Nebraska football players and coaches have spent fall camp praising newcomer Owen Chambliss for his leadership skills, but filling that role hasn’t always been easy for the junior linebacker.
“I’m more of a soft-spoken guy, so it’s definitely challenging,” Chambliss said. “I think outside of the work, understanding the defense to a high level is something that really helped me become a leader. Being a veteran and having played a lot of snaps is something that really helped.”
The junior has played a lot of football for a few different programs. He began his career at Utah where he spent one year before transferring to San Diego State in 2024. Chambliss spent two seasons with the Aztecs, where he shared time wearing the green communication dot. He said he learned a lot from that experience and is sharing that with Nebraska this year.
“If you give it to the right guy, they can translate a lot of information really fast,” Chambliss said. “I really love it, so I don’t mind doing it at all.”
Chambliss’ teammates have noticed, including junior corner Andrew Marshall, who made this clear at Big Ten Media Days.
“He’s one of the smartest guys that I’ve met,” Marshall said. “He knows the defense inside and out, and he could tell you what you got on any play … He really leads by example, but he’s a vocal leader, and people listen up when he talks.”
Junior linebacker Vincent Shavers Jr. echoed the sentiment in fall camp.
“I like how he communicates on the field,” Shavers said. “On the field, off the field, he stays on top of everybody. He’s a leader in my eyes.”
This includes leading in meetings, at practice and when Chambliss’s teammates need to talk.
“I think guys feel comfortable enough to come to me and ask me questions, so at least they trust in me,” Chambliss said. “I can be able to hold guys a little more accountable than maybe others. They’re showing up to meetings when I want to run a meeting. Everybody shows up, so I think it’s helpful.”
One reason for this may be Chambliss’ familiarity with new defensive coordinator Rob Aurich’s defense. The 6-foot-3, 240-pound linebacker from Cronoa, Calif., followed the latter to Nebraska after spending two years together at San Diego State.
Now, Chambliss is helping his new teammates understand Aurich’s system ahead of this season.
“I’m trying to get guys to understand that this is the weakness of this call, this is what areas of the call we need to focus on according to what schemes that they’re in based on the personnel, based on the formation,” Chambliss said. “It’s definitely something that I take pride in, and it’s definitely something that I try to speak on and help out with.”
In his final year in San Diego, Chambliss helped the Aztecs to a 9-4 record. San Diego State finished with the seventh-ranked scoring defense and 12-ranked total defense nationally in 2025. Chambliss led the Aztecs in tackles with 110 while finishing third on the team in tackles for loss with 9.5, including four sacks.
He’ll look to continue that success under Aurich this year. Chambliss described Aurich’s scheme in three words.
“We live by simple, fast and violent,” Chambliss said. “I think that’s the way it should be. We’re multiple presnap, and simple postsnap. Simple, fast and violence is what we do.”
The junior will continue leading the team, and teaching the defense, with his eye set on the season opener.
“I’m excited,” Chambliss said. “I’m ready to go; I’ve never felt better about it.”
