Nebraska Adds 4-Star Defensive Lineman to 2026 High School Recruiting Class

Despite the early signing period coming and going, Matt Rhule and Nebraska football weren't finished with their 2026 class.

On Wednesday, four-star defensive line prospect Dylan Berymon announced he was signing with the Big Red, bringing the Huskers' class total to a dozen players. The Monroe, La., product becomes the third-highest ranked recruit to choose Lincoln as home and fills a position of need ahead of a pivotal fourth year under the current staff.

For Nebraska, the recruiting win is as much of a necessity as it is a celebration. The Huskers, who have brought in four new defensive assistant coaches since the end of the regular season, needed to reinforce the line of scrimmage ahead of 2026. With Berymon's decision to sport the "N" next fall, it brings them one step closer to doing just that.

BREAKING: Nebraska lands a commitment and signature from 4-star DL Dylan Berymon, the top unsigned prospect in America 🌽

“I feel like they’re gonna turn Nebraska up another notch. They’re gonna turn this program around.”

Read: https://t.co/rN5UWRg9jm pic.twitter.com/IMZKGyBzD9
— Sam Spiegelman (@samspiegs) February 4, 2026

Listed at 6-foot-3 and 330 pounds, Berymon isn't just sizeable, but high-profile as well. Before choosing the Huskers, the interior defender was offered scholarships by 17 Division I schools. Previously committed to Texas, Berymon opted to go another route last November. Five days later, Nebraska reached out, and in just over two months, the Huskers made up enough ground late in the cycle to earn a commitment from the blue-chip recruit.

It wasn't easy, or always linear, but Rhule and company deserve a lot of credit for this win on the recruiting trail. Sneaking in that late in a cycle usually offers very little chance at reining a prospect in, but making Berymon a priority obviously paid off.

Despite being listed as the No. 199 overall player in the class (247Sports Composite), the interior defender isn't the only high-profile addition the Huskers were able to make. And while their 2026 haul may be smaller in number than those of previous years, the impact these players have the ability to make is far more than one might expect.

Headlined by defensive back Danny Odem, Nebraska's class now has a pair of defensive additions ranked among the nation's top 200 for 2026. Rob Aurich, who is implementing a new defensive scheme after taking over for John Butler as defensive coordinator, now has two defenders with the ability to make an impact right away.

Nebraska's class also boasts a blue-chip offensive lineman, Claude Mpouma. The Chicago native signed in December and practiced with the team during bowl prep. Listed as the No. 153 player in the cycle, Mpouma stands 6-foot-5, weighs 338 pounds, and will likely take developmental reps at tackle next fall.

The remaining nine players in the class offer various amounts of upside and ability spanning nearly every position on the roster, even adding a specialist. Before Berymon, Nebraska's smaller-than-usual class earned a composite ranking of 107, and since his commitment, it has climbed back into the top 100.

For new defensive line coach Corey Brown, he has secured his first high school recruit. This was a big win for the Huskers' staff, and it moves the number of offseason additions to the defensive line room to four.

Anthony Jones was the first addition. Coming to Lincoln from UCLA, the 6-foot-5, 270-pound defender has one year of eligibility remaining. He was used in pass-rushing situations at his former school and appears ready to bolster coach Roy Manning's edge group at Nebraska.

The Huskers also added Jahsear Whittington, formerly of Pitt. After spending the first two years of his collegiate career with the in-state Panthers, he chose Nebraska this go around. This staff vetted the 6-foot, 270-pound interior defender heavily out of high school and proved that the connection was still there early on in 2026 as well. He comes to Nebraska with three years of eligibility remaining.

The most recent addition, which appears to be the final one from the portal, was Owen Stoudmire. After five seasons at Boston College, he chose to become a Husker for his year of eligibility. At 6-foot-1 and 292 pounds, Stoudmire was easily the most physically imposing offseason addition to the room. With Berymon now in the mix, the Huskers have two big-bodied defenders capable of making an impact early on next fall. Here's to hoping mass will help defend against the run in 2026.

NEW: Rivals’ @samspiegs and @SWiltfong_ have logged expert predictions for Nebraska to land 4-star DL Dylan Berymon🌽

Read: https://t.co/x0xSprF6Im https://t.co/bbvEN4fUfx pic.twitter.com/o6i0DgfS9i
— Rivals (@Rivals) January 26, 2026

Berymon's decision ends the true bulk of Nebraska's offseason recruiting calendar, having put a more-than-welcome bow on the metaphorical gift. Nebraska added 16 scholarship players via the transfer portal and another two 2026 commits ahead of the February signing day, bringing their total to 18 so far this year.

Winter conditioning will give way to spring practices later this month. It's an important time for development and team cohesion, but Berymon won't be part of it as he finishes high school. That's bound to make it more difficult for him to make an immediate impact next fall. However, reeling in a player like him could make Nebraska's pitch job to future recruits a little easier.

This is a big year in the Huskers' quest for progress on the playing field and on the recruiting trail. Nebraska knows what it has in Berymon, and he will be a name to watch once he arrives in late spring.

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