Nebraska

Nebraska Looks for Answers at Linebacker

Published

2 months ago

December 28, 2025

Nebraska Looks for Answers at Linebacker

The Las Vegas Bowl offers a spotlight for Nebraska players looking to further cement themselves with the current coaching staff or showcase their abilities for future ones, potentially in the transfer portal.

That makes the New Year’s Eve bowl game an important one for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is the Huskers having a chance to end the season on a strong note after back-to-back ugly losses to Penn State and Iowa to close the regular season.

A lot of focus will be on Nebraska’s offense, as the Huskers have plenty of questions about how TJ Lateef plays with more lead time, how they replace All-American running back Emmett Johnson and what offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen can cook up after an up-and-down season. But some of the most interesting players for the bowl game are on the defensive side, including freshman linebacker Dawson Merritt.

2025 stats

Eight tackles
One tackle for loss

Linebacker Dawson Merritt should see a much bigger role in 2026. | Kenny Larabee, KLIN

What to know

It isn’t a new feeling for Nebraska fans to be excited about seeing a true freshman linebacker get more opportunities in a bowl game. Just a year ago, Vincent Shavers was in the same spot Merritt is now and turned in a strong performance during the Pinstripe Bowl. Merritt has had plenty of time to get healthy and to learn more of what Rob Dvoracek wants. Could that put him in a position to play more in Las Vegas?

What’s at stake

Merritt could go a long way in helping fans and coaches feel better about a linebacker room that wasn’t Nebraska’s biggest problem, but was far from the level of play the Huskers received in Matt Rhule’s first two seasons.

Merritt has shown himself to be an intriguing player who has flashed when he’s been in games, but clearly also needs more time and more reps to fully become the player he was recruited to be after the Huskers flipped him from Alabama last fall.

Merritt’s bowl game and expected ascension make for an interesting picture at linebacker. The Huskers have to see what the portal holds, both in terms of linebackers leaving and the need to add veterans for depth, as players like Merritt, Christian Jones and others continue to grow and develop.

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Huskers/OSU game three canceled

Published

41 minutes ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Courtesy Nebraska Athletics

The third matchup this weekend between No. 9 Nebraska and No. 21 Oklahoma State was canceled Sunday due to expected bad weather in the Stillwater, Okla., area. The Cowgirls won the first matchup Thursday, 2-1 in 11 innings, while the Cornhuskers won Saturday, 4-3. The game will not be made up.

Nebraska now prepares for its home opener Thursday at Bowlin Stadium as the Huskers take on South Dakota State in a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.

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Nebraska

Nebraska State Patrol investigates attempted murder/suicide in Kearney County

Published

13 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Nebraska State Patrol investigates attempted murder/suicide in Kearney County

MINDEN, Neb. (KSNB) – The Nebraska State Patrol, with assistance from the Kearney County Sheriff’s Office and Kearney County Attorney’s Office, is investigating an attempted murder/suicide in rural Kearney County.

The Kearney County Sheriff’s Office was called to the scene Saturday afternoon.

According to NSP, three children and a woman had gunshot wounds, with the woman found dead.

The three children were transported by ambulance to Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney and treated for their injuries. Two of the children have since been transported to Children’s Hospital in Omaha.

NSP said all three children are expected to survive. The children are all under the age of 12.

This investigation is ongoing. Law enforcement said there is no ongoing threat to the public.

According to NSP, names are not being released at this time to protect the identities of the victims.

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UNK Students Selected for Nebraska Intercollegiate Band – Sandhills Express

Published

1 day ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

UNK Students Selected for Nebraska Intercollegiate Band – Sandhills Express

Ten UNK students will perform with other outstanding instrumentalists from across the state as part of the 2026 Nebraska Intercollegiate Band. Front row, from left: Olivia Kohmetscher, Kaia Johnson, Douglas Davidchik, Micah Feddersen and Avery Reitz. Back row, from left: Evan Porter, Ike Smith, Kaitlyn Obrecht, Cameron Grafel and Chloe Harms. (Courtesy UNK, Click to enlarge)

KEARNEY, Neb – Ten students will represent the University of Nebraska at Kearney as members of the 2026 Nebraska Intercollegiate Band.

They’ll perform 11:30 a.m. March 7 in Kimball Recital Hall on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus as part of the 65th annual Nebraska State Bandmasters Association convention. The concert is free and open to the public.

The Nebraska Intercollegiate Band includes outstanding instrumentalists from colleges and universities across the state. Students selected for the honor spend time rehearsing together in Lincoln before performing for the public. This year’s ensemble is led by guest conductor Donald McKinney, director of bands at Indiana University.

“Rehearsing and performing in the Nebraska Intercollegiate Band will be an excellent opportunity for experiential learning,” said professor Duane Bierman, director of bands at UNK. “Not only will these students get a great musical experience but they will also get a chance to expand their network and grow their interpersonal skills.”

Students representing UNK include:
Broken Bow – Cameron Grafel, horn
Columbus – Douglas Davidchik, clarinet
Elm Creek – Chloe Harms, euphonium
Grand Island – Olivia Kohmetscher, tenor saxophone
Kearney – Ike Smith, trumpet
Kearney – Micah Feddersen, trumpet
Kearney – Avery Reitz, string bass and tuba
La Vista – Kaitlyn Obrecht, piano
Minden – Evan Porter, percussion
Ravenna – Kaia Johnson, flute