A new article from CBS Sports lists a Nebraska running back as a potential breakout player heading into the 2026 season. Big Ten insiders believe that freshman Jamal Rule could be a name to watch heading into the upcoming year.
The Salisbury, North Carolina, native had a fantastic senior year at Charlotte Christian. The back ran for 1,362 yards, averaging 7.9 yards per carry, and 16 touchdowns.
Rule chose Nebraska over Virginia Tech, Syracuse, and Michigan State. He was a three-star prospect and was ranked as one of the nation’s top 50 running backs.
Brad Crawford of CBS Sports reports that several Big Ten insiders came away from the Huskers’ spring game believing the freshman has already shown he can adapt quickly to the college game.
“Spring standouts in a reserve role are sometimes overlooked, but not this true freshman. What’s most encouraging for the Huskers is how quickly Rule appears to have adjusted to the college game. He flashed big-play ability and looked every bit like a running back capable of competing for meaningful carries right away in Nebraska’s final spring scrimmage, and several observers came away believing he had made a serious push for the RB1 role entering the fall.”
Rule showed he has the ability to be the team’s No. 1 running back at the start of the season. In Nebraska’s spring game, he had ten carries for 121 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
Running back Emmett Johnson was responsible for over 76% of the team’s rushing yards last season. With Johnson now playing for the Kansas City Chiefs, the Huskers are expected to use a running back-by-committee approach early in 2026 before deciding on a No. 1 back.
Rule may only be a freshman but he’ll have plenty of chances early in his career to establish himself as Nebraska’s primary running back.
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This article originally appeared on Cornhuskers Wire: Nebraska football running back Jamal Rule named breakout player
