Huskers Continue to Build a Roster

Huskers Continue to Build a Roster

During the season it was apparent that the Huskers needed to improve their depth in both their offensive and defensive lines. But before Rhule started bringing in players he made changes to his staff, hiring new offensive line coaches Geep Wade and Lonnie Teasley. He followed that with defensive edge coach Roy Manning, and as of Sunday, he added new defensive line coach Corey Brown. The new coaches have been aggressive, and once the portal opened it was clear big bodies were their top priority. They picked up two more with their 15^th and 16^th commitments on Monday and Tuesday. The latest additions are defensive lineman Jahear Whittington and offensive lineman Paul Mubenga. As of now the Huskers have added three offensive linemen and three defensive linemen and haven’t given any indication they are finished. The sixteen new additions appear as follows.

1. Brenden Black – IOL, 6’4” 320lbs, Senior, from Iowa State.
2. Owen Chambliss – LB, 6’3” 230lbs, Senior, from San Deigo State.
3. Tree Babalade – OT, 6’5” 330lbs, Sophomore, from South Carolina.
4. Will Hawthorn – LB, 6’2” 220lbs, Sophomore, from Iowa State.
5. Anthony Colandrea – QB, 6’0” 205lbs, Senior, from UNLV.
6. Dwayne McDougle – S, 5’11” 208lbs, Senior, from San Deigo State.
7. Dexter Foster – LB, 6’3” 236lbs, Sophomore, from Oregon State.
8. Anthony Jones – DE, 6’5” 265lbs, Junior, from UCLA.
9. Kwazi Gilmer – WR, 6’2” 190lbs, Sophomore, from UCLA.
10. Victor Evans III – CB, 6’1” 180lbs, Junior, from Florida International.
11. Jasin Shiggs – S, 6’1” 175lbs, sophomore, from Towson.
12. Jack Willis– LS, 6’2” 217lbs, Freshman, from Michigan State.
13. Danny Kaelin – QB, 6’3” 2108lbs, Sophomore, from Virgina.
14. Andy Burburija – DL, 6’2” 290lb, Sophomore, from Iowa Western Community College.
15. Jahear Whittington – DL, 6’0” 270lbs, Sophomore, from Pittsburgh.
16. Paul Mubenga – IOL, 6’4” 320lbs, Senior, from LSU.

With everything happening in the portal it’s easy to forget the 2026 recruiting class. Of the ten new players added eight are already on campus and participating. Jase Reynolds and Hayden Ainsworth will both arrive in May. It’s worth remembering that Danny Odem, Luke Sorensen, and Jamal Rule are all expected to contribute right away. Also, there were some questions as to why the Huskers only signed one wide receiver out of the portal. Well, they already have a strong receiving room and have added two good receivers in Nalin Scott and Larry Miles.

2026 Commits

1. Danny Odem – CB, 6’1” 189lbs
2. Claude Mpouma – OT, 6’5” 338lbs
3. Luke Sorensen – TE, 6’4” 245lbs
4. Rex Waterman – OT, 6’5” 295lbs
5. Nalin Scott – WR, 6’2” 200lbs
6. Larry Miles – WR, 5’10” 170lbs
7. Hayden Ainsworth – IOL, 6’5” 305lbs
8. Jase Reynolds – LB, 6’2” 206lbs
9. Jamal Rhule – RB, 6’0” 205lbs
10. Michael Sarikizis – K, 5’10” 190lbs

Since they didn’t sign a quarterback or defensive lineman during the 2026 cycle the Huskers have targeted each from the high school ranks. They are 6’1” 175-pound quarterback Tanner Vibabul out of Las Vegas and 6’2” 320-pound defensive lineman Dylan Berymon from Monroe, Louisiana. Both players have visited and the Huskers continue to aggressively recruit them. Vibabul has offers from Army, Temple, and Air Force. Berymon reopened his recruitment after decommitting from Texas.

Of the 17 Nebraska players who entered and are still in the portal, 10 have committed to new schools. Of those ten, three are going to power four schools. Kaahaaina-Torres to Michigan, Raiola to Oregon, and Hartzog to Arizona. Five players are going to group of five schools, and two to FCS schools. It should be noted Keona Davis indicated he would be entering the portal early on but didn’t officially enter until today.

1. Houston Kaahaaina-Torres – IOL 6’3” 300lbs, Freshman, to Michigan
2. Dylan Raiola – QB, 6’3” 230lbs, Sophomore, to Oregon
3. Malcolm Hartzog – Safety, 5’9” 185lbs, Senior, to Arizona
4. Preston Okafor – Safety, 6’2” 190lbs, Red Shirt Freshman, to Fresno State
5. Maverick Noonan – LB, 6’4” 225lbs, Sophomore, to Fresno State
6. Jason Maciejczak – IOL, 6’3 310lbs, Sophomore, to Wyoming
7. Jaylen George – DL, 6’2” 265lbs, Junior, to Tulsa
8. Caden VerMass – Safety, 6’0” 190lbs, Freshman, to Rice
9. Marcus Davila – QB, 6’2” 235lbs, Red Shirt Freshman, to Abilene Christian
10. Tristan Alvano – Kicker, 6’2 185lbs, Sophomore, to South Dakota State
11. *Keona Davis – DL, 6’5” 275lb, Sophomore
12. *Kenneth Williams, RB, 5’9” 190lbs, Sophomore
13. *Jamarion Parker – RB, 5’11” 200lbs, Freshman
14. *Roger Grandney – LB, 6’0” 225lbs, Red Shirt Freshman
15. *Rahmir Stewart – Safety, 5”11 195lbs, Sophomore
16. *Brice Turner – CB 6’1” 205lbs, Sophomore
17. *Brian Tapu – OL, 6’5” 295lbs, Freshman

As of today, the Huskers have lost 18 seniors and 17 players through the portal for a total of 35 roster spots. They have added 10 in the 2026 class and 16 from the portal for a total or 26. It’s a good guess they aren’t through adding players from the portal, and there may be a couple more portal entries who decide they want to stay with the Huskers. Spots outside the roster aren’t easy to come by.

GO BIG RED!! SIMPLE, FAST, VIOLENT!!

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