Category: Nebraska Cornhuskers

Markowski’s career night lifts Nebraska past No. 20 Michigan State

The Huskers improve to 12-4 on the season and 3-2 in conference play.

On Wednesday night, the Nebraska women’s basketball team faced their fourth-ranked opponent in the last five games. The Huskers welcomed No. 20 Michigan State and earned their first-ranked win of the season.

Alexis Markowski erupted in Wednesday night’s clash, dropping a career-high 28 points in the win. Markowski finished 10-of-19 from the floor and 8-of-10 from the free throw line. She also led the team in rebounds with eight.

Both teams exchanged blows throughout the night, but Nebraska struck at the free-throw line. The Huskers landed 28 free throws on the night while Michigan State only made 14.

Nebraska even built a 17-point lead over the Spartans with under two minutes left in the third. Though Michigan State cut the lead down, the Huskers pulled away.

Allison Weidner dropped a season-high 11 points, going 5-of-7 from the foul line and earned a team-high six assists. Britt Prince rounded out Nebraska’s double-digit scorers, finishing with 10 points.

The Huskers improve to 12-4 on the season and 3-2 in conference play. They will travel to Rutgers on Sunday afternoon. Tipoff is set for 1:00 p.m. CT on B1G+.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.                            

Huskers set to host New Mexico State offensive tackle

The Huskers remain busy via the transfer portal.

Nebraska football is set to host an offensive lineman this week. New Mexico State left tackle Shiyazh Pete is expected to visit the Huskers.

Pete spent four seasons with the Aggies after walking on his freshman year. Following no appearance in 2021, the Missoula, Montana, played in 12 games in 2022. New Mexico State finished three consecutive 200-plus yard rushing games to close the season and a program-record 25 rushing touchdowns.

He started in all 15 games at left tackle in the 2023 season, helping the Aggies to a 10-5 record. Pete earned First Team All-Conference USA and landed on the 2024 Lombardi Award Watch List.

Pete played in the final six games for New Mexico State in 2024 following an injury but allowed only five pressures and committed zero penalties.

The Huskers currently have no offensive linemen from the transfer portal this offseason. The Nebraska pipeline currently holds redshirt freshmen Gunnar Gottula and Grant Seagren at left tackle. Both Gottula and Seagren stand at 6-feet-6, and 305 pounds. Pete is 6-feet-8 and 320 pounds.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.

Huskers host stout UTEP defender on Tuesday

The Huskers continue to try and strengthen the defense.

Nebraska football hosted UTEP defender Maurice Westmoreland on Tuesday. Westmoreland has been a staple for the Miners’ defense throughout the course of his career.

He put together another productive season in 2024, recording 46 combined tackles, eight sacks, and a pass deflection. Those numbers were all career-highs, as he put together a solid year. This included two tackles in the Miners’ season-opening loss to Nebraska.

The defensive unit has undergone an overhaul this off-season, as the program has been able to make several moves in the transfer portal. Westmoreland could potentially be an NFL-type player and would fit an NFL-type scheme well.

The Huskers currently have the country’s ninth overall transfer portal class per the 247Sports Rankings. They have 14 transfer commitments in total.

Westmoreland would be another strong get for a defensive unit with much potential. It will be interesting to see if the program makes the move here.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.

Former Nebraska quarterback signs NFL reserve contract

The quarterback was one of ten players to sign a reserve contract with the Jets.

A former Nebraska quarterback has signed an NFL reserve contract. Adrian Martinez is one of ten players to sign with the New York Jets.

The quarterback signed with the Jets after a successful season last spring with the Birmingham Stallions of the United Football League. He was the league MVP while throwing for 1,749 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Martinez also led the league in rushing with 528 yards. The Stallions defeated the San Antonio Brahmas 25-0 in the inaugural United Football League Championship Game.

The California native played at Nebraska from 2018-21 before transferring to Kansas State for the 2022 season. In five seasons, he threw for 9,391 yards and 49 touchdowns with 30 interceptions.

He went undrafted in the 2023 NFL draft but did spend time with the Detroit Lions in their fall camp.

Find photos of his football career by scrolling below.

Huskers land Southern Illinois defensive back

Nebraska football picked up another commitment on Sunday night.

Nebraska Football added another transfer corner to the roster on Sunday. Southern Illinois defensive back Jamir Conn committed to the program. He announced his commitment on X.

Conn has some Nebraska ties already. He played at Lee’s Summit North High School in Missouri. There, he played for Jamar Mozee and was a teammate of Isaiah Mozee and Williams Nwarneri.

Conn was able to produce at the FCS level, as he started immediately. He recorded 68 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, nine pass breakups, a forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. He originally committed to JMU in December but will now join a strengthening Nebraska defensive backfield.

This marks the third addition to the Nebraska football secondary this offseason. Corner Andrew Marshall and safety Justyn Rhett are the other additions. This has been a busy transfer portal cycle for the program, as they have made 14 additions in total. Coach Matt Rhule and his staff have embraced the transfer portal this offseason.

Conn adds additional depth and experience to a defensive back room that has several new pieces. Strengthening the secondary was a need for the program heading into the offseason.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.

