Nebraska adds another weapon for 2025 season without using the transfer portal

Linebacker Javin Wright will return for another season with the Nebraska Cornhuskers. On Thursday, he confirmed his decision to continue his college football career instead of declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft with HuskerOnline. His return adds more depth to the team's defense for next season.

The Cornhuskers (7-6, 3-6 Big Ten) are coming off their best year since 2016. On Dec. 28, 2024, Nebraska finished their season by defeating the Boston College Eagles (7-6, 4-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) 20–15 in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl.

Quarterback Dylan Raiola led the team to victory, completing 22 of 30 passes for 224 yards and one touchdown. Wright also played an important role in the team's first bowl game win since the 2015 season. The linebacker finished the matchup with eight total tackles and four solo tackles.

His choice to play another year for Nebraska could help the program compete for another bowl game or a College Football Playoff spot. Wright had achieved 34 total tackles and 17 solo tackles for the season. The Cornhuskers may need his defensive efforts if they plan to compete with the best teams in their conference, like the No. 8 Ohio State Buckeyes (12-2, 7-2 Big Ten).

Coach Matt Rhule led the program to be the eighth-best defensive team in the Big Ten in the fewest total yards allowed, with 4,133. In comparison, Ohio State is second in the fewest total yards allowed, with 3,425, and is playing in the College Football Playoff semifinals.

Along with Wright's return, the Cornhuskers have added other players to the roster so that the program can compete for one of the best defenses in the league.

Nebraska signs linebacker Marques Watson-Trent from the transfer portal

Nebraska added another key player to the roster when they acquired linebacker Marques Watson-Trent from the transfer portal. On Jan. 4, Watson-Trent transferred to Rhule's team after five seasons with the Georgia Southern Eagles (8-5, 6-2 Sun Belt Conference).

The former Georgia Southern linebacker led the team in total tackles with 120 total tackles, 52 solo tackles, 1.5 sacks and four forced fumbles. Watson-Trent played his last game with the Eagles in the team's 31–26 loss to the Sam Houston Bearkats (10-3, 6-2 Conference USA) in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl on Dec. 19, 2024.

The newly signed linebacker could play a significant role in the team's pursuit of the best defense in the Big Ten.