Ranking Nebraska’s Defensive Transfer Portal Adds

2. Jasin Shiggs

Dwayne McDougle will likely be Nebraska’s starting safety in 2026. He has the most knowledge of Aurich’s 4-2-5 scheme after starting at San Diego State. This gives McDougle the upper hand heading into the Cornhuskers spring camp. But we shouldn’t be surprised if  Shiggs ends up replacing him. As a true freshman at Towson, Shiggs established himself as one of the leaders of the Tigers’ defense with  31 tackles and an interception. This allowed him to double his production in his sophomore campaign. Last season, Shiggs had 72 tackles in his second season as a Tiger.  Can he take another leap in his first year in the Big Ten?    Nebraska desperately needs that to happen.  After the Las Vegas Bowl against Utah, Deshon Singleton ran out of eligibility.  This will give Shiggs an opportunity to be a leader in Addison Williams’s secondary. There’s only one concern with his acquisition. He lacks sufficient Big Ten experience. Nebraska should be wary of this heading into 2026. The coaching staff brought in former St. Francis corner Blye Hill. At the time, his addition provided depth. But he hasn’t seen the field once as a Husker. Could this be a similar situation?

3. Victor Evans

The former FIU Panther will offer a perfect replacement for senior cornerback Ceyair Wright.  He fits the size and length that the Cornhuskers are looking for at 6′-1″ and 180 pounds. It’s also a good fit because Evans has production. As a freshman, Evans totaled 15 tackles and a forced fumble. This gave the Florida native enough confidence to elevate his game this past season. In 2025, Evans anchored FIU’s secondary with  42 tackles, one interception, and four pass breakups. Can he do more at Nebraska?

4. Jahsear Whittington

The Pitt transfer will be an intriguing piece of Corey Brown’s defensive line at Nebraska. In his freshman season with the Panthers, Whittington flashed his upside with  11 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, and one quarterback hurry. The next step that Whittington has to undergo is development. By all accounts, he should get that in Lincoln. At Miami of Ohio, Brown’s unit finished third in the MAC when it came to rushing defense. Additionally, the program concluded the 2024 season with 29 sacks.

5. Anthony Jones

It’s been a long and winding road for the former UCLA defensive lineman. Before Nebraska nabbed him through the transfer portal, Jones had played for three other Big Ten schools. Out of high school, he initially signed with the Oregon Ducks in 2022. However, injuries forced him to redshirt and eventually transfer to Indiana and Michigan State. Unfortunately, Jones wasn’t productive at either of these schools. This forced him to find a home at UCLA. In just 10 games with the Bruins, Jones had 20 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and six quarterback hurries. Can he have the same impact in a Nebraska uniform? His injury history is definitely a concern. But with Brown’s guidance, we should be able to see him double his production with the Cornhuskers.