Nebraska Head Coach Matt Rhule was never aiming at signing a full 2026 high school recruiting class. With a small number of seniors departing, plus new restrictions on college football roster sizes AND the ever present need to stay active in the transfer portal, there just wasn’t room for a lot of new high school recruits this season.
That doesn’t mean Nebraska ignored HS recruiting, it just meant they were more selective than usual this time around. And being selective paid off with the last minute addition of talented four-star defensive lineman Dylan Berymon on the second National Signing Day.
Big Defensive Tackle Was Set to be a Longhorn
Berymon was initially committed to Texas before reconsidering and looking at other options. Down the homestretch it was between Nebraska and Kentucky, before the Florida Gators made a last second push. In the end, Berymon chose Nebraska and will join five-star cornerback Danny Odem has the top incoming freshman for new Defensive Coordinator Rob Aurich. The 6’2” 330-pound Berymon is the lone high school defensive lineman in this years recruiting period. Nebraska is adding transfers Owen Stoudmire and Jahsear Whittington to the D Tackle room after losing Keona Davis to Miami via the Portal.
Berymon’s signing brings the Huskers’ total number of high school signees to 12, which still leaves them ranked last in the 18-team Big 10 based largely on quantity. However, in terms of quality “star rankings,” Nebraska’s group would be well within the top half of the conference, according to 24/7 sports.
Huskers Also Beefed up Via the Transfer Portal
Nebraska added 16 more players via the portal, including Stoudmire and Whittington.
Once again, in terms of quantity, the transfer class is not highly rated. However Rhule and company were able to bring in a dual threat quarterback, former Virginia and UNLV signal caller Anthony Colandrea to run Dana Holgerson’s offense. They also bolstered the offensive line with the additions of a pair of 300-pounders in former Iowa State starter Brendan Black and former South Carolina standout Tree Babalade. The Huskers’ offensive line will no longer be undersized.
Along with Berymon, Odem, Stoudmire and Whittington, the Blackshirt defense is getting help at linebacker from transfers Owen Chambliss and safety Dwayne McDougle, both of whom played for Aurich last season at San Diego State.
Nebraska’s 2026 transfer portal ranking checked in at ninth in the Big Ten, and 37th overall.
Rhule’s plan for the 2027 high school class has always been vastly different from 2026. Next year’s class is already ranked in the top 10 nationally, led by four star quarterback Trae Taylor, who recently transferred to Omaha’s Millard South High School for his senior season, and four-star defensive back Tory Pittman III, from Omaha Central.
Fans will get their first look at most of these new Huskers when Nebraska resumes holding their annual spring football game on March 28th.
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