Ad Disclosure
Nebraska beats out SEC, ACC competition for 2026 OL
By Paul Harvey
Published:
Nebraska is trying to pick up momentum for the 2026 recruiting class, and the Huskers grabbed a key piece to the puzzle on Monday.
That player comes in the form of Hayden Ainsworth, a massive offensive lineman out of Biloxi, Mississippi. Prior to his commitment, Ainsworth was also considering offers from Ole Miss and NC State, giving Matt Rhule a key pickup.
“For the past 3 seasons, I’ve spent Friday nights hearing the crowd ‘Go Big Red.’ I still want to hear that a few more years,” said Ainsworth in a commitment video on social media.
Ainsworth is listed at 6-foot-5 and 305 pounds for the 2026 recruiting class. He was originally a part of the 2027 recruiting class but has reclassified and joins the Huskers as the 6th hard commitment of the cycle.
According to the 247 Sports Composite, Ainsworth is a 3-star recruit and the 52nd interior offensive lineman for the class of 2026. He’s also the 21st overall player out of Mississippi.
To this point, it has been a slow start to the 2026 recruiting class for Nebraska. The Huskers will hope for a big push over the summer and fall before putting the finishing touches on the group.
Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.