The Nebraska football churn continues. On the heels of five Husker players announcing they are entering the portal next Monday, two more NU players are expected to be heading out of Lincoln when the transfer portal opens.
While all seven of the players who announced their departure were valuable members of the team to one degree or another, it feels like Tuesday’s additions sting a little bit more.
Daniel Kaelin hasn’t officially announced though has been reported to be looking for greener pastures after spending most of the season as the third-string quarterback for Nebraska football this season. He’s joined on the list waiting to leave by EDGE player Princewill Umanmielen.
More Nebraska football portal departures sting
While Umanmielen didn’t put up eye-popping numbers this year, he was a Freshman All-American in 2023. Over two years, he totaled 35 Tackles, 7 TFL, & 1.5 sacks with the Cornhuskers.
More important than that, as a junior, he would have had the opportunity to be a leader on a rebuilt defense with a new defensive coordinator. At least for now, it looks like he’d rather go somewhere else. Granted both he and Kaelin can’t enter the portal until December 9 which means the coaches have time to convince them otherwise and of course they can withdraw from the portal after the fact.
Kaelin’s departure stings more because of the impact it has on a quarterback room that doesn’t have a ton of P4 talent beyond Dylan Raiola. Granted the Huskers will be adding TJ Lateef on Wednesday, barring a disaster but Kaelin’s sitting out this season was part of a plan to redshirt him and add depth.
It also hurts that the team is losing a home grown quarterback that was an Elite-11 competitor who stuck by his commitment even when it became clear that the Huskers’ get of Raiola was higher profile.
In total, the Nebraska football program has now seen seven players announce their intention to transfer when the portal opens on Monday. Add in Malachi Coleman’s announcement a few weeks back and the number is up to eight.