The long wait is finally over. The Nebraska football team is officially back as fall camp begins on Monday. Because winning is always the key, the jubilation over the season almost being here is almost immediately replaced by nerves.
Can the Huskers really turn the 2025 season into the kind of campaign so many analysts expect? While there are some knowns about this team, there are also plenty of unknowns.
Some questions around the Nebraska football team are bigger than others.
Who gets the carries besides Emmett Johnson?
Between some recruiting losses and transfer portal departures, the Huskers' running back room has a ton of question marks. It has so many, in fact, that NU has officially moved freshman wide receiver Isaiah Mozee to running back (even if the staff claims that was his request).
Kwinten Ives and Mekhi Nelson are the other guys who stand the best chance of getting some serious carries. Still, considering the state of the running back room, it feels like Emmett Johnson is going to be a workhorse. There's also true freshman Conor Booth, but there's a bit of a question as to whether the true freshman will know the offense and hold up in his first year.
Who wins the job at right tackle for the Nebraska football team?
Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule said he already has a front-runner for the right tackle job in Tyler Knaak. Still, he also made it clear that there will be a competition.
Teddy Prochazka and Gunnar Gottula are the top names to keep in mind if Knaak gets beat out. At some point this camp or this fall, the position might get snatched by Turner Corcoran, but he's got to prove he's healthy first.
How fast can Mike Ekeler turn special teams around?
Special teams was such a problem for Nebraska last year that Matt Rhule addressed the need for change right after his team won its bowl game. Mike Ekeler was brought in to right the ship that Ed Foley couldn't.
Considering what his special teams units did at Tennessee (ranked 11th in the country in 2021, 2nd in 2022, 36th in 2023, and 11th in 2024), Husker fans are expecting some immediate results.
Ekeler has already made some changes to his unit. Whether or not those changes will pay off right away is one of the biggest questions of fall camp.
Can Nebraska football move on without Ty Robinson and Co.?
The defensive line was a strength in 2024, but between graduations and transfers, there are quite a few questions, especially with a new defensive coordinator. Riley Van Poppel, Cam Lenhardt, Elijah Juedy, Keona Davis, Missouri transfer Williams Nwaneri, and East Tennessee State transfer Jaylen George are all going to need to contribute.
The Nebraska football team has a lot of talent on defense, especially on the defensive front. But just who will stand out from the crowd and put a season anywhere close to what Ty Robinson did last year is a massive question as fall camp begins.