Nebraska enters the 2026 season with a new defensive coordinator in Rob Aurich and a clear mandate: fix the run defense that plagued the team in 2025 while building on a secondary that ranked among the nation’s best in pass defense. In Aurich’s 4-2-5 scheme, success hinges on playmakers who can disrupt from the interior, lead from the second level, and lock down the perimeter. Here are the three players whose performances will most determine whether the Blackshirts take a major step forward this fall.
Owen Chambliss:
Owen Chambliss was brought in specifically to be the head of the defense. He knows Aurich’s system inside and out after playing under him at San Diego State, where he earned first-team All-Mountain West honors as a sophomore in 2025 with 110 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, and 4.0 sacks. Chambliss has already proven he can play at a high level and be a nightmare for offenses. At 6-3, 230 pounds, he combines size, range, and tackling ability that should translate well to the Big Ten. He needs to continue being that disruptive force and set the tone for the entire unit. The defense will likely run through Chambliss. How the Blackshirts perform will be heavily linked to how he performs. Right now, Nebraska doesn’t really have a clear face of the defense. Owen needs to be that face, the guy who demands excellence, and the player offenses game-plan around. If Chambliss lives up to his pedigree and embraces the leadership role, Nebraska’s linebacker corps and overall front seven will look much more cohesive under Aurich.
Andrew Marshall:
Andrew Marshall enters 2026 as a senior cornerback with significant experience and proven production. He started all 13 games in 2025, earning honorable-mention All-Big Ten honors after recording 45 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, one interception, and four pass breakups. Marshall was a key contributor to a Husker secondary that ranked third nationally in pass defense and held three straight opponents under 100 passing yards for the first time since 1990. His physicality at the point of attack and ball skills make him a versatile piece in Aurich’s scheme. As a veteran in the 4-2-5, Marshall’s role goes beyond coverage. He must continue shutting down receivers, make plays on the ball, and provide stability for younger defensive backs. Leadership in the secondary will be crucial, and Marshall has the experience and production to step into a bigger vocal role and help the unit maintain its elite pass defense while the front seven works to improve against the run. If Marshall stays healthy and continues playing at the level he showed in 2025, he’ll be a stabilizing force that allows the defense to take more risks elsewhere.
Riley Van Poppel (or the DT1 Who Emerges):
Whoever steps up as DT1 will be the third make-or-break piece. Nebraska has a crowded and talented interior defensive line room featuring Riley Van Poppel, Owen Stoudmire, Jeahsar Whittington, Tyson Terry, Gabe Moore, and others. The investment in the interior has been significant; now it’s time for a return. In a 4-2-5 scheme, you don’t just need a guy to eat blocks and plug lanes. You need a legitimate playmaker from the interior, someone who can penetrate, disrupt plays in the backfield, generate tackles for loss and sacks, and force offenses to account for the middle. Last year taught hard lessons: you won’t win Power conference games consistently if you can’t stop the run. Riley Van Poppel is one of the leading candidates. The 6-foot-5, 295-pound junior played in all 13 games with three starts in 2025 and showed flashes with 16 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks. He has the size, athleticism, and experience to take the next step. Owen Stoudmire brings additional veteran presence from the transfer portal and could push for early playing time as well. The player (or players) who emerges as the true interior threat will free up the edge rushers, allow the linebackers to flow more freely, and change how offenses attack Nebraska. Without consistent disruption from the interior, the defense will continue to be gashed on the ground. With it, the entire unit elevates.
The Bottom Line
Chambliss brings leadership and familiarity with the scheme. Marshall provides veteran stability and proven production on the back end. The DT1, whether it’s Van Poppel, Stoudmire, or another name from the deep room, must deliver the interior push that was missing last year. If they deliver, Nebraska’s defense under Rob Aurich has a real chance to be a strength rather than a liability in 2026. The pieces are there. Now it’s about execution, leadership, and someone stepping up in the middle of the defensive line. The Blackshirts are ready for a new identity. These players will decide what that identity looks like.