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This week’s query was simple one. After the 2025 season, the Huskers staff looked at a talented but inexperienced running back room and decided their lead back (or backs) was already on the roster and put their portal recruiting efforts at other positions. The choices included three returners, none of whom reached 30 carries in 2025, a Penn State transfer who had three and headed to Iowa Western CC where he was found
by the staff, and a true freshman from North Carolina:
Mekhi Nelson – So. – Consensus recruiting ranking/score *** – 85.62
Isaiah Mozee – So. – **** (WR) – 90.18
Kwinten Ives – Jr. – *** – 85.30
Tikey Hayes – RS Fr. – *** – 89.20
Jamal Rule – Fr. – *** – 87.10
So from this group, who did Corn Nation readers select as their guess to lead the Huskers in rushing in 2026?
- And from a group lacking experience, you chose the least experience of all, with 43% selecting true freshman Jamal Rule. The coaches talked him up and then Rule delivered in the Spring Game carrying it 9 times for 119 yards and a touchdown.
- Does the Spring Game often mean much in the way of success, especially for players down the depth chart? Not too often, but fans liked what they saw out of the frosh.
- Mekhi Nelson and Isaiah Mozee, the pair who finished 2025 at the top of the depth chart after Emmett Johnson opted out the bowl game, grabbed only 24% and 18% respectively despite rolling through Utah in the Vegas Bowl for the first few series. Odds are that’s where they will begin 2026 – can Rule keep making enough good impressions to pop into the mix?
- Kwinten Ives finished at 11%, but, after arriving as a freshman a bit skinny for the position, he has solidified to 215 and appears to be the lead for short-yardage and goal-line situations.
- Tikey Haynes was a late addition and the 4% of the vote he received likely reflects that he’s the mystery man in the mix. But he has time on his side with four years of eligibility left following his transfer.
AND A BONUS NATIONAL POLL
- When individual schools starting locking in jersey patch deals worth almost as much as the giggle-inducing Monster Energy Drink deal with the Big 12, fans began chiming in with their thoughts on the mini-billboards.
- 48% gave a resounding NO – perhaps Congress will ban them if fans scream loud enough?
- Although it looks like a win for the NO crowd, the total of YES vote was 52%, although each came with a qualification.
- “Yes, if it’s small” might have been the silliest option – of course, they’ll be small. And I imagine some of the suggestions for cultural fit ads could be downright gut-busting. Anything for NIL was probably the most honest option.
- YES or NO was probably the way to go. With that, my guess would be NO slides over the 50% majority mark.
