Nebraska football depth chart projection after finalized roster

For Nebraska football players, the 2024 season starts July 31st. That’s when the Huskers will come together for fall camp and once again, they will be in the dorm rooms according to head coach Matt Rhule.

There is always hype surrounding the Nebraska football team but you can feel it this year. It’s the second year under Rhule and the Huskers have a five-star quarterback in Dylan Raiola.

Is Raiola going to start game one? What about the other position battles? Or how will the new transfers will fit in? We break it all down with our depth chart projection that goes position by position.

Nebraska Football Offensive Depth Chart Projection

Quarterback

Starter: Dylan Raiola; Backups: Daniel Kaelin, Heinrich Haarberg, Jalyn Gramstad 

There was a lot of buzz about the addition of Gramstad. It did improve the quarterback room, especially from a depth perspective but it doesn’t change the calculus of QB1.

Rhule can talk about the competition all he wants and he should, but I would be stunned if anyone besides Dylan Raiola started game one. He’s the future and the present and if anyone is going to lead his program back to the promised land, it’s Raiola.

I also don’t buy that Haarberg should change positions. I think he could be a great running quarterback — sort of like Tim Tebow for Florida as a freshman. In short-yardage or goal-line situations, Haarberg could be really effective. He also throws it well enough to make defenses pay if they overload the box when he’s in the game.

Running back

Starter: Emmett Johnson; Backups: Dante Dowdell, Gabe Ervin, Rahir Johnson, Kwinten Ives, and Mekhi Nelson

There’s plenty to like about the Nebraska football running back room. Dante Dowdell was great in the spring game but over the course of the spring, it felt like Emmett Johnson had a narrow edge.

I feel like it’s essentially 1A and 1B with Johnson and Dowdell but my bet is on Johnson to start the first game and maybe even get more carries this season. My prediciton is that it’s close. Gabe Ervin is the other back I expect to get significant touches. Rahmir will be a third-down guy and a special teamer.

Nelson and Ives will be interesting to watch this season, but they are more about the future than the present.

Wide Receiver

Starters: Jaylen Lloyd, Jahmal Banks, Isaiah Neyor; Backups: Malachi Coleman, Jacory Barney, Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda, Alex Bullock, and Demitrius Bell. 

When Matt Rhule said that Nebraska football could go 9-10 deep at the wide receiver position, he wasn’t kidding. There are eight guys listed above who can all play. Bullock had 15 receptions for 221 yards last season. That’s not bad production for your 7th or 8th wide receiver on the depth chart.

Assuming Nebraska starts three wideouts, Isaiah Neyor, Jahmal Banks, and Jaylen Lloyd are my top three. Malachi Coleman will be right there this fall and Jacory Barney too.

Garcia-Castaneda and Bullock are veterans and they’ll be needed at some point. They can block too. But with those top six guys, and a five-star QB, there should be a huge uptick in explosive passing plays this season.

Tight end

Starter: Thomas Fidone; Backups: Nate Boerkircher; Carter Nelson and Luke Lindenmeyer

Nebraska football has a ton of depth at tight end. Most of it is unproven though outside of Thomas Fidone, Nate Boerkircher, and Luke Lindenmeyer.

Boerkircher started seven games last season for Nebraska and Lindenmeyer also started one as the Huskers opened the Minnesota game last season in a three-tight end set.

Fidone and Nelson are the dynamic pass options. Boerkircher and Lindenmeyer are more of the blocking tight ends. They combined for five receptions last season but they should each play key roles in the running game, just as they did last season.

Offensive line

Starters (L to R): Teddy Prochazka, Turner Corcoran, Ben Scott, Micah Mazzccua, and Bryce Benhart; Backups: Gunnar Gottula (T), Justin Evan-Jenkins (G/C), Sam Sledge (G), Henry Lutovsky (G), Tyler Knaak (T), and Grant Brix (T) 

It feels like these are the most likely offensive linemen to play snaps for Nebraska football this season, at least outside of garbage time. I wouldn’t rule out Gibson Pyle working his way into the mix either.

Prochazka was a top-75 recruit coming out of high school and after battling injuries, started the final five games for Nebraska football at left tackle. Matt Rhule said Turner Corcoran is cleared to go for fall camp, and at the end of the day, when he’s playing guard, he’s one of the Huskers’ five best linemen in my opinion.

Justin Evan-Jenkins also started five games last season and he’ll be tough to unseat. Ultimately, I see those two guard spots coming down to Corcoran, Evan-Jenkins (also the future starting center), and Micah Mazzccua in what will be one of fall camp’s most interesting battles.

