As anticipated by many Husker fans, we saw several players enter the transfer portal over the last couple of days. As I wrote in a previous article, with so many unknows as to the outcome of the House v. NCAA lawsuit and what will occur with the 105-roster limit, it just makes sense for guys to put their names in the portal. If in fact they are grandfathered in, they can withdraw and stay with the team. However, if the ruling comes back with something less than the 130 that was on the roster, guys can move forward with finding another school. I don’t necessarily see that happening with most of the players who have gone in thus far. But there could be more enter and then withdraw. The following is a list of Nebraska players that have entered the portal.
Grant Seagren – OL, 6’6”, 300lbs. A walk-on from Oakland Craig High School in Nebraska, Seagren redshirt in 2023. Seagren’s entering came as a surprise after playing in seven games during the 2024 season. Head coach Matt Rhule spoke about Seagren at his press conference two weeks ago. “As soon as Grant decides he’s a scholarship player, He’s going to be something else,” Rhule said. “He has all the talent to be a starter, he just has to say in his mind, I’m a starting left tackle, not, oh, I’m a walk-on. Forget all the walk-on stuff, that’s in your own head. He’s a big-time player in my mind.”
Hayes Miller – WR, 6’0”, 180lbs. Miller is from Shawnee, Kansas and played one season at Coffeyville Community College before walking-on at Nebraska. He was unranked coming out of high school and played in one game during the 2024 season before redshirting. As a sophomore he has three years of eligibility remaining.
Ian Flynt – DL, 6’4” 255lbs. Flynt entered the portal and is no longer with the team. He is a redshirt freshman who was recruited as a tight end and switched to defense this spring. A former three-star recruit from Katy, Texas, he was ranked by ESPN as one of the top 20 tight ends in the country. Rivals considered him the number one tight end in Texas. He has four years of eligibility remaining.
Evan Taylor – DB, 6’2” 185lbs. Taylor is a redshirt freshman from Waxhaw, North Carolina and was a three-star recruit in the 2024 cycle. With a scholarship offer from Nebraska, Taylor suffered a season ending knee injury in the first game of his senior season of high school. Nebraska stood by their offer and Taylor has been rehabbing until this spring. Before his injury he was ranked by ESPN as one of the top 50 cornerbacks in the country.
D’Andre Barnes – DB, 6’0”, 195lbs. Barnes is a Sophomore from Aurora, Colorado. He was a three-star recruit who was ranked by ESPN as one of the top 60 cornerbacks in the country. He was also pursued by BYU, Air Force and Wyoming out of high school. He played in one game during the 2024 season.
David Borchers – DL, 6’4” 300lbs. A redshirt sophomore from Eldridge, Iowa, Borchers started out on the offensive line before switching to defense. Borchers was a three-star prospect out of high school and was ranked as one of the top 20 players in Iowa by 247Sports in 2024. He walked on at Nebraska after receiving offers from Iowa State and Army.
Nico Ottomanelli – PK, 6’2” 185lbs. A walk-on from Northern Valley High School in New Jersey, Ottomanelli redshirted in 2024. In high school he was both a place kicker and a punter. Kohl’s Kicking had him ranked as a four-an-half star prospect as a kicker and a four-star punter. He has four years of eligibility remaining.
Jack McCallister – P, 6’0” 215bs. Since entering the portal McCallister has committed to Purdue. Having just transferred to Nebraska in January, Nebraska decided to go to a rugby style punter, causing Mc Callister to reenter the portal. McCallister started three seasons as the Washington Huskies punter before coming to Nebraska. He has one year of eligibility remaining and had his best year as a punter last season, averaging 43.0 yards per punt and placing 15 of 42 punts inside the 20-yard line.
Not counting the players who have entered the portal, there are 123 players listed on the current roster. That will increase by one if Nebraska brings in a rugby-style punter over the summer. One would have to believe that the 105-roster limit won’t stand. But it’s also hard to believe they will let schools keep more than 120 players. Right now, it’s anyone’s guess. But I wouldn’t be surprised to learn over the next couple of days that another six to ten players have entered the portal. Prepare for the unknown Husker fans.
Go to Off The Cob to see the latest Nebraska roster and more on Husker football.