Top 40 Huskers for 2025: 31-35

With Nebraska’s 2025 season around the corner, the HuskerOnline team voted on the Top 40 Husker players going into Matt Rhule’s third season in Lincoln.

The voting criteria were to rank the players based on their importance to the team, overall talent, and future potential for the upcoming season. Our voters focused specifically on the 2025 season, not future seasons, a player’s long-term importance, or future talent.

The voting panel consisted of HuskerOnline publisher Sean Callahan, columnist Steven Sipple, senior writer Robin Washut, and staff writer Abby Barmore. Each voter submitted their own Top 40 list from which the votes were tallied.

We continue our annual Top 40 Huskers series with players 31-35, which features a couple of important special teams additions.

Top 40 Huskers: 40-36 |

JOIN HUSKERONLINE TODAY FOR $1 FOR THE FIRST WEEK!

---

35. Amare Sanders, DB, Redshirt Fr.

Cornerback Amare Sanders made a great impression on Nebraska’s coaching staff in his first season with the Huskers. He redshirted but played four games and in the Pinstripe Bowl. The Miami, Flo. native had two tackles and one pass breakup in 2024.

Rhule told Sanders after the bowl game that his time was now. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound back is competing with Ceyair Wright, Andrew Marshall and Blye Hill for reps at cornerback in 2025. Wright and Marshall look to be the starters, but Sanders will likely have a chance to prove himself.

Sean	Sipple	Robin	Abby
NR	32nd	29th	37th

---

34. Kwinten Ives, RB, So.

Kwinten Ives is projected as Nebraska’s No. 2 running back behind Emmett Johnson in 2025. Ives needs to step up into the critical role as the Huskers’ RB2. NU needs to improve its running game, and that starts with Johnson and Ives behind a powerful offensive line.

In Rhule’s two seasons of leading Nebraska, the Huskers have attacked the running back by committee. They haven’t had a true No. 1 back. Johnson will be that in 2025. But no Big Ten team can have a one-man rushing attack. Enter Ives.

The 6-foot-3, 210-pound back has limited game experience. He played in nine games in 2024, recording seven yards on six carries and one touchdown. Ives has six career carries at Nebraska. Many are skeptical of how Ives will be able to step into the role. However, all of his teammates and coaches have expressed how confident they are in Ives’ abilities. Time will tell.

Sean	Sipple	Robin	Abby
36th	37th	33rd	32nd

---

33. Kyle Cunanan, K, So.

Kicker Kyle Cunanan transferred to Nebraska after spending the spring at Cal. Cunanan appears to have the inside track as NU’s kickoff specialists. He will battle against returning starters John Hohl and Tristan Alvano for the Huskers’ place kicker position.

Before Cal, the 5-foot-10, 180-pound kicker played in 15 games over two seasons at Charlotte. He went 14-of-20 on field goals and made all 21 extra-point attempts. Cunanan redshirted in 2024, playing in three games and going 5-of-5 on field goals and on extra points.

Nebraska’s special teams were its greatest weakness in 2024. The Huskers hired special teams coordinator Mike Ekeler and added a kicker, punter, and long snapper from the transfer portal. NU hopes Cunanan can bring consistency to its kicking game.

Sean	Sipple	Robin	Abby
31st	36th	35th	31st

---

32. Luke Lindenmeyer, TE, Jr.

Luke Lindenmeyer proved to be Nebraska’s best blocking tight end last season. The 6-foot-3, 250-pound junior had a career-high five catches for 50 yards. The Papillion-La Vista product played in all 13 games with two starts. His Pinstripe Bowl performance (two catches for 22 yards) could be an indicator of a strong junior year.

Marcus Satterfield‘s tight end group is led by former QB Heinrich Haarberg and Carter Nelson. Lindenmeyer is the only player in the trio returning to the TE room. His leadership and knowledge of the position have helped further the entire group.

After Dana Holgerson took over as offensive coordinator, Lindenmeyer was more involved in the offense. Holgerson aims to get more out of the Huskers’ tight ends in 2025. Lindenmeyer’s ability to block is critical, but he has allegedly made a jump in route running and pass catching this offseason.

Sean	Sipple	Robin	Abby
32nd	30th	32nd	33rd

---

31. Archie Wilson, P,

Nebraska and Ekeler are transitioning from a traditional punt scheme to a versatile rollout rugby style. The Huskers added Archie Wilson, a former Australian Rules football player, to punt in 2025. Washington transfer Jack McCallister spent the spring at Nebraska, but after NU decided they needed a rugby-style punter, McCallister transferred out.

Wilson is a Prokick Australia product, which has produced eight Ray Guy Award winners and had 29 punters awarded NFL or CFL contracts. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound punter is replacing two-year starter Brian Buschini, who averaged 44.7 yards per punt in 2025.

The freshman from Frankston South, Australia, will be leading the charge in the Huskers’ first rugby-style punt scheme under Rhule.

Sean	Sipple	Robin	Abby
26th	35th	34th	30th

---

Never miss breaking news or another HuskerOnline article again. Click HERE to sign up for HuskerOnline’s Daily and Breaking News Newsletters.