Nebraska football defensive depth chart projection

Defensive line

Starters: Nash Hutmacher, Ty Robinson, and Jimari Butler; Backups: Cameron Lenhardt, Riley Van Poppel, Elijah Jeudy, Kai Wallin, James Williams 

Nebraska football is loaded on the defensive line. Don’t take my word it, ask Phil Steele who ranked the Huskers’ D-line fifth in all of college football going into the 2024 season.

With Ty Robinson and Nash Hutmacher — two dudes who should be playing on Sundays this fall — Nebraska has one of the best defensive tackle pairings in the sport. Jimari Butler is also wildly underrated after six starts last season, 34 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks (led the team).

Cameron Lenhardt was a freshman All-American thanks to five tackles for loss and three sacks. Riley Van Poppel is another rising sophomore who should have a big role this season, plus there is quality depth with Jeudy, Kai Wallin, and James Williams, who had two sacks last season as a redshirt freshman.

Linebacker

Starters: Javin Wright, John Bullock, and Princewill Umanmielen; Backups: Mikai Gbayor, MJ Sherman, Vincent Shavers, Stefon Thompson, Willis McGahee IV, Maverick Noonan 

Nebraska football has to replace two starting linebackers from last season in Luke Reimer and Nick Henrich, but John Bullock was essentially a starter too last season. He’ll be just fine in Henrich’s old spot, while Javin Wright can take over for Reimer.

The two seniors bring experience and plenty of production combining for 101 tackles last season. Wright had a breakout season of sorts with two interceptions, two pass breakups, and 1.5 tackles for loss, plus a forced fumble. Bullock who started 10 games, had 50 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.5  sacks, a forced fumble, and two pass breakups.

Freshman Vincent Shavers turned heads this spring and Stefon Thompson is also familiar with the defense after playing under Tony White at Syracuse. At the Jack spot, Princewill Umanmielen feels due for a breakout season after 22 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and a sack, plus four QB hurries.

This group should be fun to watch, just like this entire Nebraska football defense.

Secondary

Starters: Tommi Hill, Ceyair Wright, Malcolm Hartzog, Isaac Gifford, and DeShon Singleton; Backups: Marques Buford, Koby Bretz, Jeremiah Charles, Blye Hill, and Dwight Bootle II

The secondary has some really strong pieces such as Hill, Hartzog, and Gifford. Gifford led Nebraska football in tackles (85) and also pass breakups (8) in addition to 6.5 tackles for loss. He’s another player who probably should be in the NFL right now.

Hill earned Honorable Mention All-Big Ten after making seven starts on defense and notching 26 tackles and four interceptions (all in conference play). The former Arizona State transfer also led the Big Ten during conference play with 12 pass breakups.

Hartzog started games at corner and safety last season and will probably do the same in 2024. He’s best playing a nickel/hybrid role where he can cover and just be a playmaker. Last season, as a sophomore, he had 40 tackles and six pass breakups. Malcolm also had three interceptions as a freshman.

Starting opposite Hill could be Hartzog, Jeremiah Charles, or Dwight Bootle. It could also be Blye Hill whenever he returns from an injury this fall but don’t count out Ceyair Wright.

The USC transfer started 11 games two years ago. USC’s defense was a mess last season and Wright left the team. But Hill wasn’t perfect at Arizona State and if the Huskers can get the best out of Wright, as they did Hill, Nebraska could have a dangerous cornerback duo.

While I have DeShon Singleton starting, we’ll see Koby Bretz and Marques Buford plenty this season. There are some talented freshmen too, but cracking this two-deep won’t be easy.

Specialists

Kicker: Tristan Alvano; Punter: Brian Buschini; KR: Tommi Hill and Rahmir Johnson; PR: Alex Bullock

Rahmir Johnson and Tommi Hill both flashed as kick returners for Nebraska football last season. Hill averaged 24 yards per return, while Johnson averaged 34.

Since Hill has defensive duties, Johnson is probably the ideal guy to handle kickoff return duties. I still believe in Alvano and Buschni is still one of the best punters in the Big Ten when he’s healthy.

I expect the kicking and punting to be better. Another hope I have is that the Huskers will be more aggressive with punt returns. Bullock seems like a logical choice but he’s more about ball security. Maybe someone like Jacory Barney could step into the role this season, which could give the Huskers another big-play threat on special teams

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