Aight, let’s talk about what’s really going on in Lincoln, Nebraska. Matt Rhule pulled up to the 2024 season with all this preseason hype, riding high on the Dylan Raiola wave, just to end up with a 7-6 record. Yeah, a bowl win is cute and all, but Husker fans didn’t sign up for “mid.” So what does Rhule do? He starts working the offseason like a possessed man. Big portal moves. Big recruiting plays. And now? Now he’s cooking up something that might just have Deion Sanders side-eyeing across the border. Nebraska just made a sneaky power move that lowkey ain’t even about Raiola. Nah, it’s about something bigger—taking Colorado’s top in-state recruit right from under Coach Prime’s nose. And it all started with a 335-pound insurance policy for Dylan Raiola.

So here’s the deal: On January 9th, Nebraska insider Sam Dittman let it slip. “Nebraska is going after Colorado,” he said. “First things first, let’s talk about the tight end position—the number one player in that state, Camden Jensen.”

And continued, “He took a couple of visits to Lincoln. I like Camen Jensen a lot as a tight end. Now, the first thing that pops out to you—he’s 6’6″, right? He’s big, he’s tall, and we need that at that spot. But he’s a good blocker, right? Nebraska’s going after a lot of good vertical threat tight ends, but he is a really, really good blocking tight end, man…. they’re going to continue to recruit him. But I like him, I like his height. And man, you get a guy who can block and do just about everything. So, Camen Jensen—that’s the first guy, first player in Colorado Nebraska has pursued.” That’s when it all clicked.

Camden Jensen, a four-star tight end from Colorado, is the No. 1 player in the state for the 2026 class. And Nebraska? Yeah, they just made his top seven. Now, Deion Sanders has had his eye on this dude for a minute. But here’s the twist—Jensen ain’t exactly sold on staying home. “I think I want to go far away from home for college,” he said back in November. Nebraska sees that, smells blood, and BOOM, Rhule and his gang straight up rang his doorbell. Camden Jensen even took it to X, thanking Matt Rhule and Marcus Satterfield for visiting him at home.

And Jensen is no slouch. Standing at 6’6″, 230 pounds, he’s a legit blocking tight end who can also snag passes when needed. Nebraska is already deep in talks with him, and if they land him? That’s a direct hit to Coach Prime’s plans for Colorado’s in-state dominance. Now, don’t get it twisted—Matt Rhule ain’t just out here stealing recruits for fun. The man’s building something, and it starts with keeping Dylan Raiola upright. Nebraska’s transfer portal class is sitting at #5 nationally, and they’ve got the No. 19 recruiting class for 2025. But the O-line? Yeah… still looking a little suspect.

Matt Rhule’s going beyond for Dylan Raiola’s protection

Elijah Pritchett from Bama? Solid. Rocco Spindler from Notre Dame? A good addition. But depth? Questionable. Gunnar Gottula might be the answer at left tackle, but the center position? Wide open and a potential sack-pad for Big 10s big DLs. That’s where Rhule is making his next big move. Wilson Dittman spelled it out: “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.” Enter Martes Lewis. This man ain’t just big; he’s a 6’7″, 335-pound certified problem in the trenches. Three years of Big Ten experience at Minnesota, 13 starts in 2023, and two years of eligibility left. Nebraska has holes all over that O-line, and Lewis? He’s exactly the type of guy who could plug them.

Nebraska’s O-line situation is more patched up than a pair of beat-up Air Forces. Corcoran’s coming off hamstring surgery. Prochazka’s dealing with yet another knee issue. Scott’s gone, and the guys competing at the center are unproven. Matt Rhule knows that if he doesn’t get more muscle up front, Dylan Raiola’s going to be running for his life. That’s why the 335-pound move for Lewis makes so much sense.

Nebraska ain’t done. They’re in the low-key trenches, making moves, stacking up talent. But let’s be real—the Big Ten is a different beast. A flashy offense doesn’t mean anything if your QB is eating turf every other play. Matt Rhule’s making sure that doesn’t happen. That’s why Martes Lewis is on the radar. That’s why they’re loading up in the deep trenches. And that’s why Camden Jensen is priority No. 1. So, will Nebraska pull this off? Will Deion Sanders take an L in his own backyard? We’ll find out soon enough. But one thing’s for sure—Matt Rhule ain’t playing checkers. He’s moving pieces, making power plays, and if this all goes down the way he wants? Nebraska might just be cooking up something special.