Updated Friday, September 4, 2026. This is Nebraska’s official Week 1 depth chart, released Monday, August 31 ahead of the Ohio opener (11 a.m. CT, FS1). Nebraska issues a new chart each game week; this page follows every release and the box score.
Matt Rhule’s fourth Nebraska roster added 16 transfers with 200 career starts, and the first chart puts UNLV transfer Anthony Colandrea, the reigning Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year, at quarterback. The surprises were up front: Gunnar Gottula, back from a knee injury that cost him half of 2025 and all of spring, won right tackle outright over portal addition Tree Babalade, and sixth year Owen Stoudmire took a defensive tackle spot from Riley Van Poppel. Running back is a three way share replacing Emmett Johnson, now with the Chiefs.
Offense
| Position | Starter | Backup |
|---|---|---|
| QB | Anthony Colandrea (10), Sr. | TJ Lateef (14) OR Daniel Kaelin (12) |
| RB | Isaiah Mozee (22) OR Mekhi Nelson (35) OR Jamal Rule (25), Fr. | Kwinten Ives (21) |
| WR | Nyziah Hunter (13), Sr. | Quinn Clark (18) |
| WR | Kwazi Gilmer (17), Jr. | Cortez Mills Jr. (19) |
| WR | Jacory Barney Jr. (2), Jr. | Keelan Smith (15) OR Demetrius Bell (11) |
| TE | Luke Lindenmeyer (44), 5th | Janiran Bonner (4) OR Carter Nelson (29) OR Eric Ingwerson (82) |
| LT | Elijah Pritchett (57), 5th | Preston Taumua (68) OR Hayden Ainsworth (50), Fr. |
| LG | Paul Mubenga (65), Sr. | Tyler Knaak (75) |
| C | Justin Evans (51), 5th | Sam Sledge (62) |
| RG | Brendan Black (54), Sr. | Gibson Pyle (72) |
| RT | Gunnar Gottula (77), Sr. | Tree Babalade (55) OR Preston Taumua (68) |
Defense
| Position | Starter | Backup |
|---|---|---|
| DE | Cameron Lenhardt (11), Sr. | Williams Nwaneri (96); Jeremiah Jones (80) |
| DT | Owen Stoudmire (34), 6th | Riley Van Poppel (5); David Höffken (53) |
| DT | Jahsear Whittington (44), Jr. (Pitt) | Tyson Terry (71) OR Sua Lefotu (92) |
| DE | Anthony Jones Jr. (15), 5th | Kade Pietrzak (93) OR Jordan Ochoa (94) |
| LB | Vincent Shavers Jr. (9) OR Dexter Foster (24) | Derek Wacker (42) |
| LB | Owen Chambliss (33), Sr. | Dawson Merritt (40) |
| Nickel | Donovan Jones (37), Jr. | Mario Buford (31) OR Blye Hill (23) |
| CB | Andrew Marshall (10), Sr. | Danny Odem III (16), Fr.; Braylen Prude (29) |
| CB | Victor Evans II (22) OR Jeremiah Charles (25) | Larry Tarver Jr. (18) |
| S | Dwayne McDougle III (26) OR Rex Guthrie (21) | Caleb Benning (28) |
| S | Jamir Conn (13), Sr. | Justyn Rhett (12) |
Special Teams
| PK | Kyle Cunanan (91) OR John Hohl (90) |
| KO | John Hohl |
| P / H | Archie Wilson (83); Kamdyn Koch (37) holds |
| LS | Jack Wills (87); Kyson Gana (50) |
| KR | Isaiah Mozee; Nyziah Hunter, Jacory Barney Jr., Mekhi Nelson |
| PR | Jacory Barney Jr.; Andrew Marshall OR Isaiah Mozee |
Position Breakdown
Quarterback. Colandrea threw for 3,459 yards and ran for 649 at UNLV last year and brings 31 career starts from Virginia and UNLV. Rhule called it a competition but Colandrea took most of the first team reps; TJ Lateef and Daniel Kaelin are co-backups.
Running back. Sophomores Isaiah Mozee and Mekhi Nelson and true freshman Jamal Rule are listed as co-starters replacing Emmett Johnson. Rhule said all three get chances, with Kwinten Ives also in the mix. Mozee returns kicks.
Receiver. Nyziah Hunter, Kwazi Gilmer and Jacory Barney Jr. return as the starters; Barney is also the punt returner.
Tight end. Luke Lindenmeyer starts with a three way OR behind him among Janiran Bonner, Carter Nelson and Eric Ingwerson.
Offensive line. Alabama transfer Elijah Pritchett at left tackle, returning starters Paul Mubenga, Justin Evans and Brendan Black inside, and Gottula at right tackle after a camp Rhule raved about. Gottula beat out South Carolina transfer Tree Babalade, who had 15 career starts.
Defensive line. Two transfers start inside in Aurich’s 4-2-5: Pitt transfer Jahsear Whittington and Stoudmire, who came on late in camp while several linemen struggled. Cameron Lenhardt and Anthony Jones Jr. are the ends.
Linebacker. Owen Chambliss, with 20 career starts, and Vincent Shavers Jr. OR Dexter Foster.
Secondary. Andrew Marshall (27 career starts) at one corner with Victor Evans II OR Jeremiah Charles at the other. Donovan Jones is the nickel, Jamir Conn starts at safety and Dwayne McDougle III OR Rex Guthrie takes the other spot.
Special teams. The kicker job is still an OR between Kyle Cunanan and John Hohl; Hohl handles kickoffs. Archie Wilson punts.
The Bottom Line
Nebraska has an experienced quarterback, a returning receiver trio and the most settled offensive line of the Rhule era. Running back, kicker and one corner are the open jobs. The opener is previewed at Ohio vs. Nebraska and the full slate is on our Nebraska schedule. This page is updated with each weekly chart.