Projecting Huskers' Week 1 Starting Lineup After Second Week of Fall Camp

The 2026 college football season is just around the corner and fall training camps are in full swing. The Nebraska Cornhuskers are two weeks into its fall camp and there are some major position battles still under way.

Here's are updated projected week one starting lineup for the Huskers as they will take on the Ohio Bobcats out of the MAC on Saturday, September 5, in Lincoln.

Offense

Quarterback

Projected Starter: Anthony Colandrea (Sr.)

The quarterback starting position has been Colandrea's to lose pretty much since he arrived in Lincoln out of the Transfer Portal. The former UNLV and Virginia senior quarterback could bring a spark to the Huskers' offense that is needed, especially after the past two seasons with Dylan Raiola under center.

Colandrea brings a true duel threat ability, being able to throw down field, while being a difference maker in scrambling out of the pocket when under duress. While as a Rebel, the senior quarterback threw for 3,459 yards with 23 touchdowns, while rushing for nearly 650 yards and 10 touchdowns. With a veteran offensive line and fantastic weapons around him, Colandrea could be a great fit for the Huskers as the starting quarterback.

Running Back

Projected Starter: Isaiah Mozee (So.)

As the past few weeks have gone by, sophmore Isaiah Mozee seems to be more and more likely to be the starter week one. Running backs coach EJ Barthel said on Sports Nightly on Wednesday that he likes where the running back room is at so far through camp but Mozee has stood out.

"This is the best I've seen him," Barthel said. "That kid right there, you put the ball in his hands in space and he's going to make plays."

Mozee was recruited as a four-star wide receiver as a part of the 2025 high school recruiting class out of Lee's Summit North High School, but was moved the running back as a back up behind eventual NFL draft pick Emmett Johnson.

It is still an on-going position battle but Mozee remains the front runner. A couple players to watch is sophomore Mekhi Nelson and true freshman Jamal Rule. Regardless, all three will get plenty of playing time in 2026.

Wide Receiver

Projected Starters: Nyziah Hunter (Sr.), Kwazi Gilmer (Sr.), Jacory Barney Jr. (Jr.)

The projected starters for wide receiver room remain unchanged since last time with Nyziah Hunter and Kwazi Gilmer on the outside and Jacory Barney Jr. in the slot. However, sophomore Quinn Clark has been a name that has been talked about a lot in the past week as someone to watch out for at wide receiver.

Hunter is the leader of the room in terms of statistics, catching 43 passes for 617 yards and five touchdowns. Barney Jr. was second for the Huskers a season ago, with 45 catches for 484 yards and five touchdowns, while with UCLA, Gilmer caught 50 passes for 535 yards and four touchdowns.

Clark has been listed as a guy that has been increasing their chances to start in 2026. It makes sense, Clark's size at 6-foot-5 makes him a big target and has shown his athletism and offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen has been high on the sophomore Bozeman, Montana native since he's been in Lincoln.

Tight End

Projected Starter: Luke Lindenmeyer (Sr.)

Once again, senior Aurora, Nebraska native Luke Lindenmeyer is projected to be the starter at tight end for the 2026 season. However, the tight end room has been a subject to criticism lately. Tight end coach Marcus Satterfield has said that he hasn't been thrilled with what he has seen from the position group.

Regardless, Lindenmeyer seems to be the front runner for the starting position with former high-end four-star sophomore Carter Nelson and true freshman Luke Sorensen. More consistency will be needed from this position group if the Nebraska offense is to improve in 2026.

Offensive Line

Projected Tackles: Elijah Pritchett (Sr.), Gunner Gotulla (Jr.)

Projected Guards: Paul Mubenga (Jr.), Brendan Black (Sr.)

Projected Center: Justin Evans (Sr.)

For the most part, the projected starting offensive line hasn't changed. However a major battle at right tackle has been going on between junior South Carolina transfer Tree Babalade and junior Gunner Gotulla.

Even if Babalade does win the competition, it still brings the Huskers major flexibility at the position, where Gotulla can rotate in at tackle and even guard if needed.

The rest of the offensive line is more locked down, especially with projected left tackle senior Elijah Pritchett and senior center Justin Evans, who could be a All-B1G and All American candidate at the end of the season. At guard, LSU junior transfer Paul Mubenga and Iowa State senior transfer Brendan Black hold down the interior.

Defense

Defensive Line

Projected Edge Rushers: Williams Nwaneri (So.), Cameron Lenhardt (Sr.)

Projected Nose Tackle: Riley Van Poppel (Jr.)

Projected Defensive Tackle: Jahsear Whittington (So.)

The defensive line is the biggest question mark on the Nebraska defense for 2026. Expectations are very high from defensive coordinator Rob Aurich and one of the biggest reasons of switching to a 4-2-5 from 3-3-5 is with stopping the run.

The Huskers were abysmal stopping the run in 2025, allowing 175.4 yards per game on the ground.

The switch to the new scheme will help shore up the running game, but Nebraska will have to be better at pressuring the quarterback. The biggest jump in that department will be needed from sophomore Williams Nwaneri. Nwaneri was a highly recruited prospect out of high school and was heavily recruited in the transfer portal last offseason. The sophomore only had 2.5 sacks last season and will need to increase that number in 2026.

Junior Riley Van Poppel looks to be a starter once again in 2026, at nose tackle while Pittsburgh sophomore transfer Jahsear Whittington is in a battle with senior Boston College transfer Owen Stoudmire for the starting defensive tackle position.

Linebackers

Projected Starters: Owen Chambliss (Sr.), Vincent Shavers (Jr.)

The linebackers project to be a very solid group in 2026, lead by San Diego State senior transfer Owen Chambliss, who had 109 tackles in 2025, and 2025 Nebraska starter Vincent Shavers. Both have high expectations and that is within reason as well.

Shavers, who lead the linebacker core last season, is expected to make a jump, especially in stopping the run while Chambliss can do about everything for the Huskers defense.

A couple of players to watch to rotate in are senior Oregon State transfer Dexter Foster, sophomore Dawson Merritt and freshman Will Hawthorne.

Defensive Back

Projected Cornerbacks: Andrew Marshall (Sr.), Victor Evans III (Sr.)

Projected Safeties: Dwayne McDougle (Sr.), Jamir Conn (Sr.)

Projected Nickel: Donovan Jones (So.)

The defensive back room has a lot of experience, just not at Nebraska. Andrew Marshall and Donovan Jones are the only ones that are projected to start that started in games last season. However, there is still a lot of talent in the defensive back room.

FIU senior transfer Victor Evans III is trending up to start for the Huskers at the second cornerback position, while senior transfers Dwayne McDougle and Jamir Conn look to be the starters at safety.

Evans III is battling junior Jeremiah Charles, who took first-team snaps in the spring, for the second starting spot at cornerback. Adding to that, true freshman Danny Odem will be hard to keep off the field in 2026, given the immense talent he brings.

The defensive backs should be a fun group to watch the rest of fall camp and into the 2026 season.

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