Nebraska’s woes don’t just stop at their 7-6 record. It led to further depth problems, particularly on defense, as key players hit the portal following the 2024 season. So they’re on a defensive players-hunting spree. And it’s so far, so good. Dylan Raiola and Co. bagged another explosive tank from the portal, and this Southern Illinois DB transfer isn’t to mess with. 

Nebraska’s latest haul is a gem. Positional flexibility, check. Good tackler, check. Physical corner, check. And that’s not even all. As Wilson Dittman Sports posted on January 6, “It was just announced that Nebraska has landed a big time commitment in the transfer portal—Jamir Conn.”

DB Jamir Conn officially became a Cornhusker with two years of eligibility remaining. Dittman added, “This is a guy who last year with Southern Illinois had 60 tackles at the corner position, six passes defended, and graded out as one of the best young corners in all of FCS. He played corner, he played safety, he played rover, he played nickel corner.”

See the positional flexibility there! And 60 tackles at corner is impressive! Jamir Conn played for the Salukis in the FCS for two seasons in 23 games, racking up a combined 68 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, nine PBUs, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. He’s received several offers since his portal arrival on December 11, including James Madison, whom he verbally committed to the same month. But it seems like Nebraska got the cake!

Not only is he a dynamic tank, but Jamir Conn also has connections with the Huskers’ staff. He’s a product of Lee Summit North, the high school where current Huskers assistant coach Jamar Mozee and two former mates Isaiah Mozee and Williams Nwaneri also came from. And it looks like he’s already making himself comfortable in Nebraska, as he was seen attending the Huskers vs. UCLA men’s basketball game on Saturday. A solid addition to the Huskers’ growing transfer addition. 

Nebraska’s building a strong roster for 2025

Following a lackluster season, several of the Huskers defenders hit the portal—CBs Dwight Bootle II and Syncere Safeeullah, safeties Keona Davis and Koby Bretz. But they’re making it up with their portal haul consisting of 14 transfers. He’s Matt Rhule’s third DB after acquiring Georgia’s Justyn Rhett and Idaho’s Andrew Marshall. Will the portal effort enhance their QB in 2025?

Dylan Raiola’s college debut season wasn’t necessarily bad. He completed 67.2% of his passes for 2,823 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also closed the Huskers’ season with a win over Boston College in the Pinstripe Bowl. But it could’ve been better. And that’s where these new explosive additions come in. 

Can these additions help their freshman signal caller make an epic comeback in 2025? More elite players could be on their way. But the way it is now, Nebraska’s already in good shape.