5 Nebraska football players most likely to break out in 2026

It’s hard to believe, but the Nebraska football season is now just eight weeks away. Eight more Saturdays and the Huskers will be back at Lincoln Memorial Stadium against Ohio.

Expectations are all over the place for this team. Nebraska faces a daunting schedule, which will make the task of reaching a bowl game more difficult than in previous seasons.

Nebraska football will need some new players to emerge. Jamal Rule looks like a breakout candidate. Who are some others that will emerge with him? Here’s a look at five players most likely to break out, including a certain freshman running back.

Jamal Rule

The three-star running back has gotten a ton of hype since the spring game. He looked ready for the part then. Now, with the status of Mehki Nelson up in the air, Rule seems to have an even better chance to start. Isaiah Mozee should get about 15 touches per game, too. He’s a talented runner and receiver, but Rule feels like he could be the bell cow.

You don’t need a ton of three-star recruits make an immediate impact. It happens, though. Guys get overlooked, and it feels like the Huskers benefited from a lot of people overlooking the ability of Jamal Rule.

If Nelson doesn’t play this season, expect Rule to start Week 1 and never give the job back.

Quinn Clark

The top-ranked player from Montana in the 2024 class, Clark, a 6-foot-5, 210-pound wide receiver, played in 13 games last season with five receptions for 132 yards. The production was limited last season, but the upside is clearly there.

Clark had three receptions go for 31 yards or more last season, with a 41-yard reception against Minnesota, a 37-yard touchdown catch against Akron, and a 31-yard reception in the bowl game.

In terms of explosive plays, Clark is already one of the most productive players on the team. Incoming starting quarterback Anthony Colandrea mentioned him this offseason as a player to watch, and he’s not the only player or coach to do that.

Clark, a former high jump state champion, is one of the best pure athletes on the team. He also might be the Huskers’ best deep threat this season, and if the route-running is more refined, he could make a major impact, especially in the red zone.

Cameron Lenhardt

The former freshman All-American hasn’t quite lived up to the hype of his freshman season. Over the past three years, Lenhardt has had 5.5 sacks. Last season, he started 13 games and had 23 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and two sacks.

It was an improvement over 2024. However,  the transition to the 4-2-5 should help Lenhardt as much as anyone on the roster. He wasn’t meant to play in an odd front.

Now that he is finally playing in the correct system, Lenhardt should thrive. There are plenty of others waiting to take snaps, but a breakout senior season is on the way for Lenhardt, who will get five sacks this season, nearly equaling his career total.

Kade Pietrzak and Williams Nwaneri will be much-improved, too. All three could be considered breakout candidates for Nebraska football. I just have a feeling that Lenhardt will surprise this season.

Riley Van Poppel

The 6-foot-5, 295-pound former four-star recruit from Texas should have a breakout season. Finally playing in a system that suits him will help. He’s a three-technique if I have ever seen one. Last season, he played in all 13 games, with three starts. He notched 16 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble, a pass breakup, and a blocked field goal.

Van Poppel, even playing in a system that didn’t fit his skill set, improved last season. This year, I expect him to improve even more. Think of the jump Ty Robinson made in Matt Rhule’s first season as the head coach. Van Poppel might not take that big of a leap this season, but he will be noticeably better, earning at least an honorable mention All-Big Ten.

Vincent Shavers

The rising junior was much better last season. He started 12 games for the Huskers, played in all 13, and built on a strong freshman season with 61 tackles with 7.5 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, and one forced fumble. He was second on the team in tackles for loss.

It feels like Shavers can still reach another level. Last year, I talked about him being the best linebacker Nebraska football has had since Lavonte David. He didn’t quite take that step. This year, he will be closer to that.

Nebraska’s defensive front will be better, and in his third season, Shavers will be better, too. He will make more impact plays this season and might end up as the Huskers’ best linebacker.

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