11 Nebraska Cornhuskers named to Shriners East-West Bowl watch list

The 2026 Shriners Children’s East-West Bowl released its watch list on Thursday. The list contains six returning Huskers and five Nebraska transfers.

Returning Huskers to make the list included wide receiver Nyziah Hunter, tight end Luke Lindenmeyer, edge rusher Williams Nwaneri, defensive back Andrew Marshall, and offensive linemen Justin Evans and Elijah Pritchett. Transfers include quarterback Anthony Colandrea, edge rusher Anthony Jones Jr., defensive back Dwayne McDougle III and offensive linemen Brendan Black and Paul Mubenga.

Colandrea is the standout, playing in 33 games in his career with 31 starts at quarterback. The 2025 Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year across three seasons completed 627-of-983 passes for 7,542 yards and 49 touchdowns. He also had 328 carries for 1,151 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Jones Jr. played one season each at Oregon, Indiana, Michigan State and UCLA before transferring to Nebraska. Jones has played in 37 games, totaling 58 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and one pass breakup. McDougle III followed new defensive coordinator Rob Aurich from San Diego State.

McDougle III played in 40 games across four seasons and recorded 143 tackles with 3.5 tackles for loss, six interceptions, 12 pass breakups, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. Black and Mubenga combined for 56 games and 41 starts. Black played in 36 games across three seasons at Iowa State. Mubenga also played for three seasons, taking part in 20 games at LSU.

Hunter enters his second season at Nebraska after transferring from California. He started all 12 regular-season games in 2025, catching 43 passes for 617 yards and five touchdowns, leading Nebraska in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. Lindenmeyer also started all 13 games in 2025, setting career highs with 29 receptions, 312 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

Marshall started all 13 games in 2025 after transferring from Idaho, recording 45 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, one interception and four pass breakups. He helped Nebraska rank third nationally in pass defense. Nwaneri played in all 13 games for the Huskers after transferring from Missouri, earning 27 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, one pass breakup and two fumble recoveries.

Evans returns as a redshirt senior for Nebraska after playing three seasons. He started all 13 games at center in 2025. Pritchett also played in all 13 games in 2025 with nine starts at left tackle for Nebraska after transferring from Alabama. Their run blocking helped Emmett Johnson earn first-team All-American and Big Ten Running Back of the Year honors.

11 Huskers have made the 2026 Shriners Children’s East-West Bowl watch list.#Shriners1000 | @ShrinersBowlpic.twitter.com/LBzt2J1l9N

— Nebraska Football (@HuskerFootball) July 23, 2026

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This article originally appeared on Cornhuskers Wire: 11 Nebraska Cornhuskers named to Shriners East-West Bowl watch list