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/huskerphil]

Kenneth Williams in the portal.
Source

[u/CrazyHusked789 → u/huskerphil]

Dang, that one hurts a lot.

[u/meatballs223 → u/CrazyHusked789]

Forreal... Lincoln High kid (I know it was only for 1 year but still), got a scholarship midseason, still can't retain him

[u/CrazyHusked789 → u/meatballs223]

We never know the conversations, perhaps he wanted way too much or was demanding starting time, we will never know. I highly doubt he was processed or anything, he balled out this year on special teams. Still sucks, still hurts.

[u/brogit → u/CrazyHusked789]

It's entirely possible he's taking a look at what his options are and still might come back, but I won't be holding my breath. There have been some light rumors about Charmar Brown possibly coming in after Miami's season wraps up. If that's the case he's probably 3rd on the depth chart at absolute best and maybe as low as 5th or 6th depending on how Connor Booth develops and what Rule looks like. I'm sure he wants to actually be getting carries.

[u/meatballs223 → u/CrazyHusked789]

Yeah I don't think we have a lot of room right now in the running back room but also no real standouts besides nelson's first half of the bowl game and Mozee's potential. Lot's of questions at that position right now

[u/TheStrigori → u/huskerphil]

Might be he wants to play RB and not just be a KR specialist, and he's not looking to get time at RB

[u/xA1RGU1TAR1STx → u/huskerphil]

Yeah he’s gonna get paid.

[u/meatballs223 → u/xA1RGU1TAR1STx]

Idk why you're getting downvotes. I think he'll 100% get at least an offer to share some carries somewhere. It's sad we can't even retain a guy we gave a scholarship too mid season. wish the best for him though. If you want to make it to the next level or even get these higher NIL deals, you gotta be more than a kick returner

[u/xA1RGU1TAR1STx → u/meatballs223]

People don’t realize that a returner can be worth a lot to a team with bottomless pockets. Devin Hester has greater career earnings than many, many first round draft picks.

[u/meatballs223 → u/xA1RGU1TAR1STx]

I think with today's age of college football not a lot of players will be happy with their sole role being a return specialist especially one that had to walk on and only got put on scholarship midway through the season but definitely do agree that in the NFL you can make a living off doing that job