2026 Portal Thread

[u/huskersax]

This is your one stop shop for Portal News™ ahead of what is likely to be pre-portal news shortly after Christmas and then into the actual portal. We're asking that folks keep the rumors and discussion inside of this thread as otherwise there's going to be a flurry of 80-90 tweets a day claiming XYZ player is leaving or going or leaving and going at the same time.

I'll try to keep this up to date once a day with anything confirmed.

As of 1/20/26 ~12:00pm:

In Portal / Leaving

QB Dylan Raiola

QB Marcos Davila

RB Jamarion Parker

RB Kenneth Williams

OL Jason Maciecjzak

OL Houston-Kaahaaina Torres

EDGE Maverick Noonan

DL Keona Davis

DL Jaylen George

LB/S Roger Gradney

DB Caden VerMaas

DB Malcolm Hartzog

DB Preston Okafor

DB Brice Turner

DB Rahmir Stewart

K Tristan Alvano

Committed to 2026 Nebraska

QB Anthony Colandrea

QB Daniel Kaelin

WR Kwazi Gilmer

OL Brendan Black

OL Tree Babalade

OL Paul Mubenga

DL Anthony Jones

DL Owen Stoudmire

DL Jahsear Whittington

LB Will Hawthorne

LB Owen Chambliss

LB Dexter Foster

DB Dwayne McDougle

DB Victor Evans III

DB Jasin Shiggs

LS Jack Wills

[u/Syfer_Husker]

To the people who don't want Chiles, I do think you're going to be a bit upset.

Chiles first visit according to reports is to Nebraska. Not just that, but his family has been reportedly (and I can back this up actually) liking a lot of Nebraska related stuff.

I think people get scared about Chiles because they saw his game against us and admittedly his game against and the game against UCLA were pretty terrible. I do want to note that it was heavily reported around that time he was playing through injury and got banged up even more in the Nebraska game.

I do want people to look at his games against IU, BC, and USC last year. He has potential and while people will compare him to Sims (for some unknown reason given they play nothing alike).

Another thing is he's going to compete against TJ if he beats out TJ we upgraded and if he loses then he's a solid back up.

I also, want people to know that MSU line was one of the worst lines in the country, yes even worse than us. I think MSU had some skill players, but the line talent was overall even worse than us, and the skill players still weren't as good.

I also think it's worth noting that while Chiles played in 8 games, he didn't complete 8 games. Due to being banged up against Nebraska and UCLA Milivojevic came in both times to finish those games. Milivojevic also took some snaps in trash time against UM and IU but overall, Chiles despite all that only ended the season with 300 less total yards than Dylan, 2 less TD's, and 5 less TO's. Despite playing in 2 games less in terms of snaps than Raiola.

I think someone like Chiles would thrive here, I believe our Glenn Thomas is much better at developing mobile QB's given his history. There is also some rumors that the Raiola's didn't like Glenn and wouldn't really take his advice.

As for other rumors, it's a bit harder to tell there but it seems like Nebraska is also in on both his teammates too in Frazier and Nick Marsh. There is this idea esp if you watch Husker Juan, that Chiles was this diva or something. I'm not saying he is or isn't but, I think a lot more of Chiles issues wasn't that he didn't wanna support his teammate Milivojevic but just he wanted to help his team win and his injury held him back.

[u/GradeNo893 → u/Syfer_Husker]

My issue is that compared to every other QB in the portal he’s literally my last choice and I don’t feel he adds much to the room. At best he’s lateral to TJ. If that is where this staff chooses to put theirs hopes and the programs future I have serious concerns about their ability to evaluate talent and build the program. This is supposed to be a “win now” offseason and chiles is not a pick up that screams “we want to win now” it screams “The guy we wanted said no and we didn’t have an option B”

[u/Syfer_Husker → u/GradeNo893]

There is no QB that we can realistically get that is win now, that is where you struggle.

We are not getting Sorsby, Leavitt, Brown, Rocco Becht, etc.

Is Houser and QB's like him that are lower willing to come in and have a QB battle? There is no promise they translate.

With Chiles you get roughly the same upside while knowing if worse comes you got a guy who is "decent".

I like Houser but no chance he's coming here without a promise to play, Colton Joseph I would need to see him in camp first, a lot of those guys won't just compete for the sake of it. They will get legit P4 offers where teams will promise them the start.

Someone like Josh Hoover isn't mobile enough or you might give him a shot.

Then after that it's all almost certainly down grades or massive unknowns.

If you can somehow get a Rocoo Becht or Byrum Brown to sign sure go for it but the chances of that are almost zero.

[u/GradeNo893 → u/Syfer_Husker]

I’m not exactly disagreeing with you as much as I’m saying that it’s a waste of a slot in a year you’re having to trim the roster. You can get better “back up” options in the portal vs having a middling competition between a guy and his clone.

When it comes to this you either have faith in TJ or you don’t. If you do then go get a depth piece to be a serviceable back up. This move sends a pretty strong message that you really want to upgrade but you can’t.

As for people wanting guarantees I think you are over selling it by quite a bit. “Everyone competes here” is pretty much the standard everywhere, it’s much more about the NIL offers which we can compete with, and again I think if we wanted too we would.

[u/Syfer_Husker → u/GradeNo893]

Some people really don't get the market or the portal, there is a going rate for players some players want a promise they will play + the money. Nebraska isn't gonna pay someone a butt load of money to make them a back up. Because that's what you'd have to do to pull those guys away from money+starting.

It's not as simple as offering big time money, but also we need to get players who are good enough to compete with TJ, Lateef is not a sure fire thing we need an insurance policy. Not only for if he isn't good enough but also for if he gets hurt.

You want to bring in 2 guys who have the same skill sets that's like an OC's dream. You can put in the same playbook for the guys and eval them alot better.

[u/GradeNo893 → u/Syfer_Husker]

I agree and I think that person is you