Week 1 takeaways from Nebraska football fall camp

Fall camp just has just begun for Nebraska football. Friday was the first time that the Huskers have practice in pads ahead of the 2026 season.

They did that in spring ball, but that feels forever ago. The positions battles have reached their final stages, and we will start to learn about just how strong this team could be.

This Nebraska football team is experienced. It’s also more talented than people realize, and here are three takeaways from the first week of fall camp going into the 2026 season.

Nebraska likes what it has in Anthony Colandrea

The Mountain West Player of the Year in 2025 impressed Dana Holgorsen with his ability to process things. The Nebraska OC said he knew that Colandrea could run, but his arm talent is also there. He has “checked all the boxes” so far in fall camp.

Whether it’s offensive lineman, wide receivers, or running backs, everyone seems to have something good to say about Colandrea. Matt Rhule said he was the “yin to my yang.”

There was a connection between the quarterback and the coaching staff immediately. We can see why now. There is a great chemistry and it feels like the Huskers have upgraded in a big way at quarterback.

Having a playmaker is going to make all the difference in the world. Dylan Raiola was and is a talented passer, but Nebraska football needed a different kind of quarterback. Colandrea is it.

Running backs are talented but have question marks

When you listen to Holgorsen or Rhule talk about the running back room, it doesn’t feel like they have reservations. They know these guys can play. They just have to do it on the field.

We saw that to some extent in the bowl game. Mekhi Nelson and Isaiah Mozee were one of the bright spots in the loss to Utah. Nelson had 12 runs for 88 yards and a touchdown. He also caught three passes for 48 yards with a long run of 38 yards and a reception of 24.

That’s 136 yards on 15 touches for Nelson against a team that went 10-2 last season. Mozee had seven runs for 32 yards, with a long of 11, plus four receptions for 48 yards. Combined that’s 216 yards on 27 touches (eight yards per touch).

Nelson and Mozee have to prove they can do it for an entire season. Jamal Rule has been making plenty of noise, too. You also have Tikey Hayes and Kwinten Ives. For my money, Nelson and Mozee will be most of the touches this season, which isn’t a bad thing.

Rule will also be in the mix. Don’t be shocked if they all reach 100 carries. It will be more of a back-by-committee, but with Colandrea’s ability to run, especially in the zone read, the running game should be more open for the running backs than in year’s past.

Better in the trenches

Nebraska football has only had a few days of fall camp, but going back through the offseason, it feels like the Huskers truly upgraded in the trenches.

The offensive line added three starting-caliber players with nearly 60 combined starts in Brendan Black, Paul Mubenga, and Tree Babalade. The defensive line added Owen Stoudmire, Anthony Jones, and Jashear Whittington, plus you have players ready to emerge at DT like Riley Van Poppel, Tyson Terry, Malcolm Simpson, and possibly freshman Dylan Berymon (about 340).

At EDGE, Kade Pietrzak feels ready for a breakout season. Williams Nwaerni, too. I also think Cameron Lenhardt is going to have his best season as a Husker. The pieces are there. Nebraska upgraded on the coaching front, and after getting pushed around in the trenches last season, that won’t happen in 2026.

Nebraska will protect and affect the quarterback better than any other season of the Matt Rhule era. It will also do a better job of stopping the run. The 4-2-5 will help. But a deeper, more experienced group in the trenches will make a massive difference this season.

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