NU portal players - 247 rankings

[inWV]

Chambliss (SDSU) - #16 LB
Stoudmire (BC) - #105 DL
Whittington (Pitt) - #41 DL
Kaelin (UVA) - #96 QB
Shiggs (Towson) - #84 S
Jones (UCLA) - #27 Edge
Gilmer (UCLA) - #66 WR
Hawthorne (ISU) - #45 LB
McDougle (SDSU) - #34 S
Foster (Or St) - #110 LB
Mubenga (LSU) - #20 IOL
Coleandra (UNLV) - #23 QB
Black (ISU) - #5 IOL
Babalade (S Carolina) - #21 OT
Evans (FIU) - #109 CB

LB and the OL are where the best gets are. As far as transfers out, lots of N/A. Davila is the #43 QB, Hartzog #46 S, and Railoa #5 QB.

 

[Jamsand88]

There are a few from Miami now in portal as well as a couple from Duke that would look good in Husker uniforms this fall!

 

[cornhead1.]

Looks like 7-6 again...

 

[Bigred2467]

Looks like 7-6 again...

Wishful thinking.

 

[DrAlan_Grant]

Looks like 7-6 again...

 

[dinglefritz]

Wishful thinking.

7 is gonna be tough.

 

[InMotion]

7 is gonna be tough.

4 will be tough. I still think we start the season 2-1 and shvt will get real. Just a feeling.

 

[Pennsyhuskers]

7 is gonna be tough.

Yep. Brutal schedule

 

[goldencohusker]

The November schedule starts in late September next year

 

[Pennsyhuskers]

The November schedule starts in late September next year

And we did not really improve our defensive line all that much. And we did not replace EJ with an equal talent at running back.
Going to be another long and disappointing season. It will be amplified by exponentially increasing pressure to get rid of Rhule. The program will be in a bit of turmoil with tons of dissatisfaction from fans.

 

[Wasker73]

Looks like 7-6 again...

Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, Ohio State, Oregon and Washington will all be favorites and most if not all will be ranked. Then I add Michigan State as a maybe because of Pat Fitzgerald and Matt the Hat's 4-10 BIG road record

 

[Wasker73]

4 will be tough. I still think we start the season 2-1 and shvt will get real. Just a feeling.

Ohio or ND? who do you have taking a win from the Huskers?

 

[goldencohusker]

And we did not really improve our defensive line all that much. And we did not replace EJ with an equal talent at running back.
Going to be another long and disappointing season. It will be amplified by exponentially increasing pressure to get rid of Rhule. The program will be in a bit of turmoil with tons of dissatisfaction from fans.

The silver lining for next year is expectations are certainly to be the lowest they've been since Frost's last season - that improves the odds that the biggest surprises are positive ones.

 

[Anon1751408132]

7 is gonna be tough.

If 7 is tough in your 4th year then perhaps NU has the wrong guy, which obviously they do.

Pathetic that some in this once proud fan base is ok with this and making excuses

 

[1thomas]

And we did not really improve our defensive line all that much. And we did not replace EJ with an equal talent at running back.
Going to be another long and disappointing season. It will be amplified by exponentially increasing pressure to get rid of Rhule. The program will be in a bit of turmoil with tons of dissatisfaction from fans.

Just curious, did you have the basketball team pegged at 19-0 in late January in your preseason picks?

 

[inWV]

And we did not really improve our defensive line all that much. And we did not replace EJ with an equal talent at running back.
Going to be another long and disappointing season. It will be amplified by exponentially increasing pressure to get rid of Rhule. The program will be in a bit of turmoil with tons of dissatisfaction from fans.

NU graduated Jeudy, Davis and George exited to the Portal. George went to Tulsa, Davis is TBD. Neither had portal ratings. NU added Whittington, Stoudmire and Jones. Jeudy had 18 tackles in 2025. Stoudmire had 30 in 2024 (leg injury in 2025). That's looks like a plus player move. Whittington >> George. For what Aurich wants to do in the 4-2-5, the Jones kid from UCLA will be a better fit than Davis. So to my eyes, the DL has improved. I am sure they didn't turn down better talent, but the defensive front is in flux and the staff doesn't have film of NU in it to show proof of concept. That obviously hinders NU's staff in luring players from the portal. As for the RB, replace EJ with an equal talent RB? The dude was on All-American lists. That sure would be nice, but wasn't likely, especially given that the coaches on multiple occasions have stated that are fine with the players in that room.

 

[K Rod]

Matt said we had the funds to get the best portal players. And our ST will be better without EK. Taken at face value, Matt seems confident that 2026 will be our year.

