Breaking down the Bearcats opponent: Nebraska Cornhuskers

Does the date November 29, 1906 ring a bell for anybody?

It was when... famous author Luis Van Rooten was born, right? That’s the most notable event to

happen on that day?

Wrong! It’s the last and only time Nebraska and Cincinnati have played. Unfortunately for 1906

Cincinnati supporters, it was a bloodbath with the Cornhuskers winning 41-0.

Fast forward 119 years to 2025. Both of these programs, and the world, look very different. The

College Football Playoff is now a thing, and both teams have high aspirations this year.

So, what can Cincinnati expect from the Huskers this go around? How does their roster stack up

against the Bearcats? Going position by position, this article will look at every spot on

Nebraska’s roster ahead of Week 1.

Quarterback

Starting off with the most important position on the field, true sophomore Dylan Raiola is the

signal caller for Nebraska. Ranked the #2 quarterback in the nation in 2024 by 247Sports, Raiola

started as a true freshman, throwing for 2,819 yards with 12 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

The 2,819 yards were the 2 nd -most for a Big Ten freshman since 2000, only behind Christian

Hackenberg’s 2,955 in 2013. While the results may look mixed, Nebraska’s receivers and

offensive line received a massive overhaul this offseason, and combined with an expected year

two jump, Raiola could reach stardom in 2025.

Wide Receiver

Nebraska returns just 518 yards from last season’s corps, but this is largely a good thing. Two

key transfers are expected to provide a massive boost to the air attack in Lincoln. Kentucky

import Dane Key had 715 yards of his own in 2024 to go along with two touchdowns as a bright

spot in an otherwise weak passing attack.

On Key, Dylan Raiola said: “When you have a guy like that who produces on the field, but at the

same time he’s a great person off the field... that’s a big plus.”

On the other hand, Nyziah Hunter comes by way of California. As a freshman, Hunter had the

most yards of any wideout on the Golden Bears with 578 on 14.5 yards per catch.

Pair this top two with returner Jacory Barney Jr (447 yards), and Nebraska’s passing game

figures to improve dramatically upon last season.

Running back

Redshirt junior Emmett Johnson steps into the lead role in 2025 after splitting carries with Dante

Dowdell last year, who transferred to Oregon in the offseason. While Johnson had only 598

yards last season, 259 of them came in the final three games of the season, including 113 in a big

win over Wisconsin.

He was also a factor in the passing game with 286 yards, fifth most on the team. Having a

running back who has the ability to catch the ball just adds another wrinkle in what is expected to

be a much-improved offense.

Others who could see some carries are redshirt freshman Mekhi Nelson and redshirt sophomore

Kwinten Ives.

Tight End

6’3 250-pound Luke Lindenmeyer steps into the starting role after a blocking role in 2024 behind

Thomas Fidone. Lindenmeyer is a former walk-on who came on to be used as an in-line blocker

for Nebraska, but now steps in to a starting role.

“He can basically do anything at the position” tight ends coach Marcus Satterfield said about

Lindenmeyer. “He’s one of the guys who has the best pad level that I’ve ever coached. He’s

rolling right along.”

In another interesting note, Lindenmeyer’s backup is former quarterback Heinrich Haarberg.

Offensive line

Only two starting offensive linemen return from a group that allowed 28 sacks in 2024, a stat that

ranked middle of the road in college football. One of them, current center Justin Evans, started

every game at left guard.

Thankfully, head coach Matt Rhule brought in two highly rated players from very successful

programs: former Notre Dame guard Rocco Spindler and Alabama tackle Elijah Pritchett.

Spindler was a starter for the Notre Dame squad that went all the way to the National

Championship game.

On the first official depth chart of the season, Pritchett is listed with two others (Gunner Gottula

and Turner Corcoran) as the first string left tackle. It remains to be seen which one will start

against the Bearcats.

The group seems to have good chemistry with one of the main men they’ll be protecting in

Emmett Johnson: “They don’t have no ceiling. I love running behind them right now. A lot of

guys are buying into what the coaches are teaching them.”

Defensive Line

Ty Robinson, one of the best defensive tackles in the Big Ten, is no longer a Cornhusker after

being drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles. Robinson headlined a line in 2024 that held opponents

to just 101.2 rushing yards per game, eighth in the nation. Stepping into his place will be senior

Elijah Jeudy, who earns the starting nod after a strong camp.

On the edges of the three-man defensive front, in comes Missouri transfer Williams Nwaneri and

junior returner Cameron Lenhardt. Nwaneri is a former top 10 overall recruit in the 2024 class,

and while he may not put up gaudy numbers this year, he could be a superstar in the making in

the coming years. Lenhardt is another former top recruit who is expected by those who know to

have a breakout season after playing sparingly in his underclassman years.

Linebacker

The linebacker room’s success begins and ends with Georgia Southern transfer Marques Watson-

Trent. Watson-Trent is one of the best defenders in Georgia Southern’s history, winning Sun Belt

Defensive Player of the Year in 2024 along with two First Team All-Sun Belt selections and a

second team nod in 2022. His career total of 354 tackles speaks for itself as the potential head of

the snake on this defense.

As PFF’s highest graded true freshman linebacker in 2024, Vincent Shavers Jr should be another

force. He steps into a full-time role after his predecessor John Bullock graduated in the spring,

and his athleticism will prove to be essential.

Javin Wright is a seventh-year senior who has struggled to stay healthy by no fault of his own

throughout his career. He brings experience and veteran leadership to a linebacker room that

could use some.

Rounding out the room is Oklahoma transfer Dasan McCullough. McCullough is a freak athlete,

standing at 6’5 with mobility. For the first time since leaving Indiana, McCullough will get a

chance to show what he’s really all about with Nebraska.

Cornerback

Three key names headline the cornerback room for the Huskers: Ceyair Wright, Andrew

Marshall and Malcolm Hartzog Jr.

Since being thrust into the starting lineup after an injury to Tommi Hill in 2024, Wright has

taken hold of a starting corner spot and hasn’t let go. He will likely line up against Cincinnati’s

WR1, likely Cyrus Allen.

Marshall transfers in from Idaho where he earned an All Big Sky First-Team selection for the

Vandals. He also has potential as a kick returner.

Finally, Hartzog is another experienced veteran who brings versatility. Formerly a safety,

Hartzog has tremendous ball hawking skills with four interceptions in 2024. He’ll slot into the

nickel position this go around.

Safety

Marques Buford continues a common theme among the Nebraska defense: versatility. Starting

seven games at corner in 2024 and five at safety. A fifth-year senior, Buford is viewed by staff as

well as the fanbase as a leader within the program.

Another program staple and leader is Buford’s counterpart DeShon Singleton. The senior is

bigger than Buford at 6’3 and 210 pounds, profiling as more of a stopper than a big play

specialist. He’s the type of player to step up in big games as well, tallying his career-high in

tackles (10) in a close loss at Ohio State.