Stewart
Branch
Two surprising names showed up on the Nebraska defensive depth chart Monday, including one player who didn’t even make the initial 120-man roster.
That would be redshirt freshman safety Rahmir Stewart, a much-ballyhooed recruit in the 2023 class who picked NU over offers from Penn State and West Virginia, among others. A star at Philadelphia’s Imhotep Institute, Stewart spent one season developing in the program but wasn’t at NU’s preferred weight for him when training camp opened.
So Rhule initially held Stewart out.
“It was his weight being where it’s supposed to be,” Rhule said. “To his credit, he handled that, and when he showed back up to camp, he was in good shape and his weight was down and he was playing the way he’s capable of playing. See, we believe Rahmir is a really good football player.”
Nebraska coach Matt Rhule speaks to the media on Tuesday at Hawks Championship Center.
At 205 pounds, that is. So long as Stewart stays there, Rhule said, he’s where Rhule wants him to be.
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The other backup safety surprise was Lincoln Southeast junior walk-on Derek Branch, whose dad, Troy, played for the Huskers 1990-1993.
“Derek’s done a great job,” Rhule said, noting Branch made the 120-man roster last season, as he played one game against Northern Illinois. “He’s just a smart, heady, tough football player. He’s dependable. He does things right.”
Both Stewart and Branch are likely to appear on special teams, Rhule said.
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