Nebraska’s running back picture took a jolt on Monday when sophomore Mekhi Nelson was arrested in Florida on a battery charge, according to Pete Nakos of On3.
The university said it is aware of the situation but had no further comment. For a Huskers team already trying to sort out its backfield, the timing adds another layer of uncertainty with fall camp a little more than a month away.
Nelson was arrested in Key West, Florida, on a misdemeanor battery charge. The arrest report says officers were called to a disturbance at the Blue Flamingo Resort involving Nelson and his girlfriend, who is reportedly seven months pregnant.
According to the report, the situation started after Nelson got upset about how long it was taking his girlfriend to get ready. It says she locked him out of the room before later letting him back in.
The report also alleges that once he returned to the room, Nelson threw her phone and ripped her bathing suit. Those allegations have not been proven in court.
Nelson is currently in custody, and an arraignment is set for July 9 at 9:00 a.m. ET.
For Nebraska, the arrest lands at a particularly awkward moment. The Huskers lost their First-Team All-American running back to the NFL Draft in April and spent the offseason expecting somebody to step forward. Instead of bringing in a transfer back, the coaching staff stayed put, a choice that already invited questions.
Entering spring, the main contenders looked to be Nelson, Isaiah Mozee, and Kwinten Ives. Each had mostly worked in reserve roles a year ago, and each entered 2026 with relatively similar resumes.
Then true freshman Jamal Rule changed the conversation.
The North Carolina native turned heads all spring and ran for more than 100 yards in Nebraska’s Red-White Scrimmage. Coaches praised him throughout his first semester, and he looked like a player who forced his way into the mix rather than waiting for a future opening.
Rule did not lock down the job, but he did enough to make a real case for playing time in 2026. That matters for a room responsible for replacing more than 1,400 rushing yards from last season.
Before Monday’s news, the backfield battle was already shaping up as one of the biggest storylines of the summer. Now it has become even murkier.
Nelson had looked like a strong candidate to take over the RB1 role after the bowl game. His size, explosiveness and familiarity with Dana Holgorsen’s offense made him an appealing option heading into the fall.
In 2025, Nelson carried the ball 27 times for 147 yards and two touchdowns. He also made his first career start in Nebraska’s SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl game against Utah on New Year’s Eve.
Even in a loss, he gave the Huskers a flash of what he could bring. Nelson scored on a career-long 38-yard run and averaged 7.3 yards per carry on 12 attempts, a showing that left plenty of Husker fans looking ahead to 2026.
For now, though, Nebraska is waiting. The school says it knows about the arrest but has nothing more to add at this time, and Nelson’s status with the program remains unclear as the July 9 arraignment approaches.
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