Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
On3.com
Nebraska Fall Camp Preview for 2024: Defensive Line
By Abby Barmore,
2 days ago
Head Coach Matt Rhule is entering his second fall camp as Nebraska’s leader. Each position group has changed, whether it’s slightly or dramatically. The HuskerOnline team looks at what to expect from the Huskers with our position-by-position fall camp previews.
Next up in our annual Nebraska fall camp preview is the defensive line, the Huskers’ strongest position group.
Nov 11, 2023; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers defensive lineman Ty Robinson (9), linebacker Luke Reimer (4), and defensive back Isaac Gifford (2) celebrate after recovering a fumble against the Maryland Terrapins during the fourth quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports
What we know right now: The D-line is the Huskers’ strongest group
Nebraska’s defensive line group is stacked. In 2023, NU had its best defensive numbers since joining the Big Ten in 2011. They posted 92.9 rushing yards per game, 303.5 total defense yards per game and allowed 18.3 points per game. The defensive line was a massive reason for those numbers.
Nash Hutmacher and Ty Robinson are coming back for their final seasons. The duo had a great 2023 season and expects to take another step up. Additionally, the line had junior Elijah Jeudy and sophomore Riley Van Poppel , who had a very promising freshman season.
The defensive group is also filled with talent. Senior Jimari Butler is coming off his best season yet. He had a team-high 8.5 tackles for a loss of 52 yards, including a team-high 5.5 sacks. The Huskers expect Butler to be a menace in 2024.
Cameron Lenhardt also had a great 2023 season as a freshman. He started in four games and missed two due to an ankle injury. He recorded 16 tackles with 5.0 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks. Lenhardt is the only true freshman D-lineman to start multiple games at Nebraska in the modern era.
NU is also really high on sophomore JUCO transfer James Williams . The 6-foot-5, 235-pound lineman redshirted in 2023. But during his four games, he recorded two sacks and four tackles. He earned a sack and forced one in his first two plays as a Husker.
Nebraska has a great mix of experience and young talent with great potential for the 2024 season.
Nebraska defensive end Cameron Lenhardt (Photo: Casey Fritton/HuskerOnline)
Key returning stats and numbers from 2023:
Player
2023 Snap Count
Ty Robinson
561
Nash Hutmacher
504
Jimari Butler
359
Cameron Lenhardt
266
Elijah Jeudy
158
Riley Van Poppel
113
James Williams
48
Player
TCK
TFL
Sacks
FF
FR
Ty Robinson
14
4-21
1-12
0
1
Nash Hutmacher
18
8-37
4.5-30
0
0
Jimari Butler
20
8.5-52
5.5-40
1
0
Cameron Lenhardt
8
5-22
3-17
0
0
Elijah Jeudy
5
1-3
0-0
0
0
Riley Van Poppel
2
1-5
0.5-5
0
0
James Williams
0
2-12
2-12
0
0
Biggest Question: Can the pass rush be elite?
Nebraska football hasn’t had a player reach more than six sacks since Kahlil Davis had eight in 2019. Against Northwestern last season, NU recorded eight team sacks, their most since 2018. They lost Luke Reimer (five sacks) and Nick Henrich (two), but most sackers are returning.
Last season, the Husker defense had more than 30 sacks ( 32 , to be exact) for the first time in 10 years. The 2013 Husker squad record 39 sacks, with 10.5 sacks from Randy Gregory . Can this 2024 Husker squad stay on pace and break 40 sacks? In 2023, Penn State led the conference with 49 sacks, while Michigan, the national champions, had 39.
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.
Comments / 0