It's 2026, and if you're looking at the husker football depth chart expecting to see the name Raiola at the top, you've already missed the biggest story of the winter. Honestly, the vibes in Lincoln right now are a weird mix of "fresh start" and "here we go again." Dylan Raiola—the five-star savior, the legacy, the guy everyone thought would finally bring the trophy back—is gone. He’s headed to Oregon.
That leaves Matt Rhule with a massive, quarterback-shaped hole in the middle of his roster.
For months, we all just assumed the 2026 season would be the Dylan Show. But college football doesn't care about your assumptions. Between transfer portal chaos and coaching staff shakeups, the depth chart is basically a whiteboard with a lot of eraser marks on it right now. If you want to know who is actually going to be taking snaps or plugging the gaps on defense, you have to look past the old recruiting rankings.
The QB Room: Life After Raiola
Basically, the quarterback situation is a mess, but a fascinating one. With Raiola out and Marcos Davila hitting the portal for Abilene Christian, the room is suddenly very thin.
TJ Lateef is the name everyone is circling. He’s a freshman who got a taste of the action late last season after Dylan’s leg injury, and honestly, he looked... well, like a freshman. He went 1-3 in the final four games. He’s got the arm, but does he have the "it" factor to lead a Big Ten offense in Year 2?
Then you've got the portal guys. Nebraska just landed Anthony Colandrea from UNLV. He’s a senior, he’s explosive, and he’s exactly the kind of bridge quarterback Rhule loves. He isn't going to be a three-year starter, but he might keep the ship from sinking while Lateef develops.
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- QB1 (Projected): Anthony Colandrea (Senior / Transfer)
- QB2: TJ Lateef (Sophomore)
- The Wildcard: Jalyn Gramstad. He's a senior now, and while he hasn't thrown many passes, he knows the system.
The Offensive Line: The Geep Wade Era Begins
You've probably heard that Donovan Raiola is out as O-line coach. Geep Wade is the new man in charge, and he inherited a unit that has struggled with consistency for, well, a decade.
The good news? Elijah Pritchett is back. He’s started 20 games and is arguably the most important player on the offense right now. If he doesn't hold down the left side, it doesn't matter who the quarterback is.
Matt Rhule also grabbed Brenden Black from Iowa State. He’s a 320-pound monster who’s logged over 2,000 snaps. He’s going to be a Day 1 starter at right guard. You don't bring in a guy like that to sit on the bench.
The Blackshirts: Rob Aurich’s New Look
On defense, things are getting spicy. New defensive coordinator Rob Aurich is shifting things toward a 4-2-5 or a modified 3-3-5, depending on the week. He brought some of his own guys with him, too.
Owen Chambliss (San Diego State transfer) is the one to watch. He’s a ball-hawk linebacker who tallied over 100 tackles last year. In this new scheme, he’s going to be the "kingpin" of the defense.
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One of the best things that happened this month was Willis McGahee IV deciding to stay. He put his name in the portal, everyone panicked, and then he pulled it out. He’s a sophomore linebacker who shown flashes of being an absolute terror on the edge. Keeping him was a massive win for the staff.
The Defensive Front
- DE: Williams Nwaneri / Cameron Lenhardt
- NT: Riley Van Poppel / Elijah Jeudy
- DT: David Hoffken / Jaylen George
Cameron Lenhardt is a junior now. It feels like he’s been around forever, but he’s finally in that sweet spot where his physical strength matches his technique. If he and Nwaneri can provide a consistent pass rush, this defense might actually live up to the "Top 25" hype Aurich is aiming for.
Why the 2026 Depth Chart is Different
Most people look at a depth chart and see a list of players. In the Matt Rhule era, you have to see it as a puzzle. He’s balancing "Project 105"—the scholarship distribution—with the reality of the transfer portal.
For example, look at the receiver room. Dane Key is likely heading to the NFL, leaving a void at the "X" position. Enter Kwazi Gilmer, a transfer from UCLA. He’s a sophomore who already has experience burning Big Ten secondaries (he had a touchdown against the Huskers in '24).
Then you have the true freshmen. Danny Odem is a 5-star defensive back who might be too good to keep off the field. Usually, you want to redshirt these guys, but in 2026? If you can play, you play.
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Key Position Battles to Watch this Spring
- Running Back: With Emmett Johnson declaring for the draft, it’s a wide-open race. Isaiah Mozee (true freshman) and Mekhi Nelson (redshirt freshman) are the co-favorites, but don't sleep on Jamal Rule.
- Safety: The secondary is deep, but the loss of Malcolm Hartzog to Arizona hurts. Look for Jasin Shiggs (Towson transfer) to compete with DeShon Singleton for a starting spot.
- Kicker: Yes, we’re talking about kickers. Tristan Alvano transferred out, leaving a massive question mark. Michael Sarikizis, the latest Australian from ProKick, is the new favorite.
Real Talk: The Schedule is Brutal
It’s sorta terrifying looking at the 2026 slate. Indiana, Oregon, Ohio State, Washington, and Iowa.
Without a settled husker football depth chart, that schedule looks like a mountain. But there is a path here. If the offensive line improves under Geep Wade and Colandrea provides some veteran stability at QB, this is an 8-win team.
The biggest misconception is that Nebraska is "rebuilding." They aren't. They’re "reloading" in the most chaotic way possible. Rhule is betting that he can find better fits in the portal than the stars who left. It’s a gamble, but honestly, what choice does he have?
Practical Next Steps for Fans
If you're trying to keep up with the roster, stop looking at the 2025 program. It's irrelevant now.
- Watch the Spring Game: This will be the first time we see Anthony Colandrea in a Husker jersey. Pay attention to his chemistry with Jacory Barney Jr.
- Follow the "Quiet Periods": The portal has specific windows where coaches can't talk to players. Watch for a flurry of activity right after these periods end.
- Track the 105: With the new roster limits, every scholarship counts. If a reserve player transfers out in June, it usually means Rhule has a portal target ready to take that spot.
The depth chart isn't final until the bus pulls up in Eugene to play the Ducks. Until then, keep your eyes on the portal and your expectations grounded. This isn't the Raiola era anymore—it’s something else entirely.