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Young Husker Linebacker Withdraws from Transfer Portal, Stays at Nebraska

Willis McGahee IV elects to stay in Lincoln for another season.
Trevor Tarr|
Willis McGahee IV has played in 17 games for the Huskers. He maintained his redshirt this fall.
Willis McGahee IV has played in 17 games for the Huskers. He maintained his redshirt this fall. | Kenny Larabee, KLIN

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Nebraska Cornhuskers

The transfer portal giveth and the transfer portal taketh, just like Matt Rhule said, but sometimes that statement can be true on both ends for the same player.

Redshirt sophomore linebacker Willis McGahee IV is Nebraska's most recent example, as he took to social media to confirm his return to Lincoln for next fall.

After McGahee's withdrawal from the portal, the Huskers' staff welcomes back a familiar face who has already displayed some game-changing ability in his young career.

Arriving in Lincoln as a consensus three-star prospect in the 2024 class, McGahee might not have carried the highest recruiting profile, but his on-field impact quickly stood out. During his true freshman campaign, the hybrid linebacker/edge defender appeared in 12 games, recording 13 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, one sack, and a pass breakup. He also finished tied for the team lead with two forced fumbles.

Entering the 2025 season, McGahee seemed poised to take on a larger role. That opportunity, however, never fully materialized. The Miami native saw action in just five games, one of which came in the Las Vegas Bowl against Utah. He finished the season with four tackles, including two for loss.

While the reasons behind McGahee’s reduced role are unclear, it’s hard to overlook the sense of a missed opportunity for the Huskers this fall. Regardless, the news of his return signals the potential to make amends in 2026 and beyond.

McGahee entered the transfer portal on Jan. 5. At the time, it wasn't all that surprising. Proximity to home is not in the Huskers' favor, and he appeared to be seeking an opportunity for more playing time.

However, six days later, Nebraska is getting back a young player with undeniable potential. Day 10 of the transfer portal gives the Huskers back a potential difference-maker for next fall. And with the relatively quiet window in terms of defensive line additions, it seems more and more likely McGahee will have a say in the edge rotation in 2026.

McGahee spent the entire 2025 season listed as the No. 2 option at the "jack" position. Largely behind transfer addition Dasan McCullough in 2025, he provided Nebraska good, but not great, production this fall.

With the Huskers transitioning from a 3-3-5 to a 4-2-5 under new defensive coordinator Rob Aurich, McGahee looks to be on the fast track toward earning reps at a defensive end/outside linebacker spot next season. In 17 games as a Huskers, he has amassed 17 tackles, 3.5 for loss, 1 sack, and 1 pass breakup. However, if he ends up where it is presumed he will on the depth chart next season, he could produce more than double that in 2026 alone.

There's no lack of talent for the Miami native. He just needs an extended runway to show his strengths. McGahee's return marks as big a win on the defensive side of the ball as nearly any this staff has made since the start of the new year.

After redshirting in 2025, McGahee will have the opportunity to grow into the player many thought he could be this fall. And even if it comes a year later than expected, it will be a welcome sight for a fan base wanting to see explosive plays on defense next season.

McGahee offers the opportunity for that to happen in abundance. He is disruptive, athletic, and violent on the edge, and with another nine months of strength and conditioning at the Power Four level, he will have all the tools at his disposal to hit the ground running come September.

There's little doubt his return means his role will increase next fall; now it's all about how much of a jump he can make. For now, the Huskers seem to be heading toward riding with what they've got up front, but there's still plenty of time to surround players like McGahee with big bodies on the interior of the line.

Whether the Huskers are able to seal the deal with interior defensive line targets toward the back end of the transfer portal window remains to be seen. They've had several opportunities and, for various reasons, have missed out. Don't expect that to happen for much longer. College football continues to race toward a schedule in which winning happens more in January than it does in any game the next fall, and for a Nebraska team that knows where its weaknesses lie, reinforcements seem necessary heading into the 2026 season.

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Trevor Tarr
TREVOR TARR

Trevor Tarr is the founder of Skers Scoop, a Nebraska football media outlet delivering original coverage through writing, graphics, and video content. He began his career in collegiate athletics at the University of South Dakota, producing media for the football team and assisting with athletic fundraising. A USD graduate with a background in journalism and sports marketing, Trevor focuses on creative, fan-driven storytelling in college football.

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