Nebraska’s running back room just got a lot more interesting.
What looked like a depth chart built on uncertainty has suddenly picked up a new name in Tikey Hayes, and that matters because the Huskers were already staring at a position group with plenty of questions. Nebraska had been trying to figure out how to replace the production of Emmett Johnson, who ended up being one of the top running backs in the country in 2025.
That was never going to be a one-man fix. The idea was always that several backs would have to chip in to make it work in 2026.
Then the room took a hit when Mekhi Nelson was arrested in Florida for aggravated battery involving a pregnant woman. From a football standpoint, that was a rough blow for a group that was already viewed as one of the weakest on the roster. At that point, the picture got even murkier, and the focus shifted toward a true freshman in Jamal Rule as a possible breakout option.
The rest of the room at the time consisted of Isaiah Mozee, Kwinten Ives and Conor Booth. That was it. And while Nebraska could always get a surprise from somewhere - Emmett Johnson himself was a surprise in 2024 before his full breakout in 2025 - there wasn’t much to lean on.
Now there’s at least one more name in the mix.
Hayes spent his freshman season at Penn State in 2025 under James Franklin, then entered the transfer portal and landed at Iowa Western Community College. He never played a snap there because he is now headed to Nebraska.
The source material says Penn State did not want him to leave, and that he even got extra carries in the bowl game so the staff could get a better read on what they had in him. Ohio State wanted him out of high school, too, and now he’s a Husker.
That changes the conversation.
If Hayes arrives ready to compete immediately, there’s a real argument that he could be the day one starter. That doesn’t guarantee anything about how good he’ll be, but it does give Nebraska another legitimate option in a room that badly needed one. At the very least, he brings depth that the Huskers didn’t have before.
There was also some good news on the Nelson front. His family has insisted he is innocent, and a few days ago it was announced that all charges were dropped.
More should come out later, and Matt Rhule will almost certainly be asked about it at some point. There has also been speculation about a possible suspension, but that remains conjecture for now.
So the running back room that looked thin and unsettled a few weeks ago now has a different shape. It still comes with unknowns, but Nebraska at least has another body in the mix - and a potentially important one.
In Other News...
Nebraska Just Landed The Kind Of 2027 Back Fans Needed To See
E.J. Barthel has quietly turned Nebraskas running backs room into one of the more interesting recruiting stories on the trail. After developing Emmett Johnson into a Big Ten Running Back of the Year and All-American, Barthel has kept stacking wins with prospects, landing Jamal Rule and now adding Amir Brown, a four-star back who gives the Huskers another high-end piece to build around.
Browns path to Lincoln took some winding turns before it settled there. He originally committed to North Carolina, then reopened things after multiple visits and continued recruitment, and Nebraska kept pressing until it got the answer it wanted from a back ranked No. 201 overall in the 2027 class. He is expected to arrive ahead of the 2027 season, giving the Huskers another young runner with real upside in a room that has become a clear priority. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska May Need To Unleash Jacory Barney In A Bigger Way
Jacory Barney gave Nebraska plenty to think about in 2025, and not just as a return man. The wide receiver flashed real explosiveness in stretches, including eye-catching moments against Michigan and Houston Christian, while also giving the Huskers dependable value on punt returns. By seasons end, he had 484 receiving yards on 45 catches and 270 punt return yards, production that earned him third-team All-Big Ten return specialist honors and kept his name near the top of the conversation heading into the offseason.
The bigger question for Nebraska is whether that kind of playmaking can be unlocked more consistently in 2026. Barney and the coaching staff have both sounded encouraged by his growth and by his connection with new quarterback Anthony Colandrea, which gives the Huskers a reason to believe there is more upside here than the numbers alone show. The challenge is turning those flashes into a steadier role, especially after his receiving output faded late in the year and left Nebraska wanting more from one of its most dynamic athletes. [Read more 🡒]