Matt Rhule’s Huskers are shaping up nicely. Quarterbacks? Check. Wide receivers? Double-check. Tight ends? You bet. But that offensive line? Still a work in progress. Elijah Pritchett and Rocco Spindler are great gets, but depth is the real question mark. Gunnar Gottula’s promising, but can he handle left tackle in the Big Ten and keep Dylan Raiola upright? The center position is another question mark. Nebraska needs more beef up front if they want to truly dominate.

And here’s a potential solution: Wilson Dittman delivered a clear message to Matt Rhule—land a 335-pound lineman to protect Dylan Raiola. “If I’m Nebraska, and I really want to protect Dylan Raiola at an elite level and have a top-10 offensive line, I would really look into grabbing another offensive lineman—particularly a guard who can play center, who can play left and right guard. That’s what I would be looking for if I were Nebraska right now. There’s one guy who just entered the portal—I wouldn’t be shocked if the Huskers pursued him. It was just announced the other day by Pete Nakos that Minnesota’s longtime offensive guard starter, Martes Lewis, has entered the transfer portal,” Dittman said.

Big body. Big experience. And Big Ten ready. Will Nebraska make the move? Don’t know. But here’s what we do know—standing at 6’7″, 335 pounds, Martes Lewis is a force in the trenches. He is a battle-tested lineman with three years of Big Ten experience at Minnesota (13 games played in both 2022 and 2024 and 13 starts in 2023), and still has two years of eligibility left. This Merrillville, Indiana native, a former three-star recruit and the state’s No. 5 prospect in 2020, brings much-needed depth to Nebraska’s offensive line.

And now, Martes Lewis checks the boxes—size, experience, and Big Ten grit. Is Lewis worth the gamble for Nebraska? Maybe he’s just a depth piece; maybe he’s a day-one starter—who knows? But he’s got a shot to compete with guys like Lutovsky and Evans-Jenkins for playing time. Nebraska desperately needs some grit in the trenches.

Three of their most-used linemen from last season are gone, along with key backups, leaving big gaps to fill. Their roster lists 22 offensive linemen, but that includes guys like Corcoran and Prochazka, whose injury status is up in the air. Corcoran’s recovering from hamstring surgery, and Prochazka is working his way back from his third major knee injury. They also need a new center after Scott’s departure; Rhule’s looking at Sledge, Maciejczak, and Evans for that spot. With Mazzccua and Benhart also gone, the door’s wide open for someone like Martes Lewis to step up. Lutovsky, Gottula, and Evans are returning starters, but that’s not enough. Nebraska needs more bodies, and more importantly, they need dawgs.

How is Matt Rhule building a powerhouse offense?

Sherrone Moore’s Michigan had a shot at two battle-tested linemen fresh off a national championship run. But they let it slip away. Nebraska swooped in and landed Rocco Spindler. Indiana secured Pat Coogan. Two proven big-game blockers. And Michigan had the chance to lure them, but now they’ll have to face them instead.

The most intriguing part? Rocco Spindler was a key target for Sherrone Moore—one of the best O-line talents in the game. Moore had big plans for him in Ann Arbor. But now? He’s Lincoln-bound. Nebraska just secured a lineman who was once a top priority for one of CFB’s sharpest offensive minds. A massive win for the Huskers. And a tough pill for Michigan to swallow.

The O-line is stacking talent, building a wall for their star QB. But what’s the head coach’s next move for his franchise player? Will he surround Raiola with even more weapons?

The Dylan Raiola era is heating up in Lincoln. In 2024, the freshman phenom led Nebraska to a 7-6 record, capping it off with the program’s first bowl win since 2015. Raiola flashed his star potential, slinging for 2,819 yards, 13 TDs, and 11 picks while completing 67.1% of his passes. Now, with a year of experience and a chip on his shoulder, the former 5-star recruit is locked in. Bigger goals. Higher expectations. It’s time for Raiola to take command—not just as Nebraska’s QB, but as the face of the program.

Matt Rhule is all-in on Dylan Raiola. “Before he can make it his team, I think he has to make it his offense. Before he makes it his offense, I think he has to make it his receiving corps,” Rhule said. And he’s got the offensive firepower to make it happen, bringing in Dana Holgorsen, a top offensive mind with experience at Texas Tech, Houston, Oklahoma State, and West Virginia. But here’s the million-dollar question: will Rhule protect his investment? Will he bring in someone like Martes Lewis to beef up the O-line?