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Nebraska Hosting an Experienced Defensive Lineman

Tawfiq Thomas has played in 39 career games. At 6-foot-4 and 300 pounds, he appears to be one of the top targets remaining for the Huskers this offseason.
Trevor Tarr|
Tawfiq Thomas is confirmed to be on campus as of Jan. 8 and could look to become the Huskers' second addition on the defensive line.
Tawfiq Thomas is confirmed to be on campus as of Jan. 8 and could look to become the Huskers' second addition on the defensive line. | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

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For those waiting on information surrounding the defensive line, the Huskers finally got some good news on Day 7 of the January transfer portal window.

Nebraska secured its first commitment to the room Thursday, and the Huskers are also reported to be hosting another top target in Tawfiq Thomas, formerly of Colorado.

Entering the transfer portal after using a medical redshirt in 2025, the 6-foot-4, 300-pound defender will have one year of eligibility remaining.

Thomas announced his intention to enter the transfer portal on Dec. 19, electing to find a new school to call home. However, he does come bearing a noteworthy injury as well.

After seeing the field during the first four games of the Buffaloes' season this fall, Thomas suffered a season-ending injury, which he still appears to be rehabbing from. Despite that, he totaled 12 tackles, four of which were solo, 1.5 tackles for loss, and one quarterback hurry.

During his junior season, also in Boulder, the big-bodied defensive linemen saw the field in all 13 games. In 2024, he produced his best collegiate season to date: 18 tackles, 13 solo, 2½ tackles for loss, one sack, one quarterback hurry, and one pass breakup.

Before his time at Colorado, Thomas played at Louisville. During the first two seasons of his collegiate career, the defender played in 22 games for the Cardinals, registering 12 tackles in 207 defensive snaps.

Despite being an underclassman in that time, he saw the field early and often. Defensive tackle is not typically a position that gains large amounts of stats; however, he still managed to stay productive during those developmental years.

His length, at 6-foot-4, and weight, at 300 pounds, give him the exact type of frame needed to hold his own at the line of scrimmage, and would potentially give Nebraska exactly what it was missing this fall.

Along the defensive line, Nebraska's staff has been relatively quiet in terms of finding success in making additions to the roster, until today. Though Thomas has yet to sign, or commit for that matter, he could supply the Huskers with some much-needed reinforcement on the line.

To date, Nebraska has made five additions via the transfer portal on the defensive side of the ball, and Thomas' potential commitment would provide a breath of fresh air to a fan base that has been anxiously waiting for players in that position group to be added.

Though this staff still likely has several players on their board, signing Thomas would mark an important step toward becoming more physically imposing next fall. Nebraska lacked the size and mass needed to compete up front in 2025, and adding a 300+ pound defender to their ranks instantly gives them a more competitive team, at least on paper.

Nebraska head football coach Matt Rhule before the Huskers' 2025 season opener against Cincinnati.
Matt Rhule coached the defensive line during bowl preparations in December. Nebraska has yet to hire a defensive line coach for next season. | Kenny Larabee, KLIN

An interesting topic that has been talked about as well is the lack of hiring a defensive line coach to replace Terry Bradden. After just one season in Lincoln, Bradden was let go shortly after the end of the regular season, and Nebraska has yet to announce his replacement.


It's unclear whether that dynamic is affecting portal recruiting, but it's hard to ignore the fact that Nebraska has missed out on signing several of its initial defensive line targets. Though immediate targets do not always pan out as being better in the long term, additions need to be made, and losing out on yet another player would only add negative emotions to an increasingly sore subject within the fan base.

For now, Nebraska seems to have as good a shot as any to bring Thomas. Given his 39 games of collegiate experience, he will undoubtedly have other Power Four suitors.

The Huskers have done a good job securing proven talent to this point, and fans shouldn't expect that to change over the remaining days of the portal window. If there's one position on this roster Nebraska's staff is going to be desperate for, it is along the defensive line, and that could mean paying a high-dollar amount to secure talent for 2026.

Regardless of how it shakes out, they have secured additions of several instant impact players in multiple positions on both sides of the ball. And, currently, they appear to be doing everything in their power to bring momentum into 2026. Nebraska may have to see if good truly can be good enough, but if gems do appear, it would not surprise if they tried their hand at bringing them in as well.

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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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