JUCO All-American defensive tackle Andy Burburija made the expected commitment flip from Nebraska to Clemson on Monday afternoon.
The IWCC Reiver committed to the Huskers earlier this month, but not that long after, he was thought to be on the verge of decommitting. When those predictions sparked up, there were more than a few Cornhuskers fans who wondered how in the world Matt Rhule and company could allow such a talented player at a position of great need to slip through their fingers. NU might have soured on Burburija more than the defensive tackle soured on them.
While that's often an excuse given by coaching staffs off the record when they lose a recruit, there's reason to believe it's genuinely the case this time. According to several insiders, including On3's Steve Sipple, Andy Burburija had some problems in a recent class that make it questionable whether he could qualify to play at the FBS level this fall.
Why Nebraska pivoted from Andy Burburija despite defensive line need
According to these same insiders, Nebraska decided it needed to move on to a defensive lineman it knew would play for them in 2026. That lineman turned out to be former Boston College player Owen Stoudmire.
Why it happened and how it happened are secondary to Burburija not coming to Lincoln, which is a big deal. He showed the kind of talent that, even if he didn't start right away, could make an impact for a revamped Huskers defense.
Across two seasons for Iowa Western CC, Burburija tallied 78 tackles and 14 sacks. He really blossomed as a sophomore this past season, racking up 45 tackles and 11 sacks.
At the moment, Clemson is both more willing and more able to spend time and resources on a player that may never suit up for the Tigers. How that ends up affecting Nebraska is just something everyone will have to wait and see in the upcoming season.