Assessing Nebraska Football: Insights on 2026 Recruiting Class Post Early Signing Day

Assessing Nebraska Football’s 2026 recruiting class reveals a mixture of successes and missed opportunities following the early signing day.

Key Insights on Nebraska’s Recruiting Class

This year’s class consists of 10 recruits, each evaluated based on their contributions and potential impact. Here’s a breakdown of the class by position group.

Quarterback (F)

• Nebraska signed TJ Lateef the previous year, but faced a setback this year.
• Dayton Raiola, a promising quarterback, decommitted weeks before signing day.
• The future success of the class may hinge on the performance of Jett Thomalla, a missed Alabama signee.

Running Back (C+)

• Jamal Rule, the only committed running back, had a stellar senior year with 1,500 yards and 15 touchdowns.
• The Huskers were unable to attract four-star Brian Bonner and faced decommitments.
• Nebraska’s recent successes have been with three-star backs, which may work in Rule’s favor.

Wide Receiver (B)

• Nalin Scott brings excellent jump ball skills despite previous injury issues.
• Larry Miles offers speed that could significantly enhance the receiving corps.

Tight End (A-)

• Luke Sorensen, a standout tight end, could be one of the best pickups of the class.
• His rejection of powerhouse programs like Penn State and Ole Miss after his Nebraska visit is noteworthy.

Offensive Line (C+)

• Claude Mpouma, a key offensive tackle, joins from Chicago but has a long way to go in development.
• Additional recruits like Hayden Ainsworth and Rex Waterman have potential but lack proven experience.

Defensive Line (F)

• Nebraska failed to secure any significant talent to bolster its defensive line.
• Top recruit Titan Davis bypassed the Huskers for other programs.

Linebacker (D)

• The only commitment, Jase Reynolds, doesn’t meet the high expectations set by previous classes.
• Several in-state and top prospects opted to play elsewhere, leaving a gap in talent.

Defensive Back (A)

• Despite losing CJ Bronaugh to Florida, Nebraska secured Danny Odem, a highly-rated cornerback.
• He is expected to compete for a starting position in the near future.

Missed Opportunities

• Defensive line recruiting was particularly disappointing, highlighting a lack of development-focused signings.
• Quarterback recruiting also fell short, missing on crucial depth due to Raiola’s decommitment.

Overall Class Assessment

The overall grade for Nebraska’s recruiting class stands at a C. While key players like Mpouma and Odem offer promise, the failure to secure depth at critical positions such as quarterback and defensive line diminishes the overall impact. Coach Matt Rhule is likely to turn to the Transfer Portal to address these gaps in the roster as the team prepares for the challenges ahead.