelson has been working through the details of how he fits into the offense, including the kind of scramble-drill chances that can open up when a quarterback keeps a play alive. [Read more 🡒]