Nebraska football faces roster shifts after surprise 6th enters transfer portal
While Nebraska football head coach Matt Rhule talked in the leadup to the Spring Game, that the Huskers hadn't lost anyone to the transfer portal, it appears the Cornhuskers are going to end the spring portal period with a grand total of six players who are on their way out. That number grew by one more on Thursday with what has to be considered another surprise, even if it wasn't one that was quite as surprising as someone like Chief Borders.
On Thursday evening, the fourth transfer portal entry of the week surfaced, though Ru'Quan Buckley obviously put his name in the portal before the end of the day Tuesday.
Buckley was a 3-star defensive lineman who was highly touted out of high school, choosing Nebraska over schools like Florida State, Arkansas, Michigan, and Oregon, among many others. However, as a defensive lineman, Buckley didn't get a ton of playing time, registering 60 snaps and recording one tackle over his first two seasons. He converted to an offensive lineman this spring.
During practices, Rhule was quite complimentary of Buckley's job transitioning to the other side of the ball.
“Ru’Quan’s one of those guys on the team that whatever room he’s in is a better room," the Huskers' head coach said on March 28. “He’s one of those fundamental leaders that raises the standard of everyone in the room. When he speaks, everyone listens; when he speaks, I listen."
Nebraska football has small surprise as sixth Husker enters transfer portal this spring
It now appears that Buckley either decided he wants to go back to the defensive side, or he still doesn't believe he's going to get the playing time he wants on Nebraska's offensive unit. Whatever the reason, he becomes the second scholarship player to enter the portal this week.
On Tuesday, two walk-ons, Korver Demma and Jack Woche, decided to head to greener pastures. On the first day that the portal was officially open, Eric Fields and Corey Collier also officially became transfer players, though both players were technically off the team before spring practice began.