Nebraska’s first offensive line pledge for the 2026 class came from the state of Arizona. After his official visit to the program, Rex Waterman decided to commit to the Huskers. And on Monday, offensive line coach Donovan Raiola earned a commitment from four-star offensive tackle Hayden Ainsworth. What does the Mississippi native bring to Nebraska’s 2026 recruiting class? Let’s break it down.
A Major Recruiting Win
The Huskers went into the state of Mississippi to steal Ainsworth over head coach Dave Doeren and the NC State Wolfpack. However, the 6′-5″, 305-pounder also received offers from Ole Miss, Florida State, and North Carolina. But why did Nebraska stand out to him during the recruiting process? According to Rivals, Ainsworth knew that the Huskers stood out because he “felt at home around Raiola.” He also had a positive experience with other recruits that the program is targeting. Four-star center Ryan Miret and Kelvin Obot are top targets that Nebraska would like to add to their 2026 recruiting class. However, he knew that Lincoln was the right place for him when he got to interact with the current players on the Big Red’s roster. Tyler Knaak, Grant Brix, and Gibson Pyle were all in attendance during his visit. This allowed Ainsworth to observe Raiola’s interaction with his players. And it also allowed him to understand “how he is as a person.”
Offensive Line Versatility
In order to prepare for his time in Lincoln, Ainsworth has been “crosstraining at all five positions.” But if Raiola had to put him at a position, he would start his career at right tackle in Lincoln. He shouldn’t be guaranteed immediate playing time. During the offseason, Matt Rhule brought in Elijah Pritchett from the transfer portal. The former Alabama left tackle could easily slide to the right tackle position in August. The coaching staff has to find someone who is ready to fill the void that Bryce Benhart left. In his three seasons with the Crimson Tide, Pritchett played in 29 games. He was also an in-season addition to the Outland Trophy Watch list. This should help him gain a starting spot against Cincinnati in Arrowhead.
The Georgia native looks to capture a starting spot with the Huskers in August. Read more about Elijah Pritchett in Huskers to Watch: Nebraska’s Offensive Line
Help With Other Targets
Can Waterman and Ainsworth do their homework as peer recruiters? Future Cornhusker quarterback Trae Taylor could pitch in as well. The four-star quarterback from Illinois has identified several targets that Nebraska could pursue in 2027. Five-star offensive tackle Mark Matthews should be a high priority. The Florida native is the number one player in his state and takes the seventh spot nationally. He will be on Raiola’s radar, but the Huskers should watch out for Miami. The 270-pounder visited the Hurricanes twice in February. Reis Russell is also a name that is making waves in the program. The four-star offensive tackle from Colorado has notched early offers from Penn State and Illinois. He should be back in Lincoln sooner rather than later. According to Husker Max, Russell is looking forward to “getting to a camp this summer or catching a game on his bye week.”
Lincoln yall have been showing Ahmad a ton you love and I love it, but I need y’all to show hopefully my future tackle love @mark95matthews
pic.twitter.com/GWnKtQII2J
— Trae Taylor (@Qb6Trae) June 7, 2025
Two Pipeline States?
Nebraska has recruited the state of Arizona before. Ex-defensive line coach Terrance Knighton brought Keona Davis into the program in 2024. This worked out well for the Big Red. As a freshman, Davis notched 10 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. Mississippi has also treated the Huskers well. During the Scott Frost era, secondary coach Travis Fisher brought in Malcolm Hartzog from the state. The 5-foot-11 safety led the program with four interceptions. He was also elite near the line of scrimmage last season with 45 tackles and four pass breakups. Will Raiola continue to scour these states for offensive linemen? Or will Nebraska’s defensive coaches do the most work in these states? Previous Nebraska coaches had recruiting hotbeds that they drew from in the past.
Main Image: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports
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