February 4th, national signing day, was once one of the biggest days in college football, but NIL and the transfer portal have reduced the event to almost another day. I say almost because the Huskers scrambled late into Tuesday evening to sign four-star defensive tackle Dylan Berymon. As of Wednesday morning, the Husker sat at ten commitments but still lacked a defensive lineman and a quarterback in the 2026 class.
Berymon, the highest ranked player still unsigned, took his recruitment down to the wire, keeping Husker fans on edge as to whether Nebraska would lose out once again to Kentucky. The Huskers lost transfer portal QB Kenny Minchey to Kentucky early in the portal process and were out bid for the services of former Husker running back Dante Dowdell last season. While it’s probably nothing more than business, for Husker fans it feels like Kentucky has painted a target on their backs.
Signing the 6’2” 320-pound Berymon, who had 17 Division I scholarship offers and was once committed to Texas, was an absolute must. There was a feeling amongst fans that losing Iowa Western CC defensive lineman Andy Burburija to Clemson left the Huskers with a gaping hole to fill.
The Huskers won this one. But let’s keep an eye on Will Stien and Kentucky going forward.
As for quarterback, Dana Holgorsen and Glenn Thomas targeted Tanner Vibabul while at the Las Vegas Bowl. The athletic 6-foot-1, 175 pound three-star dual-threat quarterback threw for 2,245 yards and 32 touchdowns with 11 interceptions, to go with 1,132 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns in his senior season. In his high school career, he accounted for 89 total touchdowns and rushed for 100-yards or more in ten games. He clearly was the mobile quarterback Nebraska was looking for.
Before Nebraska offered Vibabul, he hadn’t received much attention considering the numbers he put up. He took an official visit to Army and had offers from Arkansas State, Air Force, and Temple. After making an official visit to Nebraska he committed to the Husker shortly after.
However, a Power Four school like Nebraska offering Vibabul drew attention. Before signing day James Madison University head coach Billy Napier flipped him. Initially Nebraska was a great choice for Vibabul, the resources Nebraska had to offer as far as development far outweighed any of his previous offers. But a school like James Madison pointed out that it would be two to three years before he played at Nebraska – If ever. With JMU he not only had the opportunity to play right away but could be compensated as well. Because he would have been the fourth QB on Nebraska’s roster, plus the fact the Huskers are already paying 2027 recruit Trae Taylor, Nebraska couldn’t pay Vibabul like JMU could. It made good sense for him to flip to JMU.
So, Nebraska is still on the hunt for a quarterback. It’s too early to put them in order, but as of now the Huskers have Anthony Colandrea, Danny Kaelin, TJ Lateef, and Brode Soukup. It’ll take some work but look for this staff to add one more QB before the season starts.
At one short of a dozen, the 2026 class of recruits is one of the smallest classes Nebraska has ever had and the smallest in the Power Four this year. Due to that the Huskers ranked last in the Big Ten. Would it be great if they were ranked as high as Ohio State? Absolutely. But the fact they are ranked last doesn’t worry me. It’s the new world of college football with NIL and the transfer portal. Eight of the eleven are enrolled and on campus. Hayden Ainsworth, Jase Reynolds, and Dylan Berymon will join the team this summer.
What does excite me is that this class checks all the boxes. Nebraska filled some needs and there are guys who will contribute this season.
Will See Action
- Danny Odem – CB, 6’1” 189lbs, five-star, ranked 31st nationally, 2nd at his position, 2nd overall in Florida. He has the potential to start opposite Andrew Marshall.
- Luke Soresen – TE, 6’4” 245lbs, three-star, ranked 25th at his position, and 41st player in California. Could surprise people come fall. Nebraska lines up in a heavy Luke and Luke formation.
- Dylan Berymon – DL, 6’2”, 320lbs, four-star, ranked 124th nationally, 17th at his position, 4th overall in Louisiana. You could see 8 to 12 plays a game.
- Jamal Rhule – RB, 6’0” 205lbs, three-star, ranked 88th at his position, 51st in North Carolina. A bigger back who could be in the rotation. There was a reason no one was added from the portal.
- Larry Miles – WR, 5’10” 170lbs, three-star, ranked 125th at his position, 96th overall in Florida. He could get in the rotation. Has a freshman WR caught a TD in every season with Rhule as HC?
On the Bubble
- Rex Waterman – OT, 6’5” 295lbs, three-star, ranked 75th at his position, 13th overall in Arizona. It isn’t unthinkable that he gets in the lineup.
- Claude Mpouma – OT, 6’5”, 338lbs, four-star, ranked 153rd nationally, 18th at his position, 4th in Illinois. Nebraska’s 2nd ranked player, but he lacks experience. Yet he also has the highest ceiling.
4 Games or Less
- Nalin Scott – WR, 6’2” 200lbs, three-star, ranked 128th at his position, 98th in Georgia.
- Hayden Ainsworth – IOL, 6’5” 305lbs, three-star, 85th at his position, 34th in Mississippi.
- Jase Reynolds – LB, 6’2” 206lbs, three-star, 114th at his position, 12th in Nebraska.
- Michael Sarikizis – K, 5’10” 190lbs, Three Star, 21st at his position, 18th in Australia.
Spring practice starts two weeks from Saturday the 7th. With the 16 players added through the portal and the 11 new high school recruits the roster stands at 11 true freshmen, 12 red shirt freshmen, 42 sophomores, 32 juniors, and 18 seniors. 115 players in total.
It’s a young crew for sure, but as Mitch Sherman of the Athletic reported, Nebraska added 16,966 career snaps to their roster with the 15 transfer portal additions. That’s excluding long snapper Jack Willis who redshirted. In comparison Nebraska lost 5,860 snaps with the 17 players who left through the portal. As we’ve seen, older teams are finding success. Nebraska tripled their experience through the portal and gained players who have made 201 starts versus 89.
The coaching staff is close to being completed and the roster is in place. Let the 2026 season begin.
GO BIG RED!! SIMPLE, FAST, VIOLENT!!
Photo courtesy of Home – Falls City Journal – Falls City, NE
Ranking Information gathered from 247Sports College Sports News and Recruiting
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