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Nebraska Football Position Previews: Defensive Back
Nebraska Football Position Previews: Defensive Back
Kaleb HenrySun, July 26, 2026 at 2:06 PM UTC·4 min readLeading up to Big Ten Football Media Days in Chicago, Huskers Illustrated is examining each position group for Nebraska. Position groups: Quarterback, Running Back, Wide Receiver, Tight End, Offensive Line, Defensive Line, Linebacker, Defensive Back, Specialist.
Today: Defensive Back
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementCoaches: Addison Williams & Tyler Yelk
Impact Additions: Dwayne McDougle III, Victor Evans III, Danny Odem, Jasin Shiggs
Key Returners: Andrew Marshall, Jamir Conn, Jeremiah Charles, Donovan Jones, Mario Buford, Caleb Benning, Rex Guthrie
Returning Snap Percentage: 59%
The pass defense was elite in 2025. Was some of that boosted by the easy access on the ground? Yes, but the secondary defended anything in the air at a high level. The addition of Dwayne McDougle III to thwart opposing pass catchers is huge. With his talent and experience in defensive coordinator Rob Aurich’s scheme, he’s primed to start at free safety right away. He’s also aided by so many players with on-field experience for the Big Red already back in 2026.
Addison Williams might be the most valuable coach on the staff. Not only is he recruiting at an elite level, but he continues to develop one of the deepest positions on the roster. There are 21 corners and safeties on the 2025 squad.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThere’s a reason that when Rhule was looking for a new defensive coordinator, he made note that his secondary coach would not be allowed to be fired. Despite the defense’s run issues, they only allowed 154.1 passing yards per game, ranking third nationally.
"Addison is a huge part of this staff," Rhule said in December. "Addison is here. Addison is someone who will clearly be here."
Tyler Yelk has been added to the staff to assist Williams. Leading the safeties, Yelk spent the last three seasons in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles. Prior to that, he was at Idaho with Aurich, giving him experience with the new scheme for the Blackshirts.
Four of the five starting defensive back spots are likely to be held by returners.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementJeremiah Charles has played in all 26 games since joining the team in 2024. Last year, he was a key piece on special teams, but this year he looks to bring his elite athleticism to a starting corner role.
Andrew Marshall was at Idaho during Aurich’s last season there, giving him knowledge of the new defense. In his one season with Nebraska, Marshall made 13 starts and earned All-Big Ten honorable mention. He had 45 tackles and 4.0 tackles for loss, four pass breakups, and one interception.
Jamir Conn got plenty of run on the defense, but he made his hay last season on special teams. He blocked a pair of punts, ranking second in the nation in that category. Now, he brings that physicality to the Blackshirts on a more permanent basis.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDonovan Jones started 11 of the 13 games last season, finishing fifth on the team in tackles with 59. He is just the fifth Husker freshman to record 50 tackles since the NCAA restored freshmen eligibility in 1972.
Rex Guthrie made eight starts as a redshirt freshman in 2025, becoming only the third Husker freshman to record 60 tackles since 1972.
Caleb Benning, Mario Buford, and Justyn Rhett are all also in the mix. Among that group, Benning carried the most momentum into the offseason after leading all players with a career-high 13 tackles in the Las Vegas Bowl.
While both cornerback spots are likely to be held down early by returning guys, don’t count out the incoming guys to make pushes for more snaps.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementVictor Evans III comes to Lincoln by way of FIU. In his three seasons as a Panther, he notched 59 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, one interception, four pass breakups, and one fumble recovery across 29 games.
Danny Odem III is just getting his collegiate career started, but he projects as one to not need the full five-for-five before he’ll be off to the NFL. The five-star prospect was one of the top corners in the nation last fall, earning high school All-America honors. His elite athleticism and no longer a need for redshirting could get him on the field sooner rather than later.
Five defensive backs are set to call themselves Huskers out of the 2027 class.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementLeading the way is four-star safety Tory Pittman III, out of Millard North (Omaha, NE). He’s followed closely by four-star safety Corey Hadley Jr. from Georgia. A pair of four-star Florida cornerbacks are in the fold, in Jailen Hill and Bryce Williams. Three-star safety Brennan Drummond continues Nebraska’s recent success in recruiting North Carolina.