3 defensive transfers who have ‘raised expectations’ for Nebraska

If Nebraska football is going to have a successful season in 2026, it needs to be much better on defense.

The Huskers allowed 40.3 points per game in the last three games against Utah, Iowa, and Penn State — a Penn State team with a redshirt freshman (backup) quarterback.

Nebraska needed to get tougher up front. Changing to a 4-2-5 scheme made sense. It fits the current roster better, but the Huskers also did a good job of recruiting some transfer portal players.

Two of them, Owen Chambliss and Dwayne McDougle, were perfect fits. They played for Aurich at San Diego State. There’s no doubt they will start and have an impact.

That’s sort of the expectation. However, when Aurich spoke on Saturday after a scrimmage, he brought up three transfers who he said have raised expectations.

“Jahsear (Whittington), our transfer from Pitt, has a real twitch to him. He’s coming along,” Aurich said. “Anthony Jones, I think, brings a level of physicality to that group that kind of sets the tone. Then, Dexter Foster is really, really stout inside. Really good on contact.

“Those three guys have been really good for the program. What’s been done is kind of raise the expectation of what the play looks like at those positions.”

3 Nebraska transfers standing out on defense

Jones is a 6-foot-5 EDGE. He had five pressures for the UCLA Bruins in their loss to USC last season. He doesn’t have huge career sack numbers, just 3.5 sacks and six tackles for loss the past two seasons, however, he’s a better pass rusher than that, and he seems like a strong bet to be part of the “Cheetah” package Aurich talked about on Saturday.

Whittington is another. He’s been talked about by Aurich and others. Matt Rhule has brought him up, too. The 270-pounder sounds like a big upgrade in terms of interior pass rush.

That’s a boon for Nebraska football if true.

Dexter Foster is a name to know, too. Foster played and started in just seven games for Oregon State last season, but produced 52 tackles, 3.0 TFLs, and one pass breakup. He’s got 11 starts in two seasons and could push for a starting job at Nebraska.

Vincent Shavers and Chambliss seem penciled in as the top two. Foster could make things so interesting, but more than two linebackers are going to play.

Foster will play, whether as a starter or backup, and so far, it feels like Nebraska’s defensive haul in the transfer portal was a successful one.

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