5 transfers who’ll make the biggest impacts for Nebraska football

Nebraska football was among the most active teams in the college football transfer portal, adding 16 players total including six who ranked as four-star players according to 247 Sports.

According to 247 Sports, the Huskers also had the No. 1 transfer portal class in the Big Ten. Nebraska football obviously didn’t need a quarterback but landed two elite wideouts, two four-star offensive linemen, and two four-star pass rushers, and filled some other needs in the secondary, as well as at linebacker.

Maybe there will be a running back or a defensive tackle in the spring window. However, the roster is mostly set, outside of some eventual departures, and here’s a ranking of the five transfers who will make the biggest impact for Nebraska football in 2025.

Cornerback Andrew Marshall

The 6-foot cornerback who was First-Team All Big-Sky last season for Idaho is one of my favorite transfers. He’s ranked as the 25th-best cornerback in the portal and No. 188 overall.

However, I’m confident Marshall will outplay that ranking. He’s going to start opposite Ceyair Wright at cornerback. He’ll also have a positive impact on special teams as a return guy.

In two seasons at Idaho, Marshall was credited with four returns of 40 yards or more (2 KR, 2 PR). He also scored a touchdown on both a punt (47) and kick return (100) with each coming this past season.

Marshall would be a solid addition just to return kicks. But he’s also got eight career pass breakups and was known as the best man cover guy in the Big Sky — one of the best conferences in the FCS.

Nebraska has a slew of corners ready to fight it out for the No. 2 job, but Marshall will be the winner and he’ll make a big impact on defense and special teams for the Huskers.

Rocco Spindler, OG

There are two good options on the offensive line for impact transfers but Spindler to me is going to find immediate success.

The 6-foot-5, 325-pounder might be Nebraska’s best offensive lineman next season. He had an up-and-down career with the Fighting Irish. Yet, he turned into a really good player down the stretch and is one of the few transfers I could see earning All-Big Ten honors in some fashion next season.

Spindler will eventually get drafted after being one of the best offensive guards in the Big Ten during the 2025 season, making his NIL deal money well spent.

Dasan McCullough, EDGE

The former Indiana/Oklahoma linebacker might have been the best pickup in the transfer portal in terms of 2024 production, at least on defense.

After four sacks for the Hoosiers as a true freshman, Oklahoma used him more as a linebacker/safety. Nebraska football head coach Matt Rhule said the Huskers would be using him more as an EDGE.

Nebraska lost a slew of pass rushers to the transfer portal. But McCullough has proven he can produce, even in the Big Ten as a pass rusher so I think it’s a brilliant move.

Frankly, the Huskers are loaded at linebacker. With Vincent Shavers, Javin Wright, Marques Watson-Trent, Christian Jones, and Dawson Merritt, the Huskers can have Willis McGahee IV and McCullough focus on harassing the quarterback.

So if you’re worried about the pass rush, you shouldn’t be.

Marques Watson-Trent, LB

Watson-Trent is an interesting player. He was the Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year and is ranked more than 800 sports behind pickup Williams Nwaneri, who is ranked 34th overall and third among defensive linemen.

Nwaneri should make an impact this season. He didn’t play much for Missouri but the Huskers have to hope Terry Bradden can help get the most out of him.

Still, he’s more of a multi-year project. Trent is undersized but has had three straight seasons with over 100 tackles. Call me crazy, but I see another with Nebraska. Maybe he won’t play enough snaps, but it feels like he might be the most underrated addition from the transfer portal.

Some guys have a knack for finding the football and Watson-Trent is one of them. He had 10 tackles against Nebraska in 2022, nine against Wisconsin in 2023, as well as seven and a tackle for loss against Ole Miss last year. Even against the best competition, Watson-Trent has been productive.

Imagine what he’ll do with a Big Ten defensive line playing in front of him.

Dane Key

It was hard not to include Key and Nyziah Hunter. However, Hunter’s impact might be mitigated slightly by Jacory Barney, Cortez Mills, and Hardley Gilmore.

Key will take over as the No. 1. He’s got 10 games in his career with at least 80 yards receiving. Key also has three seasons with over 500 yards in the SEC.

Dylan Raiola needed a No. 1 — a true No. 1 and now he has it along with five dudes (Isaiah Mozee included, Hunter, Barney, Gilmore, and Mills) with three or four years of eligibility.

Jahmal Banks was fine last season but Key is an upgrade and he might have the biggest impact of any player the Huskers have added via the transfer portal.

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