Transfer Portal, Roster Movement, and Recruiting

Nebraska’s roster will look very different in 2026. Thanks to the portal that’s just part of today’s college football. Matt Rhule and his staff continue to stay aggressive in the portal, recruit 2026 high school players, and retain their roster. As far as current players are concerned, I’m sure they make every effort to keep most of them. But Rhule has approached his players entering the portal differently from most coaches. He allows his players to enter and then return if they elect to. With some head coaches, once you enter the portal there is no coming back. I like Rhule not being so stringent, it’s the right way to approach it. But as of now, improving talent through the portal is the number one objective.

The Huskers received their 14^th commitment Sunday evening. They are as follows:

1. Brenden Black – IOL, 6’4” 320lbs, Senior, from Iowa State. The first piece in the puzzle and an important one, Black looks to be a day one starter at right guard. Having played 2,164 career snaps in 30 starts, he has the experience and savvy of a season vet.
2. Owen Chambliss – LB, 6’3” 230lbs, Senior, from San Deigo State. In my opinion the biggest get on the defensive side of the ball. Chambliss logged 110 tackles last season with 9.5 for losses and 4 sacks. Considered a ball-hawk he was a big part of new DC Rob Aurich’s defenses in the past and figures to be a kingpin in the Blackshirts moving forward.
3. Tree Babalade – OT, 6’5” 330lbs, Sophomore, from South Carolina. A swing tackle who can play either side. A good pass blocker who still hasn’t reached his ceiling. Tremendous size and was coached by new offensive line assistant Lonnie Teasley.
4. Will Hawthorn – LB, 6’2” 220lbs, Sophomore, from Iowa State. Nebraska went hard after Hawthorn out of high school, and he was close to signing with the Huskers. With Campbell’s departure Hawthorne has said the Huskers were meant to be. He is an ideal pairing with fellow linebackers Dawson Merritt and Christian Jones.
5. Anthony Colandrea – QB, 6’0” 205lbs, Senior, from UNLV. Perhaps the best quarterback in the portal for Nebraska. Sounds ridiculous when comparing him to Sorsby or Levitt, but Colandrea could be exactly what this team needs. An explosive guy who can be a difference maker if he stays healthy.
6. Dwayne McDougle – S, 5’11” 208lbs, Senior, from San Deigo State. A standout in new DC Rob Aurich’s defenses he played at both Idaho and San Deigo State under Aurich. Last season he was 4^th on the team in tackles with 55 and tied for the team lead in interceptions with 4.
7. Dexter Foster – LB, 6’3” 236lbs, Sophomore, from Oregon State. He started seven games last season before being sidelined with an injury. He was recruited by Aurich out of high school before going to Oregon State. He logged 52 tackles, 3 TFLs, 4 QB hurries, and one pass breakup in his shortened season.
8. Anthony Jones – DE, 6’5” 265lbs, Junior, from UCLA. Not seen as a every down player, he looks to be a replacement for Desean McCullough or Keona Davis. Having played in 37 games with 14 starts for four different Big Ten schools he has plenty of experience. He had 16 QB pressures this last season.
9. Kwazi Gilmer – WR, 6’2” 190lbs, Sophomore, from UCLA. Gilmar looks to replace Dane Key. He had 50 receptions for 535 yards last season. Some fans will remember him for his 88 yards receiving and 1 TD against the Huskers in 2024.
10. Victor Evans III – CB, 6’1” 180lbs, Junior, from Florida International. He played 481 snaps this last season recording 42 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 interception, and 4 pass breakups. He had a 68.3 PFF coverage grade.
11. Jasin Shiggs – S, 6’1” 175lbs, sophomore, from Towson. He played 834 snaps this past season and recorded 72 tackles. He has good PFF grades as well.
12. Jack Willis– LS, 6’2” 217lbs, Freshman, from Michigan State. Willis was considered the best long snapper in the portal. Current long snapper Kevin Gallic has been lobbying the NCAA for another year of eligibility. If he doesn’t get it then the Huskers have Willis who has four years of eligibility remaining. A top athlete, he not only snaps well, but he can also cover and is a good tackler. His also has good snap times for D1 football.
13. Danny Kaelin – QB, 6’3” 2108lbs, Sophomore, from Virgina. A former Husker Kaelin returns to a culture he is familiar with. The backup at Virgina, Kaelin played in seven games this season going 30/52 for 339 yards, 1 TD and 1 Interception. He had a 54-yard rushing TD against Wake Forest which let’s you know he has the wheels to be a dual threat.
14. Andy Burburija – DT, 6’2” 290lb, Sophomore, from Iowa Western Community College. A junior college All-American, Burburija had 45 tackles, 12 sacks, and 18.5 TFLs this season. Burburija has made the rounds, originally committing to Washington State in October, then Kansas State in November. He decommitted from KSU when HC Chris Klien left. Back in the mix, Nebraska struck while they could. Coached by Aaron Terry at IWCC he was developed into a top prospect. Terry has coached 46 players who moved on to D1 programs and has sent 7 guys to the NFL or CFL. Burburija was described by one coach as unblockable.

