When it comes to offseason attrition, the Nebraska Cornhuskers have had the fewest departures in college football. However, this doesn’t mean that Matt Rhule‘s squad was immune to attrition. Let’s examine each of the four Nebraska players who chose to enter the transfer portal so far.

Chief Borders

In Chief Borders‘ only season with the program in 2023, the former four-star recruit racked up a career-high nine tackles as well as a pass breakup for the Huskers. While he only helped the Blackshirt’s production, more was needed for him to be featured. But during the Spring, his quality of play made him  “one of the most improved players through camp.” And by all accounts, he was a significant presence in Rhule’s locker room. However, the 6-foot-4 linebacker got buried in the depth chart. This showed itself when talented true Princewill Umanmielien or Georgia transfer MJ Sherman quickly replaced him.. In multiple games for NU, the two combined for 17 tackles and 2.5 sacks. Can Borders recreate the same impact at a different school? Or does the grad transfer return to Memorial Stadium to play his last season in Lincoln?

Korver Denma

In his high school career with the Gretna Dragons, Korver Denma excelled at the linebacker position. He had 63 solo tackles, 23 sacks and 44 tackles for loss. And to cap off his spectacular career, the 220-pound linebacker received first-team all-state honors from the Omaha World-Herald and the Lincoln Journal Star. However, this type of success would translate to something other than early playing time in Memorial Stadium. This was primarily due to the staff recruiting over the freshman. In the months since his arrival, Vincent Shavers and Willis McGahee IV were added as linebackers that could play early. It also doesn’t help that the coaching staff added Stefon Thompson from Syracuse. With this much depth in Rob Dvoracek’s linebacker room, Denma had to consider his options. And a decision was reached early, as he would enter the transfer portal.