Nebraska’s second week of fall camp is already starting to sort out some of the biggest questions on the roster, and the clearest early answer is at linebacker.
The Huskers held an open practice earlier this week, and the room that stood out most was the linebacker group. Dexter Foster looks like he has moved ahead of Vincent Shavers for the second starting spot, while Owen Chambliss has made a strong impression and Dawson Merritt is expected to take on a bigger role this season.
Foster may also be Nebraska’s most overlooked transfer. He played in only seven games last season and is a true junior, just like Shavers. That gives both players three years of eligibility left, and no matter who opens the year as a starter, all three linebackers are expected to be on the field plenty.
The rest of the defense is settling in, too. The secondary has a solid look, the defensive line appears to be in much better shape, and the linebacker room is the one that really jumps off the page.
In the secondary, Victor Evans continues to build momentum as a possible starter opposite Andrew Marshall, while Jeremiah Charles has also drawn plenty of praise. Five-star freshman Danny Odem is another name to keep in mind.
He may not start, but there’s a real chance he gets on the field early.
Nebraska will get another look at the roster this weekend with a scrimmage on Saturday, a session that could help shape the Week 1 depth chart. The Huskers open the season against Ohio in 23 days, and it’s not clear whether there will be another fall scrimmage after this one. The volleyball team is also set for a scrimmage on Sunday, with Nebraska Public Media carrying the broadcast.
On the recruiting front, Nebraska is also making noise in the 2028 class. Deonte Flemings, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound cornerback from Erie, Pennsylvania, is committed to Penn State but is scheduled to visit Nebraska this fall, according to Tim Verghese. Flemings is ranked No. 113 overall in the 2028 class, and Nebraska is one of five programs trying to flip him, along with Notre Dame, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, and Tennessee.
The Huskers already have some recent success working in their favor in Pennsylvania. They just beat out Penn State for Khalil Taylor, and now Matt Rhule and his staff will try to pull off another win in that state.
Nebraska is also in the mix for Elijah Willis, a 6-foot-3, 280-pound lineman from Michigan who has played offensive tackle, interior offensive line, and defensive tackle. Willis is a three-star prospect ranked No. 474 overall in the 2028 class, and Verghese reported that Nebraska is standing out early in his recruitment.
And there’s another big defensive line visitor on the way. Zylen Little, a 6-foot-2, 290-pound prospect from Tampa, is scheduled for a Gameday visit and comes in ranked No. 183 overall. Little posted 30 tackles for loss and 10 sacks last season, which explains why Nebraska defensive line coach Corey Brown is “high on him.”
In Other News...
Nebraskas Running Back Battle May Be Starting To Break One Way
Nebraskas open practice during fall camp offered one of the clearer clues yet about how the backfield picture is sorting itself out. Isaiah Mozee seemed to get the bulk of the first-team work at running back, and that lines up with the way insider Steve Sipple has framed him as a strong candidate to open the season in that role.
The position battle still has plenty of time to shift, but the early signs are enough to give the Huskers a better sense of where they might be headed on offense. At the same time, the staff is already working ahead in the recruiting lane, where Nebraska is in strong shape with 2028 four-star targets Israel Johnigan and Baron Marshall, both of whom have made multiple visits to the program. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Is Teasing An Offensive Twist Husker Fans Have Missed
Fall camp has offered a small but intriguing window into what Nebraskas offense may look like under Dana Holgorsen. Video clips making the rounds have shown the Huskers working on option plays, with quarterbacks and running backs mixed into drills that point toward a more varied attack. It is not a full return to the old-school option identity, but it does suggest Holgorsen is looking for ways to put the quarterback run game back into the conversation.
That part matters because Anthony Colandrea and TJ Lateef both bring mobility that could give Nebraska a different edge if the staff leans into it. The idea has already sparked plenty of buzz among fans who remember the programs history with option football, and the clips have only added to the anticipation. For now, the exact balance of how much Nebraska will use those elements remains the part everyone is watching. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska May Finally Have The Depth Big Ten Football Demands
An open practice in fall camp gave Nebraska a useful checkpoint on where the roster stands heading into a rugged Big Ten season, and the early impression is that the Huskers may have more usable depth than theyve had in recent years. The offensive and defensive lines looked like real strengths in the latest observations from Inside Nebraska, while the backfield also showed a more workable rotation with Mekhi Nelson and Isaiah Mozee helping to stabilize the running back group.
The most encouraging part may be how many spots look capable of holding up over a long season, not just flashing in a single workout. Nebraskas pass rush appeared to be taking a step with Anthony Jones among the players drawing notice, and the linebacker room also looked deeper with Owen Chambliss and Dexter Foster in the mix, the kind of balance that can matter when the injuries and attrition of conference play start to pile up. [Read more 🡒]