College football recruiting splits you clean in two parts: on one side, Deion Sanders avoids home and off-campus visits, while on the other side, Matt Rhule’s Nebraska team scours the globe for talent. The Cornhuskers’ impressive recruiting surge is turning heads these past months—20 commits and a top-six spot in the Big Ten class are proof of it. And how can you forget Rhule’s bold decision to skip the spring game, proving just how much he values his players? But his latest move? Trying to snag a 4-star, 6’3″, 320-pound freak who’s grabbing everyone’s attention, and just so you know, neither distance nor competition is slowing the Huskers’ efforts.

Now, this Malmö, Sweden native and Blue Ridge School’s blue-chip prospect is considering eight heavy-hitters as his future CFB team. And he is down to Auburn, Florida, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, and USC. But who’s this 320lbs beast? Well, that’s no. 140 overall prospect and no. 13 DL of the 2026 class, Valdin Sone, who’s reclassified from the 2027 cycle. This international athlete is drawing heavy interest from the who’s who of college football, and On3’s Director of Scouting Charles Power made it pretty clear with his bold statement.

“Sone was the only defensive lineman we saw notch a win against Oklahoma offensive tackle signee Ryan Fodje in 1-on-1’s during the morning. Sone put Fodje on the ground with a vicious swim move. We later saw the Sweden native make some plays on the interior in the joint practice,” Power said. So, it’s no surprise that Matt Rhule’s staff is making an unofficial trip to his home, Sweden, to make a possible impact on him. Because when you have teams like Texas and USC in the mix, you need to pull some extra strings.

That’s exactly why Terry Bradden made a trip over to Europe just to spend some time with Valdin Sone and his family, and that sure didn’t go unnoticed. Now, we all know that in 2024, teams facing Nebraska successfully converted 35.2% of their third-down plays into first downs. They actually did quite well, coming in at 31st in the nation and 5th in the Big Ten. Nebraska’s defense, however, faltered more in its first five losses. Their opponents’ 40.4% third-down conversion rate likely fueled those teams’ scoring success by extending drives.

So, this season they already have key returning players like Elijah Jeudy, but in the 2026 season, Valdin Sone can be a key playmaker. Since January, Nebraska has pursued Sone after his impressive All-American Bowl performance earned him a scholarship offer. They hosted him for Elite Recruit Day in February and again in April before the spring game.

Despite this, Sone hasn’t scheduled an official visit to Nebraska. His plans remain uncertain; he’s booked one official visit to Alabama, a school not currently listed among his favorites. Valdin’s commitment would bolster Nebraska’s currently thin 2026 roster.

Matt Rhule might lose his key playmakers

Nebraska fans are optimistic about the 2025 season, with Dylan Raiola’s return and Matt Rhule aiming for at least ten wins. Rhule’s focus extends beyond the field, actively recruiting top talent. “I want them [recruits] to see our precision, our attention to detail,” Rhule said. “I want them to see the atmosphere; I want them to see that there’s no silos.” However, rumors of Husker commits changing their minds cast a shadow on the program’s progress, jeopardizing Rhule’s rebuilding efforts.

The rumor mill spotlights 2026 recruits cornerback CJ Bronaugh and wide receiver Dveyoun Bonwell-Witte threaten Rhule’s progress, casting a shadow over Nebraska’s 4-commit 47th-ranked recruiting class. Three-star cornerback Bronaugh, from Windermere, boasts impressive stats and track accolades, drawing interest from Penn State and Florida. “He’s announced that he will be taking official visits to three other schools,” notes Wilson Dittman, hinting at potential wavering commitment.

Dittman is cautiously optimistic about keeping Bronaugh, citing Nebraska’s early support and Bronaugh’s gratitude, “Nebraska invested in him when he was a very low prospect. He’s starting to blow up. He has a lot of loyalty to Nebraska, but he’s looking at some other programs as he should.” Dittman thinks Florida State’s chances are slim, saying they “aren’t going to win” this year, despite Bronaugh’s official visit on June 13. But still, Bonwell-Witte’s commitment seems less secure due to coaching changes.

Matt Rhule is rebuilding Nebraska’s culture, leveraging his successes at Baylor and Temple. He’s counting on Dylan Raiola’s leadership to shape the team’s on-field identity, hoping it boosts recruiting. Rhule’s focus remains on building a cohesive, precise team, despite recruiting challenges and shifting commitments. The upcoming season is a critical test for Rhule, Raiola, and the entire program, as they aim to overcome uncertainty.