Of the fourteen players signed from the portal, five are offensive players thus far. Two offensive linemen, two quarterbacks, and one wide receiver. There is a possibility they could add a third QB as well.

The Huskers have heavily recruited 2026 high schooler Tanner Vibabul out of Las Vegas. Vibabul’s information and film was shared with Matt Rhule while the Huskers were in Las Vegas for the bowl game. Vibabul is a dual threat quarterback who passed for 2,245 yards, 32 TDs, and 11 interceptions while rushing for 1,132 yards and 10 TDs. At 6’1” 175lbs, Vibabul needs physical development. He currently holds offers from Army, Arkansas State, Temple, and Air Force.

One would think the Huskers will look to add at least one if not two more offensive linemen from the portal. Players who have visited are Baylor’s Sean Thompkins, and LSU’s Paul Mubenga.

Thompkins is 6’5” 300lbs and started the last six games of the 2025 season at left tackle. He played a total of 460 snaps.

Mubenga is 6’5” 317lbs and is a left guard. He has started 11 games in the last two seasons. In 298 snaps last season he gave up 1 sack and 2 hurries on 175 pass bloc snaps.

The only other offensive position in question is running back. It’s been unclear if Holgorsen and Rhule are content with the running back room or if they feel they need additional help. There is a thought out there they are waiting for Miami’s season to end and possibly Marty (Chamar) Brown will enter the portal. And there is also speculation, like Kaelin, Kentucky’s Dante Dowdell could return to Nebraska. But that may be nothing more than wishful thinking by the fans.

Of the eight defensive players added through the portal, there are three linebackers, three defensive backs, and two defensive linemen. The Huskers will do everything they can to add more defensive linemen. You would think at the very least one more.

One Prospect at this point is 2026 high school recruit Dylan Berymon from Monroe, Louisiana. At 6’2” 320lbs, he would be a big win for the Huskers. Previously committed to Texas, he visited Nebraska this weekend.

Another portal visitor was Pittsburgh’s Jahsear Whittington. At 6’0” 270lb the freshman was part of Pitt’s rotation, playing 250 snaps last season.

In all Nebraska had 21 players enter the portal. As of Sunday afternoon, 4 of those players changed their minds and decided to stay Huskers. All 4 players returning are defensive players. They are:

1. Braylen Prude – Safety, 6’4” 200lbs, Red Shirt Freshman
2. Dylan Parrot – DL 6’5” 320lbs, Junior
3. Larry Tarver – CB, 5’11” 175lbs, Red Shirt Sophomore
4. Willis McGahee – LB, 6’1” 240lbs, Sophomore

The 17 players still in the portal are as follows:

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

The portal doesn’t close until the 16^th, so it’s almost a given we will continue to see movement as players come and go in the portal. Remember, the portal giveth, and the portal taketh away. Being a Husker fan, there are guys who give me pause and I don’t want to see their names in print. Right now, they are TJ Lateef, Nyziah Hunter, and Jacory Barney.

GO BIG RED!!

Photo courtesy of The Falls City Journal

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