Nebraska's five most important transfer portal additions for 2025

This offseason’s NCAA Transfer Portal cycle has both giveth and taketh away for Nebraska. But while the Huskers lost some notable players, they also picked up some significant additions.

Here are five transfers poised to make the biggest impact for new head coach Matt Rhule this season…

Subscribe to get exclusive Huskers content on HuskerOnline today! Only $1 for your first week!

Dane Key, WR

Nebraska’s wide receiver room underwent another significant overhaul this offseason, and Kentucky transfer Dane Key headlined that process.

The 6-foot-3, 210-pounder had three productive seasons for the Wildcats, improving his reception and yardage totals each year. Last season, Key recorded 47 catches for 715 yards (15.2 ypc) and two touchdowns.

The Huskers also added Cal transfer Nyziah Hunter and four talented true freshmen to their receiving corps, but Key has already emerged as the unit’s leader. His veteran presence and work ethic quickly set the tone for the otherwise young receiver group, which should continue through the 2025 season.

---

Rocco Spindler, OL

After starting 23 games over the past two seasons at Notre Dame, including the Fighting Irish’s run to last year’s national title game, Rocco Spindler needed a change.

It didn’t take long for the 6-foot-5, 325-pound senior offensive guard to find his new home at Nebraska. Since he arrived in Lincoln in February, Spindler has quickly emerged as a new face of NU’s offensive line.

The four-star portal recruit’s championship experience and vocal presence have made him a leader of the o-line and the offense as a whole. According to his coaches and teammates, Spindler has been everything the Huskers had hoped thus far.

---

Dasan McCullough, Jack

A The 6-foot-5, 235-pound native of Bloomington, Indiana, Dasan McCullough had his choice of prominent schools as a four-star portal prospect. Ultimately, the former Oklahoma Sooner and Indiana Hoosier wanted to return to his Big Ten roots.

McCullough has played defensive end, linebacker, and defensive back in his college career. He was a Freshman All-American at Indiana, finishing with 49 tackles, a team-high 4.0 sacks, 6.5 tackles for loss, and three pass breakups.

As he searched for his next opportunity, though, McCullough added that finding a full-time position was critical. Nebraska will still utilize him in various ways, particularly moving him around the line as a pass rusher. However, McCullough was excited to establish a “home” as a Jack linebacker in John Butler’s defense.

---

Elijah Pritchett, OL

A former starter at Alabama, Elijah Pritchett transferred to Nebraska with expectations as lofty as any newcomer on the roster. Yet the 6-foot-6, 310-pound junior managed to live up to every bit of that billing this spring.

Pritchett played in 12 games this season for the Crimson Tide, starting 10 games at right tackle and one at left. He logged 619 total snaps of action in his first full-time season as a starter for Alabama.

PFF graded Pritchett at just 46.9 last season, as he had his ups and downs with 31 allowed quarterback pressures, including 23 hurries and six sacks. Still, the nation’s former No. 4 offensive tackle prospect in 2022 has left zero questions about who would be the Huskers’ starting left tackle.

---

Marques Watson-Trent, ILB

When Nebraska added Marques Watson-Trent out of Georgia Southern, the expectations for his role were fairly clear.

The 2024 Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year racked up 120 total tackles last season, including 7.5 for loss, 1.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, two QB hurries, and a pass breakup. In other words, the Huskers expected the senior to be a mainstay in the middle of its defense.

While he came in a bit undersized at 5-foot-11, 225 pounds, his potential, experience, and intangibles at the position were obvious. Even though he’s only been on campus for a few months, NU quickly handed Watson-Trent the responsibility of becoming a leader of its young-but-talented linebacker room.

---

Never miss breaking news or another HuskerOnline article again. Click HERE to sign up for HuskerOnline’s Daily and Breaking News Newsletters.