Nebraska has been extremely aggressive in the transfer portal. Over the past few months, the Huskers have added eight defensive players to their roster, allowing Matt Rhule to establish one of the top portal classes in the Big Ten. Let’s take a look at who could emerge to play a key role in Nebraska’s defense in 2025.
Looking Ahead: Major Players In Nebraska’s Defense for 2025
Marques Watson-Trent
The senior linebacker will arrive in Lincoln with a ton of experience. In his time at Georgia Southern last season, Watson-Trent led the Eagles program with 118 tackles. He also made his presence felt near the line of scrimmage. In 2024, he had 7.5 tackles for loss and forced four fumbles. These stats earned him first-team all-conference honors along with being named as the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year. It will be interesting to see if Javin Wright can have the same impact. During the offseason, the 230-pound linebacker was granted a seventh year of eligibility by the NCAA. This will allow him to have another season of eligibility in 2025. He already ended last season on a high note. In Nebraska’s Pinstripe Bowl victory over Boston College, Wright led the Big Red in total tackles and tackles for loss.
Dasan McCullough
After stops at Indiana and Oklahoma, the 223-pound linebacker will spend his last season of college eligibility with the Cornhuskers. We should be able to predict that he’ll make an instant impact on Nebraska’s defense for 2025. In just 12 games with the Hoosiers, McCullough was able to record 48 total tackles and four sacks. This led him to receive All-American honors as a true freshman. He would continue to find consistency in Norman. In two years with the Sooners, he was able to record 42 tackles and three pass deflections. If he has a successful stint in Lincoln, it will give scouts even more confidence in his NFL Draft stock.
Andrew Marshall
The former Idaho Vandal should get plenty of playing time under Huskers defensive backs coach Addison Williams. As a sophomore in 2024, Marshall was able to record 50 tackles and eight pass breakups. The 6-foot, 186-pounder also established himself as a return specialist. The California native showed off his explosiveness when he was able to return a punt for 47 yards, and a kickoff for 100. Veteran safety Deshon Singleton will also be available to play alongside him. Singleton announced on social media that he is returning for his fifth college football season. It will be interesting to see if he can continue where he left off in 2024. The 13-game starter logged 71 tackles and three pass breakups for the Big Red.
Gabe Moore
The Mississippi State transfer will be a long-term project for incoming defensive line coach Terry Bradden. Moore redshirted in his freshman season with the Bulldogs in 2023. The 2024 season was more promising, but the 290-pounder suffered a season-ending injury. Luckily, he does have plenty of upside. In his high school career, he totaled a whopping 116 tackles and 12 sacks. He can try and live up to the hype in Lincoln, but it won’t be easy. East Tennessee State transfer Jaylen George was a first-team All-Southern Conference selection in 2024. If Moore isn’t a fit, Cam Lenhardt will always be a good option to keep in the rotation.
Elijah Jeudy
The junior will look to establish himself as a key cog in Nebraska’s defense for 2025. As a sophomore, Jeudy had a career-high eight tackles and a tackle for loss. However, he would make one of the biggest plays of his career against Purdue. Early in the third quarter, Ben Freehill’s 37-yard field goal attempt was blocked. He could have a similar impact on Nebraska’s defense in 2024. In just 13 games, he had 13 tackles and a fumble recovery against Boston College. This sets up the veteran to be a key cog in the Blackshirts operation. However, we could also see him mentor five-star talent Williams Nwaneri. The Missouri freshman will look to find success in Lincoln after a limited role with the Tigers in 2024.
Read about one of his best moments as a Blackshirt in What Did We Learn About Nebraska’s Win Over Purdue?
The post Looking Ahead: Major Players In Nebraska’s Defense for 2025 appeared first on Last Word on College Football.