Breakout Nebraska freshman safety is fully healthy and ready for more in 2026

Husker Corner · Jul 22, 2026 17:30 · 3 min read

Breakout Nebraska freshman safety is fully healthy and ready for more in 2026 — IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Nebraska football gets a major secondary boost as a key defender returns fully healthy.

Despite some up-and-down times as a true freshman, defensive back Rex Guthrie proved to be one of the best defenders on a pass defense that was one of the best in the country for the Nebraska football team. His debut season was cut short, though it appears that when fall camp kicks off, he’ll not only be ready to practice, but he’ll be “full go.”

Guthrie appeared on Nebraska Sports Nightly on Tuesday night and shared some very good news for the Husker faithful. While the team hasn’t officially or publicly commented on his injury yet this summer, he said that he feels great and is ready to get after it.

Guthrie said he was back to doing everything “100% again” after labrum surgery. The Nebraska defender will be counted on to have a big 2026, and he’s off on the right foot.

“It feels good to be back with the boys,” Guthrie said. “The biggest thing was just getting the surgery and getting it fixed because it had been bothering me for some time. From there, (recovery) has been pretty straightforward and easy. Just taking it day by day.”

Rex Guthrie returns healthy for Nebraska football’s competitive safety battle

Guthrie made eight starts last season in the secondary, logging 63 tackles and a pass breakup, and had his surgery shortly after NU’s loss to Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl. The defensive back didn’t sit around and wait to get better. The sophomore said he used his rehab time during the offseason to “better understand football.”

Especially because of how he finished 2025, Guthrie is expecting to have another big role for the Blackshirts this fall.

“Trying to watch as much tape as I can,” he added. “Get in the weight room, on the field and try to better myself every day.”

Guthrie also knows that while he expects to have a big role, he will almost certainly have to win a starting job, especially since Nebraska has a new defensive coordinator. Rob Aurich obviously saw film of Guthrie, but he hasn’t gotten to see him play very much in person. Guthrie has plenty of talented competition at his position, as he’ll be battling with Jamir Conn, Towson transfer Jasin Shiggs, and Justyn Rhett, with San Diego State transfer Dwayne McDougle likely to start at the other safety position.

“I think we got a great group of guys,” Guthrie said on Sports Nightly. “A great coaching staff. I think it is going to be a great year.”

While starting just eight games, Rex Guthrie played in all 13. In the process, he became only the third Nebraska freshman to record 60 tackles in a season since freshmen regained eligibility in 1972, and his 63 tackles were the second-most by a Husker freshman since 1972. What will he do for an encore now that he’s healthy? Husker fans should be excited to find out.