Lately, rosters must live and die by the math. And at Nebraska Cornhuskers (7-6), the math is finally starting to make sense. For a program synonymous with tradition, grit, and an unparalleled walk-on culture, the past few years have been a sobering reminder that even the 5x national champs must adapt or perish. In fact, their head coach, Matt Rhule, and athletic director, Troy Dannen, have gone scorched earth, completely overhauling this roster. Yet, there’s a ‘if they could make it on time’ factor to it.
This offseason has been a major shakeup for the Huskers, with 31 players getting the boot. 23 of them have already found new homes, just like former Husker great Adam Carriker reported earlier. Another ten players moved on voluntarily, as Nebraska faced the unenviable task of whittling down its player count to the NCAA-mandated 105-man roster by August. The issue was a symptom of the Huskers’ unique identity—a program that carried close to 180 players in 2023, thanks to its historic walk-on tradition. While it remains the point of pride, the bloated numbers presented a logistical nightmare, especially with incoming recruits and transfer portal additions on the horizon.
As the dust settled, Matt Rhule and his staff flipped the script, adding 35 new players to the roster through a mix of high school recruits and transfer portal pickups. This was about retooling the program with players who fit Rhule’s vision for a competitive and disciplined team. As ‘Huskers Online’ insider Sean Callahan reported on On3 Recruits, “They had an excellent transfer portal class. I mean, I think as deep of a year as they’ve had, they had as good of a high school recruiting year as they’ve had in a number of years.”
The biggest news is that freshman QB1 Dylan Raiola is staying put! Add in the arrival of offensive tackle Elijah Pritchett and some key defensive reinforcements, and you’ve got a recipe for serious excitement in Lincoln. Callahan added, “There’s a lot of excitement, a lot of optimism.”
Nebraska is coming off its first bowl win since 2015, a victory that feels like a lifeline for a program desperate to recapture its former glory. Rhule has wasted no time capitalizing on the momentum, crafting a roster that blends raw talent with seasoned transfers. The early returns are promising, as the team gears up to open the 2025 season at Arrowhead Stadium against Cincinnati. An opportunity for Nebraska to make an early statement in a Big Ten conference that remains as unforgiving as ever.
Of course, challenges remain. Losing defensive coordinator Tony White to Florida State is a significant blow, as White was instrumental in the team’s defensive turnaround. Rhule’s ability to find a suitable replacement will be crucial, but as Callahan noted, the transfer portal could provide a safety net for addressing key roster gaps.
Callahan pointed out that, “Another offensive lineman that would be a starting level o-lineman is a need.” He also emphasized the need for a running back who could complement Emmet Johnson. “But I would say that’s a need for a lot of teams that look in the portal.” Nebraska has already begun addressing this, extending an offer to 2026 four-star offensive tackle Casey Thomann earlier this week. The recruitment of Thomann, ranked 29th nationally at his position by 247Sports, signals Rhule’s intent to build from the trenches. The six-foot-seven, 302-pound player would be the first OL in the class to protect Dylan’s brother, 2026 QB Dayton Raiola.
While some critics might view the roster churn as a sign of instability, it’s hard to argue with the results. Although the cutting and adding will continue till fall, not just for Rhule and B1G Huskers but for most of the teams that were carrying almost 130 to 150 players, like Michigan and Penn State, to name a few. Don’t think so; there’s any need to panic for the 5-time national champs. Rhule has embraced the challenge with the same tenacity that defined his stints at Baylor and Temple.
For Nebraska fans, the offseason overhaul is a reason to dream again. The walk-on tradition isn’t going anywhere, but Rhule and Dannen have shown they’re willing to make tough decisions to ensure the Huskers are built to compete in the modern era.
The 10 Huskers who made way for Matt Rhule and the 105-man mission
Nebraska football is navigating one of its most unique challenges: shaping the 105-man roster it needs to finalize by fall. That too, with a spring roster, possibly ballooning to 132 players. As the spring semester kicked off, Nebraska made some updates, saying goodbye to transfer portal entrants, graduating seniors, and several others who won’t be part of the 2025 Huskers.
Notably missing are eight seniors who could’ve returned for an additional season: wide receivers Elliot Brown and Alex Bullock, linebacker Grant Buda, defensive backs Blake Closman and Taveon Thompson, fullback Barret Liebentritt, offensive lineman Joey Mancino, and long snapper Camden Witucki. In fact, Liebentritt and Bullock have been the key contributors to the Nebraska offense over the last two seasons. Plus, two younger walk-ons, Trevor Ruth and Danny Pasko, also departed, having not appeared in any games during their Husker tenure.
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