Nebraska Hosting Veteran Defensive Lineman on Visit

After a brief hiatus, Nebraska's coaching staff is back in full swing on the recruiting front, and recent confirmation suggests that another transfer portal defender will be on campus.

With 15 additions from the transfer portal ranks and a defender coming to Nebraska from junior college, the Huskers have done well at bringing in talent to compete for starting roles at nearly every position group. But as the transfer portal window is coming to a close, the staff remains interested in adding a player or two at positions of need.

Their lone confirmed visitor for the time being is former Boston College defensive lineman Owen Stoudmire. The interior defender offers one year of remaining eligibility at his new home and has quickly become Nebraska's top target as the Huskers round out their class.

Excited to find a new home for my last season of eligibility! pic.twitter.com/0AKMbW77GF
— Owen Stoudmire (@Owen_Stoudmire) January 14, 2026

Listed at 6-foot-1 and 292 pounds, Stoudmire's frame is something nearly everyone with an interest in Nebraska football can take a liking to. The Ohio native has seen action in 35 collegiate games, including five starts.

After he redshirted in 2021, Stoudmire's role grew tremendously during his second year on campus. The 2022 season saw him earn snaps in nine games while he gained the first eight tackles of his career. Beginning to become a trusted member of Boston College's defensive line room, he entered his sophomore season with reason to believe his trajectory would continue to go up.

To his credit, it did. Playing in 10 games that fall, Stoudmire added nine tackles to his career totals while further honing his skill in live game situations. Going into his junior season, he had already seen action in 19 games and had done enough to begin to earn a starting role the next year.

Stoudmire saw the field in all 13 games the Eagles played in 2024, including the Pinstripe Bowl matchup against Nebraska. With the heaviest workload of his career, he totaled 30 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and two quarterback hurries as a junior and appeared to be on the brink of another breakout year as a senior in 2025.

Much love to the Norwayne football program! Thank you to the coaches team and Norwayne community! #nobodycaresworkharder https://t.co/SiHQOJwDOI
— Owen Stoudmire (@Owen_Stoudmire) December 17, 2020

That did not go as planned. After earning starts in the first three games of Boston College's 2025 campaign. Stoudmire suffered a season-ending injury and took a medical redshirt. He announced Wednesday that he was entering the transfer portal, and the Huskers moved quickly to secure a visit.

As players are once again able to schedule visits from Thursday to Friday, Stoudmire is confirmed to be on campus. The veteran defender could become the last addition the Huskers make during the 2026 transfer portal cycle.

With the new defensive line coach, Corey Brown, being finalized, Nebraska is no longer handicapped by recruiting without a position coach being named, and the Huskers appear to be in the lead for Stoudmire's commitment.

The Huskers already have secured commitments from three other defensive linemen since the start of the new year. The first was Anthony Jones, formerly of UCLA. At 6-foot-5 and 270 pounds, the will-be senior looks to be featured more likely as a defensive edge for Nebraska in 2026. Roy Manning, the new coach of the edge defenders, gained his commitment on Jan. 8.

Though not a portal addition, Anthony Burburija from the junior college ranks committed to the Huskers this week. During his two seasons at Iowa Western, he totaled 78 tackles and 14 sacks. Coming to Lincoln as a JUCO All-American, Burburija likely slots in on the interior. Listed at 6-foot-3 and 295 pound, the Illinois native is the most sizable defensive lineman Nebraska has added to this point.

Most recently, the Huskers added a former four-star prospect that they vetted out of high school. Jahsear Whittington comes to Nebraska after two seasons at Pitt. In his time as a Panther, the underclassmen interior defender played in 16 games, and he offers a high-level upside. At 6 feet and 270 pounds, expect Whittington to add size over the coming months, but don't be surprised if he factors into the rotation early next fall.

Boston College defensive lineman Owen Stoudmire is entering the transfer portal, a source tells me and @chris_hummer.

Stoudmire (@Owen_Stoudmire) has played more than 500 snaps the last two seasons and has 52 career tackles. Has one year of eligibility left. pic.twitter.com/YQdx71qTv3
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) January 14, 2026

With the opportunity to add their fourth player to the room, Nebraska has followed through on its apparent emphasis on retooling the lines of scrimmage before the 2026 season. With three linemen added on both sides of the ball, the Huskers at the very least did bring in players to compete for starting roles.

Stoudmire's addition would be the cherry on top and a good way to infuse size and experience into a young defensive line room. For coach Brown's new unit, it would provide reason for optimism over the coming months, and after the way things ended in 2025, that is about all you can ask for from that group.

The potential addition, regardless of the decision, is likely to be determined over the coming days. However it shakes out for the Huskers, they appear to be ending the portal window with their foot still very much on the gas.

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