When the 2025 season kicks off in Lincoln, many outsiders will look at Nebraska’s defensive line and see youth, inexperience, and a lack of household names. But make no mistake, this group might be young, but it’s loaded with athleticism, raw potential, and a ceiling that if reached could match last year’s productive and disruptive front.
The key to that success will be effort. This group can’t afford to coast on talent alone. They’ll need a relentless motor, a hunger to get after the quarterback, and a commitment to developing physically and mentally over the summer and into fall camp. But if they do that, don’t be surprised if this defensive line becomes one of the biggest surprises in the Big Ten.
Leading the way at defensive end is sophomore Cameron Lenhardt, a player who flashed previously and looks poised to break out in a big way. Lenhardt brings both size and experience to the edge and has started to emerge as a leader on this defense. His ability to set the edge, pressure the quarterback, and use his frame to control blockers makes him a player the Huskers will lean on heavily.
Opposite him is veteran Elijah Jeudy, who quietly carved out a role in 2024 with 13 total tackles. Jeudy may not have lived up to the lofty expectations he carried with him after transferring from Texas A&M, but he’s consistent, physical, and brings much needed maturity to the room. This fall, he’s expected to open as the starting defensive end opposite Lenhardt, and if he can unlock more of his pass-rushing upside, Jeudy could be one of the most important stabilizers on this young front.
Behind the starters is where things get particularly exciting, and where the upside becomes undeniable.
Former five-star recruit Williams Nwaneri, who transferred from Missouri, is a redshirt freshman that could become a game changer in Lincoln. At 6’7” and 260 pounds, Nwaneri is an athletic freak. He has the length, explosiveness, and movement skills to be a terror on the edge. The question now is whether he can strengthen up in the weight room and develop the motor and mindset it takes to dominate in the trenches. If he puts it all together, Nebraska may have a future All-Big Ten player on their hands.
Keona Davis is another name to watch in the rotation. A sophomore with a well rounded skill set, Davis has shown promise as both a run stopper and pass rusher. He may have one of the highest upsides in the room if he fully commits himself in the weight room and on the practice field. He has the tools. Now it’s about development and drive.
In the middle, the Huskers will be counting on Riley Van Poppel to step into a big role at nose tackle. After redshirting in 2024, Van Poppel enters the season as a redshirt sophomore. His 2023 campaign gave glimpses of the disruptive potential he brings. He’s strong, quick off the snap, and capable of holding the point of attack, similar to how Nash Hutmacher anchored the interior last season. If Van Poppel can become a consistent force in the middle, it will free up Lenhardt, Jeudy, and the rest of the rotation to do what they do best, attack.
While Nebraska’s defensive line may not come with the national hype or veteran star power of years past, the ingredients for a breakout are all here. Talent? Check. Size and speed? Check. Depth? Quietly, yes. Now it’s about effort, motor, and staying healthy.
If these young men commit to the process and tap into their potential, don’t be surprised if we’re talking about this defensive line as one of the major strengths of the 2025 Huskers by season’s end.
