4 things we learned from Nebraska football’s open practice

Nebraska football is continuing the work during fall camp. On Tuesday, the Huskers opened up a portion of their practice to the media.

There were photos and videos all over social media, giving Nebraska football fans their best look at the 2026 Huskers, at least to date, outside of the spring game.

You can only learn so much during an open practice, but we picked up on some key points based on everything we saw and heard on Tuesday. Here are four things we learned.

Nebraska looks the part in the trenches

That was a common theme on Tuesday. There’s only so much you learn in a non-11-on-11 setting, but the Huskers’ defensive line certainly looks the part. Dylan Berymon is listed at 350 pounds. David Hoffken looks like he has a chance to play this season, but the overall theme is just that the group looks like a Big Ten unit.

That wasn’t always the case last season, when it was being pushed around. Sua Lefotu is listed at 6-foot-3, 315 pounds, and certainly looked it. There was a lot of buzz about him. Nebraska’s offensive line looks the part, too.

Claude Mpouma had some impressive one-on-one reps. He looks like a guy with All-Big Ten potential in the future. Sign me up for him as the starting left tackle for the next three or four seasons. Heck, if there is an injury at tackle this season, he might be first off the bench, depending on when.

Nebraska football has a lot to prove in the trenches. The Huskers lived up to Matt Rhule’s description of his “biggest team.”

Between the offensive line (17) and defensive lines (9), the Huskers have 26 300-pounders. Justin Evans is the lightest among the projected starting offensive line (315). Every other projected starter is at least 320.

RB pecking order

You don’t want to read too much into drills, but it seemed like Mekhi Nelson and Isaiah Mozee were the first backs getting the reps in individual drills. Mozee was first. That could mean something. It could mean nothing.

The expectation is that Mozee and Nelson will share the job. The combined for 216 yards rushing and receiving against Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl.

With more seasoning, more strength, and the ability to run behind a bigger offensive line, Mozee and Nelson should provide the Huskers with a solid back-by-committee that will also feature Jamal Rule.

The pass rush looks improved

Anthony Jones, the UCLA transfer, who had five pressures against USC last season, notched a one-on-one victory against Elijah Pritchett, according to Inside Nebraska. That’s good to see.

Williams Nwaneri is in better shape and seems to be moving better, too. Jashear Whittington is going to be a force.  He’s undersized, but that is sometimes beneficial at defensive tackle.

Stout linebacker room

Linebacker might be one of the deepest positions on the team. Inside Nebraska reports that Owen Chambliss and Dexter Foster are the top two linebackers right now, with Vincent Shavers close behind. All of those guys will play a lot. Dawson Merrit and Christian Jones should get some snaps, too.

You want about five good linebackers, especially in a defense like this, to get through a season, and the Huskers have them. Chambliss could be an All-Big Ten performer.

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