 

[Walleye 1]

NU graduated Jeudy, Davis and George exited to the Portal. George went to Tulsa, Davis is TBD. Neither had portal ratings. NU added Whittington, Stoudmire and Jones. Jeudy had 18 tackles in 2025. Stoudmire had 30 in 2024 (leg injury in 2025). That's looks like a plus player move. Whittington >> George. For what Aurich wants to do in the 4-2-5, the Jones kid from UCLA will be a better fit that Davis. So to my eyes, the DL has improved. I am sure they didn't turn down better talent, but the defensive front is in flux and the staff doesn't have film of NU in it to show proof of concept. That obviously hinders NU's staff in luring players from the portal. As for the RB, replace EJ with an equal talent RB? The dude was on All-American lists. That sure would be nice, but wasn't likely, especially given that the coaches on multiple occasions have stated that are find with the players in that room.

Again I can’t trust these coaches eye for contributors. Maybe Aurich changes that in the DL side of the ball. But what fans screamed about last year about the DL struggling without viable replacements for Nash and Ty came to fruition. The coaches eyed on DL (bust) another DL a year away from being a rotational player. Time will tell if fans are correct again about RB like the DL. Or the RB room matures. I know which one I would put money on.

 

[redwine65]

And we did not really improve our defensive line all that much. And we did not replace EJ with an equal talent at running back.
Going to be another long and disappointing season. It will be amplified by exponentially increasing pressure to get rid of Rhule. The program will be in a bit of turmoil with tons of dissatisfaction from fans.

lol

 

[Pennsyhuskers]

Just curious, did you have the basketball team pegged at 19-0 in late January in your preseason picks?

I don’t follow basketball. Could not care less about Husker hoops or any basketball game by anyone.

 

[Pennsyhuskers]

NU graduated Jeudy, Davis and George exited to the Portal. George went to Tulsa, Davis is TBD. Neither had portal ratings. NU added Whittington, Stoudmire and Jones. Jeudy had 18 tackles in 2025. Stoudmire had 30 in 2024 (leg injury in 2025). That's looks like a plus player move. Whittington >> George. For what Aurich wants to do in the 4-2-5, the Jones kid from UCLA will be a better fit than Davis. So to my eyes, the DL has improved. I am sure they didn't turn down better talent, but the defensive front is in flux and the staff doesn't have film of NU in it to show proof of concept. That obviously hinders NU's staff in luring players from the portal. As for the RB, replace EJ with an equal talent RB? The dude was on All-American lists. That sure would be nice, but wasn't likely, especially given that the coaches on multiple occasions have stated that are fine with the players in that room.

If our staff is satisfied with our running back room then it is just further evidence of their incompetence.
I do think we improved our defensive line via the portal and I said so. But you exaggerate the quality of the guys we picked up. They are mediocre to slightly above average. Nothing more. If you seriously think what we added was a big upgrade then you will be disappointed next year.

 

[orclover11]

And we did not really improve our defensive line all that much. And we did not replace EJ with an equal talent at running back.
Going to be another long and disappointing season. It will be amplified by exponentially increasing pressure to get rid of Rhule. The program will be in a bit of turmoil with tons of dissatisfaction from fans.

And qb will be much more like the last 3 games than the first 9 games. The only hope is that our DC is a miracle worker, and we can find some identity on offense. Losing our st coach is going to hurt. We have had to rely to heavily on coordinators and position coaches because Rhule doesn't coach anything, and that friction between coaches paid 15% of Rhule doing most of the work, and Rhule, who wants to have "final say" has cost us some good coaches and any chance at maximizing limited talent.

 

[Nuts McClanahan]

The program will be in a bit of turmoil with tons of dissatisfaction from fans.

So like last year?

 

[Nuts McClanahan]

If 7 is tough in your 4th year then perhaps NU has the wrong guy, which obviously they do.

Pathetic that some in this once proud fan base is ok with this and making excuses

We do have the wrong guy. But teams like NU are going to be on an endless cycle of build, tear down, rebuild, etc. in this new era of power conferences. I have zero confidence that NU will hire the right guy to replace Rhule. We hire coaches as if Iowa's AD and Minnesota's AD are on the hiring committee.

