Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 49-21vs Ohio | 10 | 64 | 6.4 | 1 | 29 | Season-high 64 yds |
| Wk 2 | W 56-7vs Bowling Green | 8 | 48 | 6.0 | 0 | 22 | |
| Total | 18 | 112 | 6.2 | 1 | 29 |
#35
Mekhi Nelson
Sophomore running back for Nebraska. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′0″ · 195 lb · Wilkes-barre, PA · Wilkes-Barre/St. Thomas More [Conn.] Prep
Returning to Nebraska for 2026
The numbers
112
rushing yards · 2026
1 TD · 6.2 per carry · 4 catches
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 64 rush yds, 1 TD, 65 rec yds, vs Ohio
Swing playSwung Nebraska from 53% to 81% to win.Northwestern at Nebraska · 28-21
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
2 running back for Nebraska. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Nebraska in 2024.
- Nelson cleared to play for Nebraska (Jul 30) Reported
Buzz vs Tape
Every angle we can check here reads about where you'd expect this season.
13.1own fans
20national conversation
Mekhi Nelson
This is his third year in the same backfield at Nebraska. The receipt: 65 rec yds, 64 rush yds against Ohio — Week 1, 2026.
112 RUSH YDS · 1 RUSH TD · 18 CARRIES
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- seasons on the roster
- game log
His career
2024
- Signed with Nebraska3-star out of St. Thomas More
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
Nebraska
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2024–2026
1 coach2024–2026
Nebraska
Played his entire career under Matt Rhule.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
3 seasons under Matt Rhule — 16-12 over that span.
2024Nebraska7-6HC: Matt Rhule · Balanced
2025Nebraska7-6HC: Matt Rhule · Run-leaning
2026Nebraska2-0HC: Matt Rhule · Run-leaning
Where this profile ranks vs the RB cohort
Box-score percentiles
Elite: rec yards (100th percentile). Strength: yards / carry (87th percentile). Concern: rush yards (0th percentile).
Box-score rates (7)
Percentiles versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score rates.
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 2 games: 56.0 YDS/g, 6.2 YPC, 0.5 TD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Matt Rhule
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
Backup
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Career stats
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2026
W 56–7
48 rush yds (8 car)
Dominant 49-point win at home against Bowling Green.
With A. Colandrea — 222 yds · 4 TD · 1 INT · QBR 52.8 · 33 rush yds (4 car) · J. Barney Jr. — 8 rec · 115 yds · 2 TD
Game log
How he plays
2026 Outlook
Nebraska
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Running back · Nebraska
Returning around him
- 46% of 2024 offensive production back (Moderate turnover)
- 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 #22 · 2026 recruiting class #88
Heisman trajectory
Heisman Trajectory · 2026
Peak #65
Peaked at #65 this season.
The backfield · Nebraska
- #35Mekhi Nelson147 rushing yards · 2025
- #21Kwinten Ives133 rushing yards · 2025
- #22Isaiah Mozee115 rushing yards · 2025
- #23Conor Booth6 rushing yards · 2025
- #25Jamal Rule2 games · 2026
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology