Did Nebraska Get Better This Offseason?
Did Nebraska Get Better This Offseason?
Caleb Jeanneret
Year in and year out, Nebraska fans usually reach the same destination by the end of the season: disappointment. Sometimes it’s a bowl loss. Sometimes it’s another brutal November. Other times, it’s simply falling short of expectations that were probably too high to begin with. One thing Husker fans could always count on, though, was winning the “Offseason National Championship.”
This year feels different.
Maybe it’s confidence in Matt Rhule starting to wear thin. Maybe it’s losing three straight games to end the season by an average score of 40–16. Or maybe it’s just that fans can’t find that new addition or storyline to grab onto and use as fuel for dreaming big in 2026. Whatever the reason, the usual offseason optimism just isn’t hitting the same.
In this article, I’ll go position by position and look at each phase of the team, offense, defense, and special teams, to decide whether Nebraska got better, stayed the same, or got worse this offseason.
When comparing last year’s team to this year’s, I’m only factoring in players who either finished the season on the two-deep or put up meaningful production. Those are the players you actually think of when you picture the 2025 Nebraska Cornhuskers. If a true freshman played zero snaps and transferred out, he’s not impacting this evaluation.
Transfer Portal – NFL/Graduation - Recruit
Offensive Line:
Losses: LG Henry Lutovsky, RT Turner Corcoran, RG Rocco Spindler, G Jason Maciejczak
Additions: G Paul Mubenga, T Tree Babalade, G Brendan Black, T Claude Mpouma, IOL Hayden Ainsworth, IOL Rex Waterman
There’s no doubt in my mind that Nebraska improved along the offensive line.
The Huskers lost three starters in Rocco Spindler, Henry Lutovsky, and Turner Corcoran, but they replaced them with players who project as similar or possibly better. Brendan Black looks like a day-one starter at guard on either side and could end up outperforming whoever he replaces. On the other side, whether it’s newcomer Mubenga or someone who’s been in the program like Grant Brix, Sam Sledge, or Preston Tamua, there shouldn’t be much drop-off at all.
Then you add Tree Babalade, an NFL-caliber right tackle who brings real stability to the edge, something Nebraska has lacked for years. Maybe it’s closer than I’m making it sound, but overall this group got BETTER.
Runningback
Losses: Emmett Johnson
Additions: Jamal Rule
This one is pretty straightforward.
Nebraska lost one of the best running backs in the country and replaced him with a three-star true freshman. That’s just not an upgrade. I’m not saying Rule won’t turn into a good player, or that Mekhi Nelson and Isaiah Mozee can’t continue to develop, especially with a quarterback run element added to the offense.
But there’s no realistic scenario where this running back room improves compared to last season. This group got WORSE.
Wide Receiver
Losses: Dane Key
Additions: Kwazi Gilmer, Nalin Scott, Larry Miles
Dane Key was a massive offseason win last year, but he never really became the true number one receiver Nebraska hoped for. Even with that, Nyzaiah Hunter emerged as a legitimate top target with sky-high potential and looks like a player who will only continue to get better.
Nebraska also added UCLA’s top receiver in Kwazi Gilmer, a player with real NFL upside who can take the top off a defense on any given play. Combine that with minimal offseason departures and an underrated addition, and I believe the wide receiver room got BETTER.
Tight End
Losses: Heinrich Haarberg
Additions: Luke Sorensen
This is the one position group I don’t see changing much.
I don’t expect Sorensen to make a big impact right away, and Nebraska also loses Heinrich Haarberg, who despite the name value, barely produced as a tight end last season. The Huskers do return Luke Lindenmeyer, who looks set to remain a solid safety valve in the passing game.
Overall, this group feels about the same as last year.
Quarterbacks
Losses: Dylan Raiola
Additions: Anthony Colandrea, Daniel Kaelin
This one is controversial.
I do believe Dylan Raiola is a more talented quarterback than any option Nebraska currently has. That said, I think Colandrea fits what Nebraska needs next season better with his escapability and playmaking ability, especially in areas that highlighted Raiola’s biggest weaknesses.
So yes, the quarterback room technically got worse from a pure talent standpoint, but the overall offensive fit improved.
Defensive Line
Losses: Elijah Jeudy, Keona Davis, Jaylen George
Additions: Owen Stoudmire, Jahsear Whittington, Anthony Jones
Another controversial take.
Nebraska’s defensive line may have been the biggest weakness on the team last season, and despite taking some big swings in the portal, it didn’t quite live up to offseason hype. Still, when you compare player for player, there are upgrades.
Stoudmire is an upgrade over Jeudy. Whittington is an upgrade over Jaylen George. Jones is probably a wash with Davis. On top of that, you’re banking on internal development from players like Nwaneri and Van Poppel.
So yes, the defensive line got better. The real question is whether it got better enough.
Linebackers
Losses: Marquese Watson-Trent, Javin Wright, Dasan McCollough
Additions: Owen Chambliss, Dexter Foster, Will Hawthorne, Jase Reynolds
Losing longtime contributor Javin Wright hurts, and losing McCollough, who will likely be an NFL draft pick, hurts too. But the additions make this a net positive.
Owen Chambliss has All-Big Ten potential and already has experience in Rob Aurich’s system, which is a huge plus. Add in Dexter Foster and Will Hawthorne, both of whom have the tools to make an immediate impact, and pair that with returning starter Vincent Shavers, and this group clearly improved.
Defensive Backs
Losses: DB Malcolm Hartzog, S Deshon Singleton, S Marques Buford, CB Ceyair Wright
Additions: CB Victor Evans, S Jasin Shiggs, S Dwayne McDougle, CB Danny Odem
Losing NFL prospects Deshon Singleton and Ceyair Wright isn’t easy. Still, Nebraska returns starters Andrew Marshall and Donovan Jones, adds McDougle, who has started in Aurich’s scheme for years, and brings in one of the top cornerback prospects in the country in Odem.
Odem will have a real shot to start opposite Marshall next season, and when you factor in other high-upside players like Shiggs and Evans, this room is loaded with talent. With expected development and Odem’s ceiling, this group could actually be even better in 2026, even if that sounds like a hot take.
Special Teams:
Losses: KR Kenneth Williams
Additions: K Michael Sarikizis
Special teams have been a headline this offseason, but not really because of the players. Nebraska returns its starting kicker, punter, and primary returner. Based on personnel alone, this unit should be at least the same, and I’d even expect some natural improvement after another year in the system and weather.
Teams:
Offense:
As I mentioned in the quarterback section, this is a nuanced conversation.
Did the quarterback room get worse in terms of raw talent? Yes. Did the running back room get worse? Yes. But with improvements along the offensive line, retention of the top receivers, the addition of a key pass catcher, and a quarterback run game built around Colandrea and Lateef, I believe the offense will be better in 2026.
Defense:
The defense was in a bad spot last season, especially against the run, where Nebraska ranked among the worst units in the country. Can Rob Aurich and the new additions along the defensive line and linebacker room fix that? I think they can.
Will the pass defense statistically match last year’s top-five national rankings? Probably not. But I believe it can be just as good, if not better, when you account for talent and development.
Overall, yes, the defense will be better.
Special Teams:
Despite the players staying, I do think the special teams takes a slight decline in comparison to last year. Losing Mike Ekeler, one of the best special teams coordinators in the country, is a real hit. I don’t think the drop-off will be as dramatic as some expect, but it’s fair to say this unit takes a slight step back.
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