 

[Nuts McClanahan]

NU graduated Jeudy, Davis and George exited to the Portal. George went to Tulsa, Davis is TBD. Neither had portal ratings. NU added Whittington, Stoudmire and Jones. Jeudy had 18 tackles in 2025. Stoudmire had 30 in 2024 (leg injury in 2025). That's looks like a plus player move. Whittington >> George. For what Aurich wants to do in the 4-2-5, the Jones kid from UCLA will be a better fit than Davis. So to my eyes, the DL has improved. I am sure they didn't turn down better talent, but the defensive front is in flux and the staff doesn't have film of NU in it to show proof of concept. That obviously hinders NU's staff in luring players from the portal. As for the RB, replace EJ with an equal talent RB? The dude was on All-American lists. That sure would be nice, but wasn't likely, especially given that the coaches on multiple occasions have stated that are fine with the players in that room.

Two excellent points right there. There may not have even been an equal talent RB, especially doing what EJ did with little room to run and being such a weapon in the passing game. Dude is a young Kenneth Gainwell.

 

[Nuts McClanahan]

Matt said we had the funds to get the best portal players. And our ST will be better without EK. Taken at face value, Matt seems confident that 2026 will be our year.

Rhule runs his mouth too often, but I don't remember him specifically saying either of those things.

 

[Cjlemke21]

If 7 is tough in your 4th year then perhaps NU has the wrong guy, which obviously they do.

Pathetic that some in this once proud fan base is ok with this and making excuses

But has anyone said they’re ok with this? I don’t recall anyone saying they’re fine with that.
What I find more pathetic is a fan base wanting to keep going through the same cycle that’s got us here… fire coach hire a new crappy one, wait 4/5 years then do it all again…

I’m no Mat apologist here but I also believe he’s the first coach since Bo Po to bring at least a bowl game to us… I think it’s probably time to move on from him if, and only when, we have a better alternative ready to go…

Im more curious to see what next years recruitin class looks like, as its off to a strong start. If we can find an identity on offense and defense and stick with it I do think Mat can get this thing a lot closer to where we want it to be and in a lot better of a place

 

[19Football19]

4 will be tough. I still think we start the season 2-1 and shvt will get real. Just a feeling.

Agree. Teams now see Nebraska and automatically chalk it up with a W.

 

[Redscarlet]

Agree. Teams now see Nebraska and automatically chalk it up with a W.

 

[inWV]

Two excellent points right there. There may not have even been an equal talent RB, especially doing what EJ did with little room to run and being such a weapon in the passing game. Dude is a young Kenneth Gainwell.

We really like the DL when there are future pros on the DL depth chart. Suh, Crick, Valentine, Collins, Nash, Ty, those type of guys. What we had last year was Jeudy and then a bunch of younger guys. I think they hoped George was be a situational rotational piece, but that didn't work out. But it's hard to separate the player quality issue from the Butler/Bradden issue. I don't think RVP is a bust, but his play clearly was not what we saw his first year and then also from the games he played in 2024. The kid from BC had good production in 2024, but was injured last year. Moore should be stronger in the rotation this year. The move to the 4-2-5 should benefit a player like Cam and even Pietrzak. Nwaneri can be whatever he wants to be, He could be handful in the 4-2-5. There will be a better group of LBs available as well. So I'm not going to be down in the mouth about this.
As for the RBs, the general fanbase probably thinks we need one and a number of message board creatures think the RBs suck, Barthel sucks, etc. Apparently the coaching staff differs.

 

[oldjar07]

We really like the DL when there are future pros on the DL depth chart. Suh, Crick, Valentine, Collins, Nash, Ty, those type of guys. What we had last year was Jeudy and then a bunch of younger guys. I think they hoped George was be a situational rotational piece, but that didn't work out. But it's hard to separate the player quality issue from the Butler/Bradden issue. I don't think RVP is a bust, but his play clearly was not what we saw his first year and then also from the games he played in 2024. The kid from BC had good production in 2024, but was injured last year. Moore should be stronger in the rotation this year. The move to the 4-2-5 should benefit a player like Cam and even Pietrzak. Nwaneri can be whatever he wants to be, He could be handful in the 4-2-5. There will be a better group of LBs available as well. So I'm not going to be down in the mouth about this.
As for the RBs, the general fanbase probably thinks we need one and a number of message board creatures think the RBs suck, Barthel sucks, etc. Apparently the coaching staff differs.

Last year, I really hammered away that we needed a NT. With how bad our rushing defense was last year, I was right. This offseason, I'm really hammering away that we need a RB. Point is, I'm always right and the coaching staff should take note.

 

[dinglefritz]

If 7 is tough in your 4th year then perhaps NU has the wrong guy, which obviously they do.

Pathetic that some in this once proud fan base is ok with this and making excuses

Who said anybody is okay with it? It’s just being realistic. Maybe you can say fatalistic.

 

[dinglefritz]

Matt said we had the funds to get the best portal players. And our ST will be better without EK. Taken at face value, Matt seems confident that 2026 will be our year.

