It is clear that Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule is taking the problems with the defensive line seriously after his latest hire for the bowl game against No. 15 Utah. Rhule brought in former two-time NFL Super Bowl Champion Dave Tellefson to help out the line ahead of the bowl game and there is hope that he will stay on the staff going forward.
Nebraska needs help on the defensive line going into next season. Whether that is the change at defensive coordinator or getting new guys in there, something clearly needs to change. This is a line that struggled to get to the quarterback and struggled even more to stop the run in the 2025 season.
So, the clear answer is to go get some veteran help in the transfer portal, and the good news is that there are lots of players planning to enter that could be a great fit at Nebraska.
Saturday Blitz announced Top 10 DL transfer portal rankings that could help Nebraska
College football site Saturday Blitz has just rolled out their top 10 rankings for all the different position groups for the transfer portal. The latest group to be released is the defensive linemen.
There are lots of players who could be a great fit for Nebraska on this list. Some top names that stand out right off the bat are Ian Geffrard, Malcolm Alcorn-Crowder, and John Walker. Here is how those three guys could help Nebraska next season.
Ian Geffrard - Arkansas
Ian Geffrard was on an Arkansas defense that was pretty bad in 2025, but not because of his play. Geffrard is best known for helping stop the run, which is something that Nebraska desperately needs going forward. While he struggles a bit to get to the quarterback, his ability to plug holes and stop the run just might be exactly what the Cornhuskers need next season.
Malcolm Alcorn-Crowder - Kansas State
Malcolm Alcorn-Crowder is the guy that Nebraska can bring in to help rush the passer and get into the backfield in order to create negative plays. In his time at Kansas State, he struggled a bit when tackling running backs in open space, but he could get to them, and the quarterback in the backfield, so a combination of Alcorn-Crowder and Geffrard could be lethal for the Cornhuskers' defense.
John Walker - UCF
John Walker does come from a Scott Frost coached team, but he was in Orlando before the former Nebraska coach made his return. Walker has struggled a bit as a pass-rusher, but his ability to plug the hole for the run game is one of the best in the country, just look at his film from this past season.