Nebraska released its Week 1 roster on Monday, featuring a defense bolstered by returning starters at all levels of the ball.

On the defensive line, senior Ty Robinson and Jimari Butler are Nebraska’s starting ends, while senior Nash Hutmacher will start on the interior. Robinson and Hutmacher were the only two Husker linemen to play over 500 snaps last season.

Nebraska relies on a lot of rotation on offense. Sophomores Riley Van Poppel, Kai Wallin, Cameron Lenhardt and James Williams are listed as backups for the defensive ends. Junior Elijah Jeudy is the best backup behind Hutmacher as nose tackle.

“We feel like we have three guys on the D-line that can go in. I think there are about nine, maybe 10 guys that are ready to play,” Rhule said.

NU’s linebacker depth was impacted by Javin Wright’s absence from practice due to health issues, but 12-game contributors John Bullock and Mikai Gbayor return as starters. Freshman Vincent Shavers, a top performer throughout fall camp, and Syracuse transfer Stefon Thompson will back up the position.

Nebraska will play two powerful pass rushers at the jack linebacker position, MJ Sherman and Princewill Umanmielen, but Sherman will begin the year as the starter.

Rhule said Nebraska has four linebackers and three players at Jack that “we would put in the game immediately.”

There are no surprises in the experienced secondary either, as Nebraska’s entire five-man starting lineup received single-digit jersey numbers last week. Tommi Hill is joined by Marques Buford as Nebraska’s starting cornerbacks, while Malcolm Hartzog, DeShon Singleton and Isaac Gifford also received starting positions.

Behind the veterans is a group of mostly untested young defensive backs. Freshman Amare Sanders and junior Ceyair Wright are Nebraska’s backup cornerbacks, while Blye Hill is listed at third as he recovers from a spring knee injury.

At the safety position, Koby Bretz is NU’s most experienced backup, as junior Derek Branch and redshirt freshman Rahmir Stewart each appeared in just one game last season.

“Derek was a guy we kept last year, he’s a player with tradition, he’s just a smart, level-headed, tough football player; he’s reliable and does things the right way,” Rhule said. “He’s just getting an opportunity to play on some special teams as well.”

Rhule said Stewart’s inclusion in the rankings came after the young player worked hard to reach his goal weight and “hit the ground running” on the training field.