The transfer portal will be crucial for the Nebraska football team this offseason.
The Nebraska football team typically begins their offseason around this time, but the Cornhuskers are heading to a bowl game for the first time since 2016. Although they are starting offseason preparations with the transfer portal now open, year two under head coach Matt Rhule didn’t go as well as Nebraska fans had hoped. Still, making it to a bowl game is a positive sign for the program. To continue improving ahead of the 2025 season, Nebraska will need to bring in some experienced players through the transfer portal.
Nebraska began this season on a strong note, looking like a potential College Football Playoff contender with a 5-1 start and even reaching a ranking of #22 at one point. However, the team struggled towards the end, losing five of their last six games to finish with a 6-6 record. They will face Boston College in the Pinstripe Bowl.
While this season didn’t go entirely as planned, making it to a bowl game for the first time in seven years is a significant achievement after a long drought.
Rhule and the Cornhuskers must improve next year, and the transfer portal could play a key role in that. Here are some players they should consider targeting.
Eric Rivers, WR, FIU
One player the Nebraska football team is pursuing in the transfer portal is Eric Rivers, a wide receiver from FIU. The Cornhuskers have a standout quarterback in Dylan Raiola, but they need top-tier offensive weapons around him. Rivers would be a great addition, having had an impressive season with 62 catches for 1,172 yards and 12 touchdowns. A partnership between Rivers and Raiola could be exceptionally fruitful.
Another player to keep an eye on is Isaiah World, an offensive tackle transferring from Nevada. World is currently the highest-ranked OT in the transfer portal, and the Cornhuskers appear to be in a strong position to recruit him. A solid offensive line is crucial in college football, particularly in the Big Ten, where games are often decided at the line of scrimmage. World would be an excellent fit for Nebraska.
Additionally, the Nebraska football team is seeking a backup for Dylan Raiola, and Marcos Davila from Purdue is a target. Davila, who was a freshman at Purdue this past season, has entered the transfer portal following the departure of the Boilermakers’ head coach. He recently visited Nebraska, which gives the Cornhuskers a good chance of securing his commitment.
This offseason is critical for Matt Rhule as he enters his third year at Nebraska. Although he has guided the team to a bowl game appearance, he needs to continue making progress. Success in the transfer portal will be essential for Rhule and the Cornhuskers.
Transfer Portal Overview
The transfer portal plays a significant role in the college football offseason, often beginning before the postseason concludes. Teams that didn’t make it to bowl games have already entered their offseason, but there are still many that are preparing for postseason play. The portal opened on December 9th, which can complicate matters for players who wish to transfer while their season is still ongoing.
The transfer portal has become a significant aspect of college football, with both advantages and disadvantages. One major concern is the timing of the initial window, which opens in early December, allowing players to select a new school in time to start the upcoming semester in January. This can lead to complications, as illustrated by players on College Football Playoff teams who miss out on the CFP due to their transfers.
On the other hand, the transfer portal offers teams the opportunity to completely revamp their rosters within a single offseason. New head coaches can quickly bring in experienced players, facilitating a swift turnaround. This gives any team hope during the offseason, thanks to the possibilities the portal presents.
This season, the transfer portal opened for the first time on December 9th and will remain open until December 28th. This is the primary window for transfer activity, but it will reopen in the spring.
From April 16th to April 25th, the transfer portal will be available again, allowing players to participate in spring practices and gain a clearer understanding of their upcoming season. If they’re not content with their situation, they can choose to transfer. It’s not uncommon to see players who transferred in the first window opt to transfer again during the second window, sometimes returning to their original school.
Overall, the transfer portal plays a vital role in the offseason, and it will continue to be a hot topic leading up to the end of the spring.
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