5 Questions Nebraska Football must answer during fall camp

Nebraska football players will report for fall camp in just a few weeks. It opens on August 5th, and the 2026 season is right around the corner.

As late as it is, Nebraska is still adding to the roster. The Huskers landed Tikey Hayes this week, a former four-star recruit who signed with Penn State out of high school. He only had three carries last season for 18 yards, but was essentially third on the depth chart behind two NFL running backs.

One interesting question is how he will fit into the running back room? What will that depth chart look like? In terms of burning questions this fall for Nebraska, we’ll start with the running backs.

What will the Nebraska football RB depth chart look like?

Some fans and analysts, such as Steve Sipple, have speculated that Hayes could come in and win the starting job or at least compete for it. 

Hayes doesn’t have much experience, but Mekhi Nelson and Isaiah Mozee don’t have much more. Jamal Rule is a freshman, and those feel like the top four backs, although we shouldn’t forget about Kwinten Ives, even though people tend to.

The charges were dropped against Nelson. That doesn’t mean there won’t be any punishment, but if he’s cleared to play this season, he’s still the best running back on the team in my book.

Nelson, Rule, Hayes, and Mozee should all get touches, although I’m still of the belief that most of the carries will go to Rule and Nelson. Hayes could make things interesting. What’s even more exciting is that every running back, outside of Ives, will have at least three seasons left to play.

Will there actually be a quarterback competition?

Most have assumed that Anthony Colandrea will be the starting quarterback. One person who hasn’t said that is Matt Rhule. When he spoke recently about how much he liked the athleticism in the quarterback room, he talked about Lateef, not just Colandrea.

Lateef didn’t show that he had taken a big step forward in the spring. Spring ball and fall camp are two very different things. Over the first week, I’ll be watching to see if Lateef or Daniel Kaelin can make this a competition, instead of a coronation.

Can special teams avoid a setback?

Mike Ekeler’s departure was one of the more controversial things to happen this offseason. Rhule offered him a job as one of the highest-paid special teams coaches in the country. Instead, Ekeler left for USC.

Brett Maher and Nick Humphrey are handling things as special teams coordinator and co-coordinator. Maher was the assistant special teams coach last season, while Humphrey was an analyst.

With Jacory Barney earning preseason All-American honors, as well as the return of the punter, kicker, and adding one of the best long-snappers in the portal (Jack Willis), the special teams should be in good shape, as long as the coaching doesn’t lead to a setback.

The margins are so thin this season that this third of the game will be critical.

Can the offensive line finally be respectable?

The sacks allowed were a joke last season. They weren’t all on the offensive line, but enough of them were. It was an embarrassment. Yet, only two of the five starters are slated to be back — Elijah Pritchett and Justin Evans. Evans was a Fourth-Team Preseason All-American and the top-rated center coming back, according to Pro Football Focus.

Brendan Black is a proven starter with over 30 starts at Iowa State. Paul Mubenga and Tree Babalade combined for 26 starts in their careers, with at least 11 each. Geep Wade should also be a major upgrade, just like he upgraded three of the starting spots with transfer portal additions.

If Nebraska wants to improve its win total, it will need better quarterback play. That will require better play from the offensive line, which is a box that should get checked this season.

Will the defense get back to normal?

Matt Rhule teams tend to have good defenses. The Huskers had top-25 defenses in his first two seasons on the job, at least in terms of points allowed. Nebraska football was 17th in scoring defense in 2024 and 13th in 2023.

Nebraska dropped off a cliff with John Butler coordinating the defense. The personnel didn’t fit, and that’s why Rob Aurich was hired. He’s a bright mind. Phil Steele, the well-known college football expert, gave the Huskers high marks.

Aurich turned around defenses at San Diego State and Idaho. This Nebraska defense is one of the most experienced in the country, so it should adapt to the new scheme well.

Fall camp will be critical in that regard. The Huskers have to hit the ground running as much as possible. North Dakota has a better offense than people realize. Maryland and Indiana’s quarterbacks will test this defense early in the Big Ten season, so the implementation and instruction in fall camp will be critical.

If Nebraska is going to win eight games, the defense returning to form will be a huge part of it.

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