Three Overlooked Huskers Who Could Make Waves in 2026

These under-the-radar players have a shot at becoming key contributors for Nebraska football this season.

Kwinten Ives runs 28 yards for a touchdown against Akron last season. | Kenny Larabee, KLIN

We already know that Gunnar Gottula is making an unexpected push for Nebraska's starting right tackle job, challenging highly touted transfer Tree Babalade for the spot.

After fading from some fans' radar, Gottula is coming back strong from knee surgery — but he’s hardly the only Husker capable of making a surprising impact this fall. Here are three more under-the-radar players who just might fit the bill.

The Overlooked Wideout

After missing the last two seasons with injuries, Demitrius Bell enters 2026 as a redshirt junior who hasn't played a collegiate snap. It gets even easier to overlook him when he's competing in a wide receiver room against the likes of Kwazi Gilmer, Nyziah Hunter, Jacory Barney Jr., Quinn Clark, and Cortez Mills Jr.

However, Bell arrived in Lincoln with undeniable talent and an impressive list of offers from teams such as Alabama, Ole Miss, Georgia, and Kentucky.

Wide receiver Demitrius Bell | Nebraska Athletics

Head coach Matt Rhule said during Big Ten Media Days in late July that Bell was ready to receive reps in fall camp. The Huskers need Bell to be fully healthy if they want to use him in 2026, so there's a chance he doesn't play much at all in 2026, especially given the depth at his position.

But if Bell returns to full speed, all bets are off. He excelled at multiple positions in high school and was categorized by recruiting services as an athlete — much like Jacory Barney Jr., who has become one of the Huskers' top receivers and return men.

There's no doubt that Bell remains a big mystery. If this is the year he finally shakes the injury curse, however, he could come out of nowhere to become a valuable weapon in offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen's holster.

Should More People Be Talking About This Running Back?

With All-American Emmett Johnson now toiling in the NFL, a half-dozen running backs are competing to become the Huskers' primary ball carrier or at least the top backup: Isaiah Mozee, Mekhi Nelson, Tikey Hayes, Jamal Rule, Connor Booth and Kwinten Ives. Of the six, one name might be getting too little attention: Kwinten Ives.

Things started slowly in Lincoln for the former three-star recruit, who gained just 7 yards on 6 carries as a freshman in 2024. However, in 2025, Ives looked much better, racking up 133 yards and two touchdowns on 20 rushes, with a notable 6.65 yards per carry.

Running back Kwinten Ives | Nebraska Athletics

Ives was injured during much of 2025 and appeared in only three games. However, he is now fully healthy and has an open path to climb up the depth chart.

Now a junior, Ives is the only upperclassman in the room. His speed and size are good (6-foot-3, 215 pounds), and Matt Rhule has described him as a "starting-caliber player in the Big Ten."

The head coach's admiration is never a bad thing to have — and it's one more reason not to count out Kwinten Ives.

A Blocking Tight End Who Could Be a Tempting Target

Nobody appears likely to unseat Nebraska's veteran starter at tight end, senior Luke Lindenmeyer. However, there are guys who could make significant noise, including Eric Ingwerson.

Ingwerson appeared in eight games as a redshirt freshman in 2025, when he was used as a blocker but never caught a pass. Nebraska appears set to employ him chiefly as an earth-mover again in 2026. He returns with an added 20 pounds of meat on his bones.

Tight end Eric Ingwerson | Nebraska Athletics

Others in the running for substantial playing time at tight end include Cayden Echternach, Luke Sorensen and Carter Nelson, each with solid credentials. What stands out about Ingwerson, though, is his frame — 6-foot-7 and 265 pounds — and that leads to an intriguing question: Will Nebraska try to use him for more than just blocking?

Two of the nation's best wide receivers, Duce Robinson of Florida State and KJ Duff of Rutgers, are 6-foot-6 and use their height to their advantage. Ingwerson isn't a wideout, but his size could create favorable matchups on occasion in the passing game.

Whatever his role entails, Ingwerson is likely to see the field a lot more this season. There's no more Heinrich Haarberg, last year's top backup to Lindenmeyer. Look for Ingwerson to be a regular in the Huskers' jumbo packages. If he snags a pass or two as well, it will be icing on the cake.

For any college football team, a player coming out of nowhere can be the difference between being good and being great. As the grind of Nebraska's preseason camp continues, these three names — Bell, Ives and Ingwerson — could be setting the stage for becoming X-factors for the Huskers.

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