If you believed Nebraska football was trapped in an infinite loop of heartbreaking, missed field goals and “maybe next year” hope, well, Matt Rhule is here to put the kibosh on it or at least give Husker fans a reason to keep their blood pressure medication within reach. Rhule’s arrival in Lincoln was met with guarded hope, and he has shown consistent improvement. In 2023, Nebraska went 5-7, but in 2024, they recorded their first winning season (7-6) and a bowl win since 2016. The Huskers reached No. 22 in the Top 25 and stayed unbeaten in non-conference play after nearly two decades.
And don’t forget the Dylan Raiola element. The touted redshirt freshman quarterback broke Nebraska’s freshman passing record last season, bringing actual hope to the offense and the hope that Nebraska’s passing attack might be more than a myth in Lincoln. With Raiola at the controls and Rhule’s history of third-year magic. And just as it is appearing Raiola’s going to come through, Nebraska’s recruiting surge is just chugging along.
Introducing Devin Jackson. The four-star safety who recently decommitted from the Gators seems as good as a lock to become a Husker, with an insider naming Nebraska as the heavy favorite to get his pledge, possibly even before summer technically begins.
“Devin Jackson, I think it’s going to be Nebraska’s next commit,” says Wilson Dittman on his channel. “It’s either going to be us or Miami; it’s pretty much us or the Hurricanes. I like where we stand here. I think Nebraska will get its commitment by the end of May,” according to Wilson. Teams such as Florida and Miami have offered Jackson, the real blue-chip player, but all indications are that he will be sporting red and white. If (or, realistically, when) he commits, he’ll bring even more oomph to a 2026 recruiting class that’s already looking like one of the best in recent history.
Devin Jackson’s decision to re-open his commitment didn’t come off as a surprise. Multiple programs had offered him even though he was committed to the Gators. Considering Florida has had very little activity in its 2026 class, no wonder the DB is considering other options. As per ON3, among safeties, Jackson is ranked No. 33. Overall, he’s ranked No. 381. However, whether he commits or not, Rhule can’t have his services till 2026. For now, there are other threats he can deploy.
How Dylan and Emmett are changing the Huskers’ game
Well, Husker Nation, just when you thought Nebraska football couldn’t get any stranger, Matt Rhule has seemingly opted to toss the playbook into a blender and make Emmett Johnson the starting quarterback. That’s correct, Emmett Johnson, the same Emmett Johnson who was the team leader in all-purpose yards last year as a running back. But let’s be real for a moment. The Emmett Johnson tale is already one of the greatest in Lincoln. The man rolled into town as a three-star running back, hardly on anyone’s radar, and just ground and pounded his way to becoming the most prolific Husker back since Devine Ozigbo.
Last season, Johnson accumulated 598 rushing yards, 286 receiving yards, and a staggering 908 all-purpose yards, which led the team in catches and total yards. He’s the ultimate “next man up”-getting his opportunity initially because everybody else in the backfield was injured or playing poorly, and then making the most of it.
Now, with Johnson lining up at quarterback, the dynamic between him and Dylan Raiola is about to give Big Ten defensive coordinators night sweats. Raiola, the highly touted QB, already broke Nebraska’s freshman passing record last season, bringing a real passing threat to Lincoln. Pair that with Johnson’s ability to catch passes, break tackles, and run the offense, and you’ve got a two-headed monster that can attack from anywhere on the field.
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