Fall camp is almost here for Nebraska football, and with it comes the first real chance to sort through what this roster looks like heading into 2026. The schedule is brutal, no question, and plenty of fans are bracing for a grind.
But there’s also a belief inside the program that this is Matt Rhule’s best team in Lincoln as he enters his fourth season. At some point, the Huskers have to turn that into results.
Seven or maybe eight wins would do it.
With that in mind, here’s a ranking of Nebraska’s position groups, and there are a few surprises near the top.
The strongest unit on the roster looks like the secondary. Nebraska has proven production with Andrew Marshall, Dwayne McDougle, and Donovan Jones, plus holdovers Rex Guthrie and Jamir Conn, both of whom should be on the field a lot.
The upside is what really jumps out. Five-star freshman Danny Odem could be a factor right away, and 6-foot-3 sophomore Bryson Webber is another name to watch.
Mario Buford and Caleb Benning both got their feet wet in 2025, and Benning finished the bowl game with double-digit tackles. Victor Evans, the transfer cornerback, is also in the mix.
If Odem hits, this group can be one of the Big Ten’s best. If Webber is ready too, Nebraska could roll out a long, physical set of man-to-man corners.
The safety room is solid as well, and Addison Williams staying put looks like a major win.
Linebacker comes in at No. 2, and the depth here is hard to ignore. Owen Chambliss, Vincent Shavers, and Dexter Foster all look like starting-caliber players, and each still has multiple years of eligibility left.
Dawson Merritt and Christian Jones are still coming along, while Will Hawthorne was another solid addition. Nebraska may spend a lot of time with only two linebackers on the field, but it almost feels like the room goes three deep anyway.
The offensive line lands at No. 3, which might surprise some people, but Geep Wade has clearly changed the feel of that room. Nebraska brought in three expected starters through the transfer portal, and Elijah Prichett, Paul Mubenga, Justin Evans, Brendan Black, and Tree Babalde have all started at least 11 games in their careers.
Three of them have started at least 20. The depth matters too, and the Huskers have it with Grant Brix, Gibson Pyle, Tyler Knaak, Gunnar Gottula, Sam Sledge, and others.
You need more than five linemen to survive a season, and Nebraska finally looks equipped for that.
Quarterback checks in at No. 4, and Anthony Colandrea gives the offense a different kind of threat. He was the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year last season and added more than 650 rushing yards for UNLV.
He averaged 293 total yards per game last season, and even as a true freshman at Virginia, he averaged 272 total yards per game in nine games. He’s a career 63.8 percent passer with 7.542 yards and 33 total touchdowns last season.
If he takes better care of the ball, he could be one of the Big Ten’s most productive quarterbacks. Behind him, TJ Lateef and Daniel Kaelin are both former Elite 11 quarterbacks.
Wide receiver sits at No. 5, and this group has real production already on the board. Nyziah Hunter topped 600 receiving yards, Jacory Barney had 484, and Kwazi Gilmer finished with 535 yards on 52 catches.
That gives Nebraska three proven options, all of whom have produced in back-to-back seasons. With Colandrea throwing it, there should be chances for all of them to make plays.
And don’t forget Cortez Mills, Quinn Clark, and Carter Nelson.
The defensive line comes in at No. 6, and the move to the 4-2-5 should help. Riley Van Poppel needs a breakout year, but Nebraska added Owen Stoudmire and Jashear Whittington through the portal, while Tyson Terry and Malcolm Simpson are entering their second seasons.
Dylan Berymon is a top-200 overall prospect, and the younger tackles don’t have to be rushed. On the edge, the Huskers have Williams Nwaerni, Cameron Lendhardt, Anthony Jones, Kade Pietrzak, and Willis McGahee IV.
There’s enough there to pressure the quarterback, and the run defense should be better too.
Running back is No. 7, and that says more about uncertainty than lack of talent. Emmett Johnson handled most of the work last season and earned it.
Mekhi Nelson and Isaiah Mozee both showed flashes, and both played well in the Las Vegas Bowl. Nelson’s recent arrest is a factor, and it’s unclear whether a suspension could follow.
Jamal Rule is another option, and newcomer Tikey Hayes adds another name to the mix. There’s enough in the room to make it work, but it’s still the least proven spot on the offense.
Tight end rounds out the list at No. 8.
Luke Lindenmeyer is a dependable player, coming off 329 receiving yards last season and offering real value as a blocker. The issue is depth.
Carter Nelson’s exact role is still unsettled, Luke Sorensen is a true freshman pushing for snaps, and Nebraska still needs more young talent at the position.
In Other News...
Nebraska Suddenly Has A Real RB1 Question As Recruiting Buzz Builds
Nebraskas backfield picture has changed quickly, and not in a way the staff probably wanted. With Mekhi Nelsons arrest and Tikey Hayes now in the room, the Huskers are sorting through who can settle into the top spot at running back, and Isaiah Mozee has emerged as one of the more intriguing possibilities after making the switch from wide receiver. His improved size and what he showed last season have kept him in the conversation as Nebraska tries to stabilize a position that suddenly feels open again.
At the same time, the recruiting board keeps moving, a reminder that the staff is trying to build for both the immediate future and the long haul. Nebraska has already jumped in on 2028 offensive tackle Kavon Blackmon of Ohio and EDGE Javontae Eldridge of Indiana, two early offers that signal where the program wants to stay aggressive. And with Tom Osborne recently becoming the first living person elected into the Nebraska Sports Hall of Fame, there has been no shortage of reminders around the program of how much weight the past and future both carry in Lincoln. [Read more 🡒]
Former Husker Elijah Jeudy Takes An Unexpected Turn After Nebraska
Elijah Jeudys next step after Nebraska comes with a sharp pivot from player to teacher. The former Husker defensive lineman is beginning his coaching career after his run at Nebraska from 2023 to 2025, following his transfer from Texas A&M, and the move gives him a chance to stay close to the position he played while learning the ropes on the other side of it.
Jeudys path changed after he tried to catch on in the NFL and did not stick, pushing him into coaching sooner than he likely expected. He now joins a staff led by Cameron McGarry, and the challenge is obvious: help a program that is trying to climb out of a rough season and build something sturdier on defense. [Read more 🡒]
Matt Rhule Still Has To Solve Nebraskas Two Biggest Problems
Nebraska heads toward the 2026 season with the kind of familiar pressure that comes from back-to-back 7-6 finishes, and the biggest questions are still sitting in the middle of the roster. Matt Rhules staff has tried to address the defensive line and secondary through the portal, bringing in Anthony Jones, Owen Stoudmire, Jahsear Whittington, Dwayne McDougle and Victor Evans III, while also shifting into a 4-2-5 look that is supposed to keep the back end sturdy and help the front create more disruption.
The challenge now is turning those additions into answers. Nebraska still has to sort out which LB/DB hybrid pieces will fit the new structure, and the run defense and pass rush both need to take a step forward if the defense is going to match the standard the Huskers want to set. Up front on offense, the line looks like a strength with Brendan Black joining returning anchors Justin Evans and Elijah Pritchett, but the running back room remains unsettled enough that one of the rosters biggest jobs is still waiting for a clear solution. [Read more 🡒]