With spring ball in the rear-view mirror and the bulk of the post-spring defections likely to have already taken place, now seems like a good time to take a look at the Nebraska roster and evaluate here the Huskers stand from a roster standpoint.
We ran through the scholarship and walk-on bodies at each position on offense on Sunday. Today, it’s the defense’s turn.
Defensive Line (18)
Scholarship (14): Ben Stille (sixth-year senior), Damion Daniels (fifth-year junior), Deontre Thomas (fifth-year junior), Jordon Riley (fifth-year junior), Chris Walker (fifth-year junior), Casey Rogers (fourth-year sophomore), Tate Wildeman (fourth-year sophomore), Ty Robinson (third-year freshman), Mosai Newsom (third-year freshman), Jamin Graham (third-year freshman), Nash Hutmacher (second-year freshman), Marquis Black (second-year freshman), Ru’Quan Buckley (first-year freshman), Jailen Weaver (first-year freshman)
Walk-on (4): Colton Feist (fourth-year sophomore), Jacob Herbek (third-year freshman), Baylor Brannen (second-year freshman), Maddox Burton (first-year freshman)
Departures (2): Keem Green (scholarship), Ben Lingenfelter (walk-on)
*Note: Tony Tuioti spoke highly of Colton Feist, the walk-on out of Yutan, and he could be on the shortlist to receive a scholarship.
Outside Linebacker (14)
Scholarship (7): JoJo Domann (sixth-year senior), Caleb Tannor (fourth-year junior), Pheldarius Payne (fourth-year junior), David Alston (fourth-year sophomore), Garrett Nelson (third-year sophomore), Blaise Gunnerson (second-year freshman), Jimari Butler (second-year freshman)
Walk-on (7): Damian Jackson (fifth-year junior), Simon Otte (fourth-year sophomore), Ryan Schommer (fourth-year sophomore), Nick Leader (third-year freshman), Eli Richter (third-year freshman), John Bullock (third-year freshman), Sam Shurtleff (third-year freshman)
Departures (1): Niko Cooper (scholarship)
*Note: Scott Frost placed Damian Jackson on scholarship last year, but I’m assuming that wasn’t permanent.
Inside Linebacker (18)
Scholarship (11): Will Honas (sixth-year senior), Chris Kolarevic (fourth-year junior), Eteva Mauga-Clements (fifth-year junior), Luke Reimer (third-year sophomore), Nick Henrich (third-year freshman), Garrett Snodgrass (third-year freshman), Jackson Hannah (third-year freshman), Randolph Kpai (first-year freshman), Wynden Ho’ohuli (first-year freshman), Seth Malcom (first-year freshman), Mikai Gbayor (first-year freshman)
Walk-on (7): Zach Schlager (fourth-year sophomore), Jake Archer (fourth-year sophomore), Chris Cassidy (fourth-year sophomore), Garrett Hustedt (third-year freshman), Grant Tagge (second-year freshman), Braden Klover (second-year freshman), Grant Buda (first-year freshman)
Departures (3): Collin Miller (scholarship), Caden McCormack (walk-on), Drew Monin (walk-on)
*Note: Unlike Jackson, Luke Reimer — the walk-on who earned a scholarship heading into 2020 — looks to be heading into the 2021 season as a starter so I’m assuming his scholarship is permanent.
Safety (9)
Scholarship (6): Deontai Williams (sixth-year senior), Marquel Dismuke (sixth-year senior), Myles Farmer (third-year freshman), Noa Pola-Gates (third-year freshman), Javin Wright (third-year freshman), Isaac Gifford (second-year freshman)
Walk-on (3): Lane McCallum (fifth-year junior), Tyson Guzman (third-year freshman), Mason Nieman (second-year freshman)
Departures (0): none
Cornerback (6)
Scholarship (5): Cam Taylor-Britt (fourth-year junior), Braxton Clark (fourth-year sophomore), Nadab Joseph (fourth-year sophomore), Quinton Newsome (third-year sophomore), Tamon Lynum (second-year freshman)
Walk-on (1): Phalen Sanford (fourth-year sophomore)
Departures: Dicaprio Bootle (scholarship), Bradley Bunner (walk-on)
Defensive Back (11)
*Note: The roster includes several players listed as defensive backs rather than cornerbacks or safeties, and instead of guessing I’m listing them on their own here.
Scholarship (3): Marques Buford (first-year freshman), Malik Williams (first-year freshman), Koby Bretz (first-year freshman)
Walk-on (8): Darius Moore (fourth-year junior), Ashton Hausmann (second-year freshman), Michael Booker III (first-year freshman), Derek Branch (first-year freshman), AJ Collins (first-year freshman), Blake Closman (first-year freshman), Payton Wheeler (first-year freshman), Christian Lilienkamp (first-year freshman)
Departures (0): none
Overview (76)
Scholarship: 46
Walk-on: 30
*Note: Nebraska’s five returning seniors (Stille, Domann, Honas, Williams and Dismuke) do not count towards the 2021-22 scholarship limit, which effectively drops Nebraska to 41 scholarship defenders.
Jacob Padilla has been writing for Hail Varsity since 2015. He covers football, volleyball men’s basketball and prep sports. He also co-hosts the Nebraska Preps Postgame and Nebraska Shootaround podcasts for the Hurrdat Media and Hail Varsity podcast networks. His love of basketball can best be described as an obsession and if you need to find him, he’s probably in a gym somewhere watching, coaching or playing hoops.
