Nebraska Portal Calm Before the Storm
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Nebraska has had a relatively quiet stretch on the player-personnel front—calm waters before what promises to be a tidal wave of portal activity. The transfer portal officially opens from January 2nd to January 16th, a frantic two-week window in which all business must be conducted. No extended courtships, no time for slow plays—just rapid evaluations, decisive offers, and deals sealed in record speed.
The Huskers don’t have the longest list of needs, but they may have one of the most expensive. Offensive line, defensive line, running back, linebacker, and possibly quarterback will test the limits of Nebraska’s recently rediscovered treasure chest. GM Pat Stewart will need to work some magic to meet those demands.
Who’s Gone
Nebraska has lost just two players to the portal so far: defensive back Caden VerMaas and running back Jamarion Parker. Both saw limited playing time, and in Parker’s case, struggled with recurring injuries.
These departures were expected in the attritional, ever-churning world of the portal. They won’t significantly impact either position group. Jamal Rule is lined up as a like-for-like replacement for Parker, while the defensive back room is overflowing with young talent ready to climb the depth chart this offseason.
Players to Watch
All eyes are on quarterback Dylan Raiola, the not-so-small elephant in the room. With his brother Dayton decommitting and his uncle Donovan Raiola departing as offensive line coach, speculation naturally follows. If Dylan were to leave, Nebraska would suddenly face a massive need for a proven quarterback to push TJ Lateef.
On the flip side, Raiola has hinted that the clock is ticking on Lateef as well. Should Lateef explore other opportunities, the Huskers would again be left needing a quarterback to round out the room. Either way, Nebraska likely needs reinforcements under center.
Outside the quarterback saga, Matt Rhule and his staff must battle to keep the burgeoning young starters who flashed throughout the season. This is far easier said than done. The tape is out, other programs have money to spend, and roster poaching is the new normal. Losses are inevitable; mitigating them is the art.
Must-Get Positions
Big, bigger, and biggest. That sums up what Nebraska needs in the trenches.
The offensive and defensive lines were glaring weaknesses this season, and both new line coaches know precisely what their marching orders are. Rhule has repeated it endlessly: In the Big Ten, you must run the ball and stop the run. Non-negotiable.
Proven linemen are the most expensive items in the portal marketplace. But Nebraska intends to pay what it must. With GM Pat Stewart navigating the roster numbers and NIL budget, the Huskers will be aggressive once the portal opens.
Expect a mad dash beginning January 2nd to secure priority targets on campus and lock them down before they’re snatched away. The prep work has been ongoing for months—identifying soon-to-be-portal players, building preliminary evaluations, and preparing to strike when the second names become official.
The Calm Before the Chaos
For now, we remain in a holding pattern. A strange quiet. Very little portal noise. But that will change—and quickly.
Once the first domino drops, the Nebraska staff will be sprinting. Decisions will come fast, visits will stack, and commitments will land (or vanish) faster than Dylan Raiola feels pressure in the pocket before getting sacked.
So enjoy the quiet while it lasts.
Because it’s about to get crazy.
GBR
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