There’s a familiar face from Rob Aurich’s San Diego State defense who could be on the move - and potentially headed to Lincoln.
Linebacker Owen Chambliss, one of the anchors of Aurich’s unit in 2025, announced Sunday that he plans to enter the transfer portal. With two years of eligibility left, Chambliss instantly becomes one of the more intriguing names in the linebacker market - and not just because of his ties to Nebraska’s new defensive coordinator.
At 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds, Chambliss was a force in the middle of the Aztecs’ defense this past season. He racked up 110 tackles, including 9.5 for loss, added four sacks, and even picked off a pass. Those numbers don’t just jump off the page - they speak to a player who was consistently around the ball and capable of making impact plays at every level of the defense.
Chambliss' journey started at Utah, where he saw limited action in five games and redshirted before transferring to San Diego State. His first year with the Aztecs saw him flash his potential early, logging 31 tackles across seven games. But it was in 2025 that he really broke out, stepping into a starting role and thriving in Aurich’s system.
Now, with Aurich making the move to Nebraska, it’s hard not to connect the dots - especially with the Huskers facing a looming depth issue at linebacker. Veterans Javin Wright, Marquise Watson-Trent, and Dasan McCullough are all wrapping up their college careers, leaving a sizable leadership and production gap. Only Vincent Shavers Jr. and Dawson Merritt return with over 100 snaps under their belts from this past season.
That opens the door for a player like Chambliss to potentially step in and contribute right away, particularly if he’s already comfortable operating in Aurich’s scheme. Whether or not Nebraska ends up being his landing spot remains to be seen, but the fit would certainly make sense from a football perspective.
It’s also worth noting that while Chambliss has announced his intention to transfer, the portal itself doesn’t officially open until January 2 and will remain open through January 16. Under the NCAA’s revised calendar, the spring window has been eliminated, and this new winter window is now the primary opportunity for movement. Players can declare their intent early - like Chambliss has - but they can’t officially communicate with other programs or take visits until they’re formally in the portal.
So, for now, Chambliss joins a growing list of players signaling their next move ahead of the January window. And with his production, experience, and ties to one of the Big Ten’s newest defensive minds, he’ll be a name to watch closely as the portal carousel starts to spin.