Cover Five: What we know — and don't — as Nebraska football opens camp

The offseason is finally over for Nebraska football.

On Monday, Nebraska will return to the practice field for the first time since late December to open its fall training camp.

With the season opener in Kansas City just one month away, the countdown to the 2025 season is officially on.

Lets drop into coverage.

1.

Rhule stumps for Nebraska As this years Big Ten Media Days transitioned to a new location in Las Vegas, Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule delivered a message of quiet confidence in his team.

While Big Ten coaches entered discussions over the changing college football landscape expanded playoffs, revenue sharing and the number of conference games the yearly media event also provided the opportunity to either temper expectations or increase them.

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The Nebraska head coach promoted the Husker brand, spoke highly of his team and was measured in his evaluation of how NU can compete within the conference.

We have an excellent roster, Rhule said on Tuesday.

Were fast, were explosive, weve got veterans where we need to and were good on the lines.

In that regard, Rhule set the tone for how he expects the early days of Nebraskas fall camp to play out.

Its about performance, Rhule said.

In other words: if players dont produce results in the opportunities theyre given, someone else will.

2.

Nebraskas strengths While it may take time for Nebraskas offense to reach its full potential this season, the Huskers offensive skill positions project as an early strength.

It all starts with quarterback Dylan Raiola, already one of the Big Tens better signal-callers in his second season.

Optimism around Raiolas growth centers around the players Nebraska has surrounded him with, namely a wide receiver room which includes dynamic sophomore Jacory Barney Jr.

and a pair of transfers (Dane Key and Nyziah Hunter) whose presence will elevate NUs passing game.

Alongside an every-down starting running back in Emmett Johnson and a high-potential tight end room, Nebraska has the capability to make a big jump offensively.

Coaching will play a role in that growth as Nebraskas first-year coordinators take charge of their units.

Offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen and defensive coordinator John Butler have already called games for Nebraska in those roles four games for Holgorsen and one for Butler so stability is expected even with new faces in charge.

Holgorsen, a former collegiate head coach and well-respected offensive mind, already improved the Husker offense last season, while Butlers steely intensity is already reflected in the NU defense.

With Mike Ekeler also taking over the special teams unit, Rhule has found three coordinators whom he can trust to produce results.

Nebraskas veteran transfer additions are also set to make a major impact.

Replacements for departed starters could even represent positional upgrades, especially along the offensive line.

Transfers Rocco Spindler (Notre Dame) and Elijah Pritchett (Alabama) are gifted blockers with major postseason experience and NFL potential.

Alongside upgrades at wide receiver, Nebraskas two new linebackers (Dasan McCullough and Marques Watson-Trent) are joined by high-upside additions at defensive line and secondary who could also earn immediate starting roles.

As a team, Nebraskas speed is another notable strength.

The Huskers showcased it in the spring with a series of races inside Memorial Stadium albeit in t-shirts and shorts, not shoulder pads as wide receivers and defensive backs showed their unit-wide breakaway ability.

3.

Nebraskas unknowns After building a top 20 national defense each of the last two seasons, can the Husker defense remain at the same level? There are new pieces at every position of the defense and a new coordinator in charge, but Rhule has emphasized that Nebraskas defensive approach will not change.

The Huskers will need young players like Riley Van Poppel, Vincent Shavers and Donovan Jones to develop into starters and its transfer additions to hit the ground running in order to accomplish that.

The biggest question mark on defense, however, is whether Nebraskas pass rush can remain effective with Nash Hutmacher and Ty Robinson having graduated.

The Huskers no longer have a pair of proven all-Big Ten caliber linemen up front, but they do have a roughly 10-man rotation, which will seek to replace Hutmacher and Robinsons production by committee.

Nebraska is also seeking major special teams improvements in 2025 with Ekeler at the helm.

After ranking No.

86 in special teams efficiency last season, Nebraska will feature a new starting punter, long snapper and three-way kicking competition in fall camp.

Will improvements come quickly under Ekeler, or will they take time to produce? Finally, Nebraskas depth at key positions could be tested this season.

Running back is a position of concern given the backups behind Johnson Kwinten Ives and Mekhi Nelson have combined for seven carries at the collegiate level.

4.

Offensive line leadership One of the new leaders along Nebraskas offensive line, Henry Lutovsky, showed exactly why Rhule trusted him to represent the Huskers in Las Vegas.

Lutovsky deflected questions about wholl start at right tackle while speaking highly of the depth and competition within NUs offensive line room.

Theres no secret to success with offensive lineman and football in general, Lutovsky said.

Theres no magic pill you can take thats going to make you a great player overnight; its just a daily process of improvement.

Alongside Lutovsky, Tyler Knaak is another player who stands out as a vocal leader along the Husker offensive line.

Centers often play that role Ben Scott did but Nebraskas projected 2025 starter, Justin Evans, is a different kind of leader who Rhule said he feels will be an all-Big Ten caliber center.

With Pritchett set to play left tackle, Evans at center and Lutovsky and Spindler at guard, right tackle is the only starting spot along the offensive line that will need to be determined in the coming weeks.

5.

Roster numbers The Nebraska football roster stands 125 players strong entering the fall, down from the 132-player roster that began its spring camp.

* The breakdown by year: senior (19), junior (15), sophomore (35), redshirt freshman (35), freshman (21).

* The breakdown by position: quarterback (6), running back (10), wide receiver (13), tight end (7), offensive line (21), defensive line (18), linebacker (18), defensive back (25), kicker (3), punter (2), long snapper (2)..

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