#51
Dawson Merritt
Returning to Nebraska for 2026
Dawson Merritt
The receipt on tape: 4 tackles, 0.5 TFL against Houston Christian, Week 3, 2025.
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- game log
Career Arc
HS
Recruit
★★★★
CFB
College
Nebraska
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2025 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2025Nebraska7-6HC: Matt Rhule · Run-leaning
Splits & context
Supporting Cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Matt Rhule
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Nebraska | 8 | 4 | 1.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 8 | 4 | 1.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 9 · 2025
W 28–21
vs Northwestern
1 TOT · 1 SOLO
A wire-to-wire battle — won by 7 at home.
How he plays
2026 Outlook
Nebraska
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · Nebraska
Returning around him
- 1 Nebraska player drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -2 net (17 in / 19 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Nebraska · Last season: 7-6 (AP #25) · Talent rank #20 · 2026 recruiting class #88
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology