The Nebraska Cornhuskers are assembling an offensive machine. Quarterback? Check. Wide receivers? Loaded. Tight ends? Stacked. But there’s one major issue still lurking in the trenches—the offensive line.
Despite key pickups like Elijah Pritchett and Rocco Spindler, questions remain. Can Gunnar Gottula hold down the left tackle spot in the Big Ten? Is there a reliable center to keep Dylan Raiola protected? The Huskers need more muscle, more grit, and more depth. And now, an opportunity has emerged—a 335-pound solution standing right in front of them.
The Call for a Game-Changing Lineman
Analyst Wilson Dittman has a clear message for Matt Rhule: go big or go home.
“If I’m Nebraska, and I really want to protect Dylan Raiola at an elite level and have a top-10 offensive line, I would really look into grabbing another offensive lineman—particularly a guard who can play center, who can play left and right guard,” said Dittman.
And just like that, a name emerges—Martes Lewis.
Standing at 6’7″, 335 pounds, the Minnesota transfer is a battle-tested force in the trenches. With three years of Big Ten experience and two years of eligibility left, Lewis checks all the boxes:
✅ Size – A true road-grader who can hold his ground against elite pass rushers.
✅ Experience – Thirteen games in 2022, 13 starts in 2023, and another full season in 2024.
✅ Versatility – Can play both guard positions and potentially fill the Huskers’ center void.
So the question is: Will Nebraska make a move?
The Urgency: Nebraska’s Offensive Line Needs a Reinforcement NOW
The Huskers lost three of their most-used linemen from last season. Key backups? Also gone. Their current depth chart lists 22 offensive linemen, but some major concerns remain:
- Turner Corcoran is recovering from hamstring surgery.
- Teddy Prochazka is battling back from his third major knee injury.
- No clear center replacement after Scott’s departure.
Rhule is scrambling for solutions, considering names like Sledge, Maciejczak, and Evans for the center role. But that’s a gamble. Instead, Martes Lewis could be a day-one starter, bringing instant toughness and leadership to Nebraska’s front line.
Matt Rhule’s Master Plan: Stacking the O-Line for Dylan Raiola
The Dylan Raiola era has officially begun in Lincoln.
The former 5-star phenom wasted no time making an impact, leading Nebraska to a 7-6 record and their first bowl win since 2015. With 2,819 passing yards, 13 TDs, and 11 picks while completing 67.1% of his passes, Raiola showed flashes of brilliance. But he needs more. He needs elite protection.
Rhule understands this better than anyone. He’s already bringing in top-tier offensive minds, including Dana Holgorsen, a guru with stints at Texas Tech, Houston, Oklahoma State, and West Virginia. But coaching alone won’t cut it—the offensive line must be fortified.
Rhule himself put it best:
“Before he can make it his team, I think he has to make it his offense. Before he makes it his offense, I think he has to make it his receiving corps.”
But let’s be real—before Raiola can command this offense, he needs to stay upright.
Sherrone Moore’s Missed Opportunity—And Nebraska’s Gain
Nebraska is already winning battles in the trenches. Sherrone Moore’s Michigan had a golden opportunity to land two battle-tested linemen from a national championship roster. They blew it.
- Rocco Spindler? Now a Husker.
- Pat Coogan? Indiana-bound.
- Michigan? Left empty-handed.
This is where Matt Rhule is outmaneuvering his rivals. While Moore hesitated, Nebraska pounced. Now, the Huskers have an O-line anchor who was once a top priority for one of college football’s most elite offensive minds.
But the job isn’t done.
The Final Move: Will Nebraska Secure Martes Lewis?
The offensive blueprint is coming together. The weapons are in place. The coaching staff is elite. The quarterback is a rising star.
All that’s left? Building the wall that will let Dylan Raiola shine.
Martes Lewis is sitting in the transfer portal, a 335-pound answer to Nebraska’s biggest question mark. Will Rhule make the move? Or will Nebraska let another golden opportunity slip away?
The clock is ticking, and the Huskers’ championship ambitions could depend on this one crucial decision.
