In the 1990s, few programs dominated college football like Nebraska. The Cornhuskers captured three national championships during that decade and were a pipeline to the NFL. Eight Huskers went in the first round during that era — five of them top-10 picks. But that success feels like ancient history now.
Over the past decade, Nebraska has slipped into mediocrity. The program has failed to win even 50% of its games and hasn’t produced a first-round NFL Draft pick since 2011. That drought might finally end in 2025 — and the player poised to break it is offensive tackle Elijah Pritchett, a transfer from Alabama with elite physical tools and high-end upside.
Pritchett’s strengths, weaknesses, and NFL potential
Pritchett was a top-tier recruit out of Carver High School in Georgia, ranked as the number one offensive tackle in the country by Rivals. He committed to Alabama but struggled to find playing time in Tuscaloosa. He logged just 13 offensive snaps in 2022 and 95 more in 2023. He finally earned a starting job in 2024 but struggled in pass protection, allowing 30 pressures and earning a disappointing 46.9 grade from Pro Football Focus. After the season, Pritchett entered the transfer portal and landed at Nebraska, where he’s looking to revive his trajectory.
Despite the rough season, Pritchett enters 2025 with a high second-round grade on my board and has the tools to rise into the first round. His quick feet stand out on film — he moves easily in pass sets and climbs to the second level with ease in the run game. That mobility makes him scheme-versatile, and he’s shown he can play on both ends of the line with 555 career snaps at right tackle and 172 at left tackle while at Alabama.
Another positive with his game is his overall power. Pritchett will likely be one of the strongest players on the Nebraska roster this season, evident by him winning the tractor pull at the Husker Games, Nebraska’s version of a strongman contest and a welcome-to-farmland-USA moment. That raw strength carries over to the field, where he consistently knocks defenders off the ball in the run game.
Still, his game needs polish. Pritchett’s hand placement is inconsistent, and his initial punch often allows defenders to get into his chest. He also stops his feet on contact too often, leading to balance issues and lunging. These are fixable traits with good coaching and reps, but they’re the biggest factors holding him back from a surefire first-round grade.
If Pritchett cleans up those flaws, he could be Nebraska’s first first-rounder in 15 years — and potentially the program’s highest pick since Prince Amukamara went number 19 overall in 2011. Teams like the Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, and Miami Dolphins — all of whom could use depth or future starters at tackle — would be strong landing spots late in the first or early in the second.
In short: The tools are there. The path is clear. Now it’s on Pritchett to put it all together.