Quintet of Nebraska football players announce their departures

Monday marked the unofficial start to the postseason and it was certainly a heck of an active day for the Nebraska football program. Not only did the Huskers ink offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen to a two-year deal, but they lost defensive coordinator Tony White to Florida State.

Coaches weren’t the only people coming and going for the Cornhuskers. The program also saw five players - four on the defensive side of the ball - announce their intentions to enter the portal when it officially opens on December 9. 

Running back Gabe Ervin, defensive linemen Vincent Jackson and Jimari Butler and linebackers Mikai Gbayor and Stefon Thompson are all planning on looking for greener pastures. 

Nebraska football loses five more players to the portal

The quintet of Huskers players join wide receiver Malachi Coleman who announced he would depart the program a few weeks back. The real question now is if any of the shifts in coaching staff might eventually make some of them decide to stick around.

Of the players who announced they were transferring, the biggest impacts are Gbayor - who logged 49 tackles and a sack - and Butler - who had 22 tackles and 2 sacks - on the defensive side of the ball. 

Ervin was once the premiere back for the Huskers, though injuries and the emergence of Emmett Johnson alongside the transfer addition of Dante Dowdell shoved him down the depth chart. This season, Ervin had just 14 carries for 41 yards and 2 touchdowns. Though outside of the season opener against UTEP, he had just 8 carries for 17 yards.

One interesting tidbit to watch is whether or not any of the Nebraska football players who announced their intent to leave, reverse course after they see their opportunities out there. Thompson, especially likely intends to follow White to Florida State but with the new roster limits, there’s no guarantee the Seminoles will have a spot for him.