Huskers host UCLA defensive back for visit

Nebraska football hosted a Big Ten corner on Thursday.

UCLA Bruins defensive back Jaylin Davies visited Nebraska on Thursday afternoon.

Davies recorded 30 total tackles, as well as two pass deflections for UCLA last season. He began his career with the Oregon Ducks in 2021. All told, he has 108 combined tackles, a half a sack, and four interceptions in 40 games.

The corner was highly regarded out of high school, as he was a four-star recruit. He was the 10th overall corner in the 247Sports composite rankings and was the sixth overall corner in the 2021 class, per Rivals Rankings.

The Huskers have made it a point to strengthen their secondary this off-season.

They have had several visitors over the last couple of days and are said to have more next week. Davies would bring a corner with Big Ten experience and experience defending pass-heavy teams. It would be a positive veteran addition to a rebuilding defense, as John Butler gets his shot at leading the unit.

 

Huskers to host defensive lineman next week

Joshua Donald is taking a visit to Lincoln.

Multiple media outlets have reported that former Appalachian State defensive lineman Joshua Donald will visit the Nebraska football program on January 6.

Donald is coming off a season that saw him record 32 tackles, three sacks, and a forced fumble. The nose tackle measures in at six-foot-one, 320 pounds. He was a junior last season.

The Huskers have filled several needs in the transfer portal so far this cycle. Nose tackle is undoubtedly one of them, and Donald would fit the bill.

On top of this, the program will need to replace the pass-rushing element that Ty Robinson and Nash Hutmacher brought to the table. He would be able to help fill the void left by the departure of those two.

The Huskers have focused on the defensive line in the transfer portal, and Donald’s arrival on campus is a positive development.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.

Huskers land commitment from Kentucky wide receiver

Hardley Gilmore IV is headed to Lincoln.

Nebraska football has picked up another commitment from the transfer portal. Former Kentucky Wildcat wide receiver Hardley Gilmore IV committed to Nebraska on Wednesday afternoon.

Gilmore had six catches for 153 yards and a touchdown last season. He was a four-star receiver and was the 149th overall player in the 2024 recruiting class. Gilmore saw action in seven games this past season and started against Murray State. He had 72 yards and a touchdown.

Overall, Gilmore averaged 25.5 yards per catch, solidifying himself as an explosive playmaker. He measures in at six-foot-one, 178 pounds.

Gilmore will reunite with wide receivers coach Daikiel Shorts. His arrival in Lincoln is also important, as wide receiver Jaylen Lloyd departed earlier this week. This is the second Kentucky wide receiver commitment this offseason, with Dane Key announcing his commitment to the program on Christmas Eve.

It will undoubtedly be interesting to see what Gilmore can contribute to the offense. The Huskers now have another wide receiver with multiple years of eligibility.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.

Huskers to host Auburn defender on Friday

The Huskers will be hosting a talented redshirt freshman this week.

Nebraska football will be hosting Auburn Tigers freshman defensive lineman TJ Lindsey on Friday. This was confirmed by multiple media outlets.

Lindsey appeared in one game for the Tigers in 2024, recording two tackles on the afternoon. He previously played for IMG Academy in 2023 and recorded one game played according to statistics from MaxPreps.com. He also had a hurry as well.

The defensive lineman was highly-recruited out of high school. He was the 40th overall defensive lineman in the 247Sports composite rankings. Auburn and Texas were the final two schools during the recruiting process, and he ultimately settled on the Tigers.

Lindsey would give Nebraska football additional depth on the defensive line, at a position they have been focusing on both in the transfer portal and in the 2025 class. It will be interesting to see if Nebraska can land him as they enter a new era on the defensive side of the ball.

[lawrence-related id=34552]

Matt Rhule wants ‘complete ovehaul’ of special teams unit

Matt Rhule did not mince words on the special teams unit.

Nebraska football head coach Matt Rhule indicated that special teams would undergo a makeover for the 2025 season as the struggles continued on Saturday afternoon.

Nebraska had 10 kicks blocked this season. They were also last in the Big Ten in punt returns and tied for last in net punting.

The Huskers’ struggles continued in the Pinstripe Bowl. Kicker Jon Hohl had a blocked kick, and it was returned for two points. Nebraska football punter Brian Buschini had a punt blocked in the fourth quarter of the game. The block led to an ensuing Boston College touchdown, making it a 20-15 game.

The coach was not pleased with the special teams unit following the game and noted that things need to improve for next season. Special teams were a point of emphasis for him.

“It’s no secret. To be where we want to be next year, we have to be the same defensively, probably a little better in some areas,” Matt Rhule said after the game. “We have to really improve on offense, and I think we’re all seeing at times signs of what it’s going to look like. And then special teams, we need a complete and total overhaul of that. We have to be better at that. I always put those things on my shoulders, we’ll get it done. But it has not been good enough this year.”

These comments seem to put a spotlight on special teams coach Ed Foley. It will be interesting to see if the program retains Foley next season. This could be one of the storylines worth watching in an offseason where the Huskers want to take the next step as a program.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.