Nebraska Spring Football: Who Stands Out?

Kwazi Gilmer

Nyziah Hunter will be the Huskers’ number one wide receiver in 2026. As a sophomore, Hunter led the team in receiving yards, ranked second in receptions, and even tied the team leader in touchdown grabs with five last season. He was also dynamic in breaking tackles and generating massive yards after his catches. This should allow the junior to break out in 2026. But watch out for Gilmer to emerge as his heir apparent. The former UCLA wideout hauled in 50 passes for 535 receiving yards and four touchdowns for the Bruins last season. This brings another big play element to Nebraska’s offense. However, his biggest asset lies in his ability to teach the Huskers’ wide receivers. He’s passed his football knowledge down to most of Nebraska’s wide receivers during spring football, but  Barney has benefited the most. This is  because he can “add more stuff to his bag.”

Owen Chambliss

The California native established himself as a key piece of Rob Aurich’s 4-2-5 scheme at San Diego State. As a member of the Aztecs in 2025, Chambliss led the program with 110 total tackles and four sacks. This led him to become an All-Mountain-West selection as a member of the first-team defense. We’re unsure of how this will translate to Lincoln. The Huskers face a slew of top-10 Big Ten opponents this season. However, since Chambliss has been in Nebraska for spring football, he can now “communicate the message when it comes to the front and the back of the defense.” He’s done his homework by studying the tape of almost all of the teams around the Big Ten. This will help Chambliss teach the other linebackers in Rob Dvoracek’s room. Even though he is a veteran Blackshirt, junior Vincent Shavers has a learning curve ahead of him. New transfer pieces Dexter Foster and Will Hawthorne have to adjust as well.

Mekhi Nelson

In the first start of his career against Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl, Nelson was able to rush for a whopping 147 yards and two touchdowns. It wasn’t enough to propel Nebraska past the Utes in Allegiant Stadium. However, it did allow him to gain confidence heading into 2026. This was initially demonstrated in his leadership capabilities. According to running backs coach EJ Barthel, Nelson has taken it upon himself to make sure the program’s recruits are “meeting voluntarily and making sure the room is coordinated with their player workouts.” However, the sophomore still has challenges to overcome. The Pennsylvania native will have to undergo a similar body transformation akin to former All-American running back Emmett Johnson. According to Barthel, he has that ability with his “breakaway speed and competitive edge.”

Owen Stoudmire/Jahsear Whittington

Nebraska’s two transfer pickups will both play a key role in the Huskers’ defensive line under new position coach Corey Brown. The Cornhuskers’ newest defensive line coach is excited about their potential because they both bring an “explosive element” to the program’s pass rush. The duo will also use their knowledge of leverage to collapse the pocket against opposing quarterbacks. This is key for a Husker pass rush that often struggled to get to opposing quarterbacks last season. Terry Bradden’s unit only averaged 30 sacks per season. And no Husker was able to reach double figures in that category. These two Cornhuskers could help the program make a jump in this category.