National Signing Day arrives on Wednesday, and while the Nebraska football team is expecting an especially small class, that makes it all the more critical that Matt Rhule and his crew keep the players that are committed.
If there is one positive to the tiny class, it's that most of the players who make it up are quite talented and at positions of need for the program. With just nine expected signees, the argument can certainly be made that every single one of them absolutely should be signed. However, there are four names that stick out.
Danny Odem is a top-notch defender that Nebraska needs to lock down
Danny Odem represents a lot of reasons why the Huskers need to make sure he signs on the dotted line on Wednesday. First and foremost, he's just outside the Top 100 players in the country according to the Rivals industry rankings. He's also a talented defensive back who will hopefully step in sooner rather than later, as several veteran DBs are set to move on.
The good news here is the 5-star prospect (according to 247Sports) shut down his recruitment a few weeks ago and looks like he's a lock for Nebraska.
Claude Mpouma could be an anchor for Nebraska football
Anyone who watched the Huskers this year saw a team that struggled to put two top-notch offensive tackles on the field at the same time. That's why the monster offensive lineman is such an essential get for NU in this class.
The 4-star player out of Mount Carmel, Illinois, is the No. 16 offensive tackle in the class according to Rivals and was recently named a Navy All-American.
Jamal Rule fills a real position of need for Nebraska
Should Emmett Johnson depart for the NFL as he's expected to do, the cupboard at running back will be very near bare heading into the winter of 2025 and 2026. Nebraska will almost certainly go get a back in the portal, but they also need one from the high school ranks.
Jamal Rule is the only running back commit in the 2026 class, and he's shown off some very Emmett Johnson-like talents in his senior year. According to MaxPreps, Rule ran for 1,362 yards and 16 touchdowns while averaging 7.9 yards per carry and posting a long of 90 yards. He also caught 25 passes for 327 yards and another touchdown. Nebraska would love to see Rule step into EJ's shoes should he go pro.