As Matt Rhule’s Nebraska Cornhuskers prepare for the 2026 season, several talented players stand at pivotal career points. The program has built momentum with competitive performances, but sustained success and potential playoff contention depend on key contributors elevating their games from promising to truly impactful. These five Huskers, spanning offense, defense, and special teams, possess the tools, recruiting pedigrees, and prior experience to make that jump. A healthy, productive leap from this group could help Nebraska finally break through.
Carter Nelson:
The in-state product from Ainsworth arrived as a four-star tight end prospect and the top recruit in Nebraska’s 2024 class after dominating eight-man football and excelling in track. He was so good that he made Nick Saban start to look at eight-man football. Nelson shifted toward a versatile hybrid role; the 6-foot-5 athlete showed flashes early but dealt with limited production and offseason surgery for bone spurs and a shoulder issue that sidelined him in spring.
In 2025, he appeared in all 13 games in varied roles with modest receiving numbers while contributing on special teams, including a blocked-punt return touchdown. Now a junior and fully healthy with a renewed mindset, Nelson is positioned as a potential focal point. Analysts already slot him among Nebraska’s top receiving options due to his size, toughness, and ability to create mismatches as a displaced tight end or perimeter threat. A leap into consistent double-digit receptions and yards-after-catch production would give the offense a reliable mismatch weapon and reward the staff’s developmental patience.
Jacory Barney Jr.:
The Florida product and early enrollee has already delivered as a dual-threat wideout and return specialist. As a true freshman in 2024, he set a school record for freshman receptions while adding rushing touchdowns and strong kick returns. In 2025, the 6-foot, 170-pound junior led the team in several categories with 45 catches for 484 yards and five touchdowns, ranked high nationally in punt returns, and earned third-team All-Big Ten honors as a return specialist, plus honorable mention from coaches. His all-purpose yardage approached or exceeded 1,000.
Barney’s reliability and versatility are clear. The leap needed in 2026 is from high-volume complementary piece and special-teams standout to primary deep threat and consistent big-play maker; more explosive yards per catch, deeper targets, and sustained dominance that solidifies his NFL trajectory. Pairing with improved quarterback play and complementary receivers could unlock the next level for both him and the offense.
Williams Nwaneri:
One of the highest-rated recruits on the roster, the 6-foot-7, 265-pound defensive end from Lee’s Summit North (Missouri) was a consensus top-10 national prospect and elite edge rusher. After redshirting at Missouri in 2024, he transferred to Nebraska and immediately contributed in 2025: 27 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, a pass breakup, and two fumble recoveries across all 13 games with multiple starts.
Those numbers led the Huskers in sacks and showed disruption, yet they fall short of five-star expectations for a player with rare length, athleticism, and power. Entering 2026 with more experience and continuity in the defensive scheme, Nwaneri must leap into double-digit pressures, consistent quarterback disruption, and every-down dominance against Big Ten offensive lines. Bowl preparation and offseason growth have been framed as the launching pad; realizing that upside would instantly elevate Nebraska’s front and validate the transfer investment.
Archie Wilson:
The true freshman from Frankston South, Victoria, arrived via the Prokick Australia pipeline with zero prior American football experience yet won the starting job immediately. Capable of punting with either foot, the 6-foot-2 athlete averaged around 39 yards per punt in 2025, pinned opponents inside the 20 multiple times, and helped limit return yards dramatically.
Wilson quickly became a fan favorite for his personality and field-flipping ability, but the average sits in good rather than elite territory. The 2026 leap involves raising the gross average into the mid-to-high 40s, increasing hang time and directional precision under pressure, and contending for All-Big Ten or Ray Guy Award recognition. Greater consistency and big-leg moments would further strengthen Nebraska’s field-position battle and special-teams identity.
Riley Van Poppel:
The 6-foot-5, 295-pound defensive tackle from Argyle, Texas, was a highly touted four-star who has steadily worked into a larger role. After limited action and a redshirt in earlier seasons, the junior played all 13 games in 2025 with three starts, recording 16 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble, a pass breakup, and a blocked field goal.
Van Poppel has been candid that the production fell short of the internal standard he set for himself amid a transitional defensive line. With a new position coach and added experience, the leap centers on becoming an every-down force: more consistent penetration, higher tackle-for-loss totals, and a disruptive interior presence that anchors the run defense and creates opportunities for edge rushers. Meeting that raised bar would stabilize the front and reward years of development.