Football is finally here!
After what has felt like an eternity, fall camp has arrived, and with it comes the annual flood of predictions, hot takes and self-proclaimed Nostradamus forecasts for the season ahead.
Vegas certainly isn’t buying into the Nebraska hype. With the Huskers sitting at an over/under of 6.5 wins, oddsmakers don’t believe Matt Rhule’s team will look much different from last season. Looking at the schedule, though, seven wins feels very attainable.
To get there, Nebraska can’t simply
rely on its stars carrying the load every Saturday.
The programs that consistently contend in the Big Ten have quality depth at every key position. Too often, Nebraska has needed one player to produce something extraordinary rather than winning through collective strength. If the Huskers are going to take the next step in 2026, they’ll need a handful of talented players to finally put it all together.
Here are five players who could have breakout seasons.
Carter Nelson (6-foot-5, 250 pounds, Slot Receiver) — Junior
In-state product Carter Nelson was a top-50 recruit in the 2024 class and one of Matt Rhule’s biggest recruiting victories. The hype surrounding his athleticism was enormous, but injuries have prevented Husker fans from seeing his full potential.
Nelson has always been somewhat of a tweener. He wasn’t quite big enough to be a traditional inline tight end, but he also wasn’t quite polished enough to become a full-time receiver. Nebraska appears to have found the solution by transitioning him into the slot.
It’s an exciting move.
Getting Nelson into space allows him to showcase the elite athletic traits that made him such a coveted recruit. His size creates matchup nightmares for defensive backs, while his speed is difficult for linebackers to handle.
If he can finally stay healthy, don’t be surprised if Nelson forces his way into the two-deep and becomes one of the offense’s most dangerous weapons.
Williams Nwaneri (6-foot-7, 270 pounds, EDGE) — Sophomore
Few players on Nebraska’s roster possess a higher ceiling than Williams Nwaneri.
The former five-star recruit transferred from Missouri looking for an opportunity to become an impact starter. While he flashed his immense talent last season, he never consistently produced the game-changing plays expected from an elite edge rusher.
It’s easy to forget that Nwaneri is still only a sophomore playing one of the toughest positions in college football. Every week he’s battling future NFL offensive tackles.
Another offseason in the weight room, combined with daily battles against Nebraska’s improving offensive line, should accelerate his development.
If he can become a consistent third-down pass-rushing threat, he has the potential to wreak havoc in opposing backfields—the exact type of disruptive defender Rob Aurich wants leading his defense.
Cameron Lenhardt (6-foot-3, 265 pounds, Defensive Line) — Senior
No player may benefit more from Rob Aurich’s defensive scheme than Cameron Lenhardt.
Nebraska’s previous three-man front often asked Lenhardt to do jobs that simply didn’t suit his skill set. At 265 pounds, he lacked the size to consistently anchor against double teams inside while also being asked to hold the edge.
Aurich’s move toward a more traditional four-man front should allow Lenhardt to do what he does best—attack one-on-one.
That’s exactly how he burst onto the scene during his freshman season.
His havoc numbers have dipped since then, and at times he looked uncomfortable in his previous role. With more opportunities to attack gaps rather than absorb blocks, expect his tackles for loss and sack totals to rise significantly.
Nebraska needs experienced veterans like Lenhardt to return to their best if the Huskers are going to compete with the upper tier of the Big Ten.
Isaiah Mozee (6-foot, 215 pounds, Running Back) — Sophomore
Most of the offseason conversation surrounding Nebraska’s running backs has centered around Jamal Rule’s breakout spring, Mekhi Nelson’s legal issues, and transfer addition Tikey Hayes.
Quietly, Isaiah Mozee has continued making the transition from wide receiver to full-time running back.
That isn’t an easy position change. Running back in the Big Ten requires a completely different body type and mentality.
Physically, Mozee already looks the part.
What stands out most is how deceptive he is with the ball in his hands. Rather than making violent jump cuts like Emmett Johnson, Mozee glides through traffic using subtle hip movement and body control to make defenders miss.
With the running back competition still wide open, Mozee has every opportunity to muscle his way into significant playing time and potentially claim the lion’s share of the carries.
Janiran Bonner (6-foot-2, 225 pounds, Wide Receiver) — Senior
Throughout Janiran Bonner’s Nebraska career, one thing has remained remarkably consistent: every coaching staff has raved about him.
It’s easy to see why.
Bonner is one of the most versatile offensive weapons on the roster. He can block, catch, carry the football, and create mismatches all over the field. Defenses have to account for him in multiple ways every time he lines up.
The biggest obstacle has always been health.
If Bonner can finally put together a healthy preseason and stay available throughout the year, Dana Holgorsen has shown he’s more than willing to build packages around unique playmakers.
Expect Bonner to line up all over the formation.
A healthy Bonner could become the Swiss Army knife this offense desperately needs after it stagnated during the second half of last season.
Final Thoughts
Nebraska isn’t receiving much love from the national media, and Vegas clearly agrees.
Inside the program, however, confidence couldn’t be much higher.
Matt Rhule said during Big Ten Media Days that this is the most talented roster he’s has had since arriving in Lincoln. Those are bold words before a snap has been played, but if he’s right, this season could look very different.
Talent has never really been the question with these five players.
Production has.
Each has shown flashes. Each has battled injuries, scheme fits, or simply the challenge of adjusting to Big Ten football.
If even a few of them finally deliver on their enormous potential, Nebraska suddenly becomes a much deeper and more dangerous football team.
And maybe—just maybe—we’ll all be telling Vegas to drink the Rhulaid next summer.
GBR
