Nebraska announced four more new single-digit jersey recipients on Wednesday evening, making just one number currently unclaimed.
On Wednesday, Nebraska announced that linebacker Javin Wright will wear No. 0, sophomore wide receiver Jacory Barney Jr. will wear No. 2, junior wide receiver Janiran Bonner will wear No. 4 and sophomore linebacker Vincent Shavers Jr., will wear No. 9.
Only the No. 1 remains unclaimed, following Wednesday’s announcements.
Wright enters the 2025 season in his seventh season of college football. The Arizona native and Husker legacy has battled injuries and blood clots throughout his career at Nebraska. Last year, he missed several game early in the year and after returning in the middle of the year, was unable to practice during the week. In nine games last season, Wright made 34 tackles, one tackle for loss and broke up a pass.
Barney Jr., has emerged as one of the Huskers’ top offensive weapons and will likely see his role grow on special teams this year on the punt return units. Barney played in all 13 games last season, recording 55 catches for 447 yards and added 10 carries for 130 yards and a touchdown.
“You all are sitting here: I would expect to be the best journalist in the country. We don’t go out there to mess around,” special teams coordinator Mike Ekeler said of Barney. “So for him to come up and say, ‘I’m going to lead the country.’ That ought to be his mentality. That’s my mentality.”
Bonner has done a little bit of everything on the Husker offense. He worked as a fullback and hybrid player in 2023 before moving back to wide receiver last season. In 2024, Bonner caught 11 passes for 67 yards and one touchdown while rushing twice for 11 yards and one touchdown and working as one of the Huskers’ reliable blockers on the edge.
“I take very much pride in being physical and that kind of sets me apart and sets me apart form other relievers especially because I’m in the slot,” he said this fall. “You don’t really see that much physicality from the slot. I take much pride in that. Especially coming from the roles that I was playing before.”
Shavers will switch from No. 1 to No. 9 in his second season in Lincoln. He switched numbers last season with Jamari Butler, taking over Butler’s jersey number in the middle of the season.
Shavers was a breakout freshman for the Huskers last season, appearing in all 13 games and recording 25 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack and one forced fumble. He was rated by Pro Football Focus as the top freshman linebacker in the country last season.
Rhule brought the single-digit tradition to the Huskers from his previous stops at Baylor and Temple. The single-digits are voted on by teammates and are meant to be a reward for toughness and leadership.
Other players with single digits on Nebraska’s roster currently are: defensive tackle Riley Van Poppel (5), wide receiver Dane Key (6) Marques Buford Jr. (3), Malcolm Hartzog Jr. (7), and DeShon Singleton (8).