12 Huskers defenders get Blackshirts ahead of season-opener

A dozen Nebraska Cornhuskers defenders have earned a coveted Blackshirt ahead of Saturday's season-opener against UTEP.

The Blackshirts were handed out Tuesday morning to the 11 starters on defense — Ty Robinson, Nash Hutmacher, Jimari Butler, John Bullock, Mikai Gbayor, MJ Sherman, Tommi Hill, Isaac Gifford, Malcolm Hartzog Jr., DeShon Singleton and Marques Buford Jr. — plus sophomore defensive end Cameron Lenhardt, the lone underclassman to get one.

Defensive coordinator Tony White says there was a lot of evaluation into what each player did to deserve them, and it wasn't just earning a starting position. Lenhardt was proof of that.

The sophomore played in 10 games as a true freshman last season, including four starts. One of those was the season-opener, which made him just the second true freshman defensive lineman at Nebraska to start a game in the modern era, and the first to start a season opener.

Overall, he tallied 16 tackles, 5 for loss and 3 sacks in 2023.

“He is what this place is all about, what this program is all about,” White said of Lenhardt on Tuesday.

The defensive coordinator praised Lenhardt's work in the classroom, said he does things 100 mph, always knows what he’s doing and described him as a great teammate.

“One of the first guys you mention with the DNA of the program, it’d be him,” White added.

Sherman, a senior linebacker, added that Lenhardt "came in like a vet" and, with his work at attitude, "he just ate what he killed."

Hutmacher, another senior and fellow defensive lineman, echoed that sentiment, adding, "He's come in, he's stepped up right away."

Hutmacher noted that all of the older guys along the defensive line said Lenhardt deserved a Blackshirt and were happy to see he was awarded one.

Meanwhile, Sherman and Hutmacher also expressed their gratitude for receiving a Blackshirt but noted that it comes with responsibility.

It’s a high honor but you gotta earn your keep every single day," Sherman said. "Just because you have a Blackshirt doesn’t mean you’re a starter forever. The roster changes every single day and you just gotta earn your keep every single day. This was practice one with the Blackshirt and my goal is to keep the whole season with the Blackshirt.”

"Really humbled, really honored to be able to get that," Hutmacher added. "There’s been a lot of greats in Nebraska that have gotten Blackshirts over the years and they’ve elevated the standard for us, so that’s my mindset is just, once you get that Blackshirt, the standard just has to keep elevating, for myself and for all the guys that got them.”

The Huskers open the season at 2:30 p.m. Saturday against UTEP.