Spring football has officially begun for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. What do the Huskers look like at these positions?
Spring Ball: Where Does Nebraska Stand At These Positions?
The Defensive Line
Terry Bradden’s unit was a liability for the Huskers last season. The Blackshirts finished 96th in the country in rushing yards allowed, and were 115th in yards per carry. In addition, Nebraska couldn’t find its way to opposing quarterbacks. In 2025, Bradden’s group finished the season with only 19 sacks. There’s hope that Corey Brown can change the Huskers’ trajectory on the defensive line. He already brought in both Jahsear Whittington and Owen Stoudmire from the transfer portal. Plus, Nebraska signed Dylan Berrymon in early February. These players bring size and production to the Cornhuskers’ roster. But don’t count out the players who have been in Lincoln before. Rhule has seen older players like Riley Van Poppel undergo progress in their physical development over the offseason. This is a promising sign. Now, it’s up to Brown and assistant edges coach Roy Manning to teach the proper techniques.
Running Backs
Nebraska is starting from scratch at the running back spot this Spring. The Huskers lost starting running back Emmett Johnson at the end of last season to the NFL Draft. His departure is a massive one. As a junior, Johnson rushed for 1,451 yards and 12 touchdowns in his final season in Lincoln. The Cornhuskers won’t get that type of production in 2026.
However, Rhule pointed to two players who could assume his role. One of them is Mekhi Nelson. In his first start against Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl, the Pennsylvania native rushed for 136 yards and a touchdown. This has made him a “big play threat” in Nebraska’s offense. And it also helps that he’s “one of the most competitive players” on the team. These attributes will serve him well during the Spring. However, Isaiah Mozee has the chance to surpass him. According to Sports Illustrated, Rhule labeled him as the “Swiss Army knife” of Nebraska’s offense. He can run the football physically and be a receiving threat out of the backfield.
Wide Receivers
Nebraska lost Dane Key to the NFL Draft. This would normally be a bad sign for the Cornhuskers going into Spring football. However, offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen says that the Huskers have three veterans ready to go. Two of them played extensive snaps in a Nebraska uniform already: Jacory Barney Jr. and Nyziah Hunter. We should expect these two wideouts to be productive in the program’s offense. Plus, sophomore Kwazi Gilmer will provide relief as well. According to Sports Illustrated, Holgorsen remarked that it was “really hard to recruit him.” This is mostly because of his time in California. As a UCLA Bruin last season, Gilmer led the program’s wideouts with 880 yards and six touchdowns.
Tight Ends
The Huskers have a plethora of options at tight end under Marcus Satterfield. However, the most seasoned player at the position is Luke Lindenmeyer. His 6-foot-3 frame allowed him to record both career highs in receiving yards and touchdowns in 2025. Carter Nelson will also be a factor. But look out for Luke Sorensen. The freshman from California has the length to play the position at 6-foot-3 and has the size at 240 pounds. This has Holgorsen unsure of how the coaching staff can keep him on the field. It also helps that he was a highly touted recruit. The Huskers battled Penn State, Miami, and Texas for the four-star’s services. Janiran Bonner is also an interesting piece. The former fullback but he was a key piece of the Husker offense before his ACL tear last season. This has rendered him unable to participate in Spring football. But he should be able to learn the tight end position during his recovery process.
Defensive Backs
Addison Williams enters his second season as the Cornhuskers’ defensive backs coach. And with it, senior cornerback Andrew Marshall. The California native had 45 tackles, four pass breakups, and one interception in 2025. However, there are also other difference-makers in the secondary. Dwayne McDougle joins the program from San Diego State, and FIU’s Victor Evans is another proven commodity. This puts Nebraska ahead of the curve heading into its first practices. The most interesting aspect of the Spring will be the new safeties coach, Tyler Yelk. The former Philadelphia Eagles assistant has done a great job of teaching the players his system and allowing the coaching staff to adjust on defense. But we have yet to see how he puts it all together on Memorial Stadium turf.
Main Photo: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY
