Nebraska Adds Big-Bodied Defensive Lineman to Transfer Portal Haul

Even as the portal closes at midnight on Jan. 16, Nebraska continues to address positions of need.

On Friday evening, the Huskers secured the commitment of Owen Stoudmire, who comes to Lincoln after five seasons at Boston College. Marking the 18th addition Nebraska has made since the start of 2026, the senior is the 16th portal addition and fourth defensive lineman to commit or sign with the Big Red.

🏠 #GOBIGRED pic.twitter.com/9pO0YeFc0U
— Owen Stoudmire (@Owen_Stoudmire) January 17, 2026

Listed at 6-foot-1 and 292 pounds, Stoudmire has the type of build that naturally draws attention from those following the Nebraska football program. In addition, the Ohio product has appeared in 35 collegiate games, including five starts.

After redshirting in 2021, Stoudmire began to carve out a role during his second season on campus. In 2022, he saw the field in nine games and recorded the first eight tackles of his career. As he continued to establish himself within Boston College’s defensive line rotation, the soon-to-be sophomore entered the following season with clear momentum and an expanding role.

That progression carried into the fall. Stoudmire appeared in 10 games during the 2023 season, adding nine more tackles while continuing to gain valuable in-game experience. By the time his junior year rolled around, he had already logged snaps in 19 contests and positioned himself to push for a starting role.

In 2024, Stoudmire played in all 13 games for the Eagles, including Boston College’s Pinstripe Bowl matchup against Nebraska. Handling the largest workload of his career, he finished the season with 30 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and two quarterback hurries, putting himself in position to enter 2025 on the verge of another step forward.

However, that momentum was cut short. Injuries forced him to miss two of BC's first five games of 2025, but he started the other three, including the Oct. 4 contest at Pitt. That turned out to be his final appearance as an Eagle, as he suffered a season-ending injury and took a medical redshirt. After some time to reflect, he announced on Wednesday of this week that he was entering the transfer portal, and Nebraska wasted little time in lining up a visit.

With the NCAA visit window reopening from Thursday through Friday, Stoudmire quickly made plans to be in Lincoln. After making his commitment known on Friday, the experienced defensive lineman could be the final addition Nebraska makes during the 2026 transfer portal cycle.

With the hiring of new defensive line coach Corey Brown becoming official, Stoudmire marks the first addition to his room since the announcement. And the news likely puts a bow on his position group's additions this offseason.

To date, Nebraska has landed commitments from three defensive linemen since the calendar turned to the new year. The first came from former UCLA edge defender Anthony Jones. At 6-foot-5 and 270 pounds, the will-be senior projects at the same position for the Huskers in 2026. Newly hired edges coach Roy Manning secured Jones’ commitment on Jan. 8.

While not a transfer portal addition, junior college standout Andy Burburija also committed to the Huskers this week. Over two seasons at Iowa Western, he recorded 78 tackles and 14 sacks. A JUCO All-American, Burburija is expected to factor in along the interior of new defensive coordinator Rob Aurich's 4-2-5 scheme. Listed at 6-foot-3 and 295 pounds, the Illinois native represents the biggest defensive line addition Nebraska has made so far.

The Huskers also added a former four-star recruit they had extended an offer to out of high school. Jahsear Whittington arrives in Lincoln after spending two seasons at Pitt. The young interior defender appeared in 16 games as a Panther and brings notable upside to Nebraska's defensive line room. Listed at 6-foot and 270 pounds, Whittington is expected to continue adding mass but could still carve out a role in the rotation next fall.

As the window to enter the transfer portal wraps up, Nebraska may still be looking to bring in more players over the coming weeks. For now, Stoudmire is the most recent addition to their ranks. The veteran defender bolsters a room in need. The four additions to the room signal a clear emphasis on bringing in players to compete for large roles, and Stoudmire seems to be in line to do just that.

It is a big win for Brown's position group on paper, but the Huskers will ultimately need to prove it on the field. There's plenty of time for growth before September, and the Boston College transfer's experience will undoubtedly help. This fan base wanted the transfer portal window to end with a bang, and the news likely gives them what they were looking for. And though things may quiet down quickly, don't be surprised if more additions are made, as there are still plenty of capable players yet to find a new school to call home.

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