Overlooked and dismissed, one Nebraska football unit has a chip on its shoulder

Nebraska’s defensive line feels underestimated and aims to make a statement in 2025
Nebraska v Minnesota
Nebraska v Minnesota | David Berding/GettyImages

With the start of the Nebraska football team's fall camp, there's a ton of attention on many different units, with Dylan Raiola and the wide receivers getting a ton of attention. One unit, the defensive line, on the other hand, is being widely overlooked or dismissed. The Huskers manning that line have noticed, and they want you to know they're not taking it well.

"Our d-line has heard a lot all year about, ‘I don’t know how good they’re going to be. How do they replace Ty?'" Head coach Matt Rhule said during his press conference after the team's first practice. "That’s lofty to live up to, but we’ve got guys that can do it. So, I have nothing but high expectations for our guys. I expect them to be really good, and if they expect it too, we’ll get there."

How Cam Lenhardt and Terry Bradden are reshaping the Nebraskafootball’s front

"We’ve got a little chip on our shoulder, you know what I mean?" One of those Nebraska football linemen, Cam Lenhardt said when he stepped to the podium. “I think we’ve got great leadership with Coach TB (Terry Bradden) coming in there. He’s definitely preached a lot and told us a lot since he’s been here. I’ve got a lot of confidence in our group, and we’re going to go out there and perform.”

The Nebraska football team's defense in general is a rather large question mark heading into the 2025 season. Between graduations and transfers, there's a chance for many players to step up and make a name for themselves.