Um….no. Not once have I heard or read the hat saying our special teams would be better. Elk’s over aggressive nature on kick offs cost field position multiple times in the bowl game so there is that.

 

[TheRealPeliniTheCrutch]

We really like the DL when there are future pros on the DL depth chart. Suh, Crick, Valentine, Collins, Nash, Ty, those type of guys. What we had last year was Jeudy and then a bunch of younger guys. I think they hoped George was be a situational rotational piece, but that didn't work out. But it's hard to separate the player quality issue from the Butler/Bradden issue. I don't think RVP is a bust, but his play clearly was not what we saw his first year and then also from the games he played in 2024. The kid from BC had good production in 2024, but was injured last year. Moore should be stronger in the rotation this year. The move to the 4-2-5 should benefit a player like Cam and even Pietrzak. Nwaneri can be whatever he wants to be, He could be handful in the 4-2-5. There will be a better group of LBs available as well. So I'm not going to be down in the mouth about this.
As for the RBs, the general fanbase probably thinks we need one and a number of message board creatures think the RBs suck, Barthel sucks, etc. Apparently the coaching staff differs.

Hell on wheels?

 

[RikeMiley]

Um….no. Not once have I heard or read the hat saying our special teams would be better. Elk’s over aggressive nature on kick offs cost field position multiple times in the bowl game so there is that.

"Because it's not about playing special teams for special teams' sake. It's about helping the team win," Rhule continued. "If there's one thing we can do better next year, it's not for the glory of the special teams or the special teams coach or whatever, it's for the unit. Not everyone always likes that. But you build a team to win, you don't build a team for stats. So we will have a really good group of guys who will take over the special teams if Mike leaves. And I think we'll be better than we were."

 

[NikkiSixx]

Matt said we had the funds to get the best portal players. And our ST will be better without EK. Taken at face value, Matt seems confident that 2026 will be our year.

you can't believe everything Matt says.. we kinda went cheap in the portal according to some..

Colandrea however could be the spark that changes things this season. That kid was a 10 win starter last year.. brutal schedule, but we could still win 7-9.. heck this kid could get us into the double digits, but we have no key rb.. and that is nothing less than a SIN from Matt Rhule.

 

[RikeMiley]

Apparently after Indiana's natty run with supposed 2 and 3*s ON3 is going through every roster in D1 and reevaluating every player with a new rating vs their high school rating. The process just started so most players don't have a rating yet but Justin Evans is one of the ones who does.

 

[dinglefritz]

"Because it's not about playing special teams for special teams' sake. It's about helping the team win," Rhule continued. "If there's one thing we can do better next year, it's not for the glory of the special teams or the special teams coach or whatever, it's for the unit. Not everyone always likes that. But you build a team to win, you don't build a team for stats. So we will have a really good group of guys who will take over the special teams if Mike leaves. And I think we'll be better than we were."

Well “think” gets you a cheap hot dog at Costco. We might be. Our kick returns killed us in the bowl game

 

[dinglefritz]

If our staff is satisfied with our running back room then it is just further evidence of their incompetence.
I do think we improved our defensive line via the portal and I said so. But you exaggerate the quality of the guys we picked up. They are mediocre to slightly above average. Nothing more. If you seriously think what we added was a big upgrade then you will be disappointed next year.

Proof of their incompetence or your ignorance? I played the position and I’m pretty optimistic about our 2 RBs. I still am not 100% sure they’ll reach EJ’s level. I thought they both showed at times that they can be good B1G backs. I still would have tried to bring in one big back but I’m not as worried about that room as I am the transfer O and D linemen. IF our O linemen put together a good year, our backs will be good.

 

[dinglefritz]

But has anyone said they’re ok with this? I don’t recall anyone saying they’re fine with that.
What I find more pathetic is a fan base wanting to keep going through the same cycle that’s got us here… fire coach hire a new crappy one, wait 4/5 years then do it all again…

I’m no Mat apologist here but I also believe he’s the first coach since Bo Po to bring at least a bowl game to us… I think it’s probably time to move on from him if, and only when, we have a better alternative ready to go…

Im more curious to see what next years recruitin class looks like, as its off to a strong start. If we can find an identity on offense and defense and stick with it I do think Mat can get this thing a lot closer to where we want it to be and in a lot better of a place

Heck I just want to see the linemen who will be juniors and sophomores get on the field. I believe there’s enough talent there. We CAN develop linemen. Evans is proof. Gotta light a fire under their butts this off season. Show the staff in the weight room you wanna play.