Nebraska football kickoff countdown previews No. 96 Leslie Black

As we eagerly await the start of the Nebraska football season, which is just 96 days away, it's time to turn our attention to the potential contributors on the Huskers' roster. In this kickoff countdown, we'll be highlighting players who could make animpact this season.

The hope is that the players that are featured in the kickoff countdown will also be guys who could be interesting contributors in a 2024 season where  the Huskers are expected to be stronger. First up on the list is none other than defensive lineman, Leslie Black.

Nebraska football kickoff countdown previews No. 96 Leslie Black

Husker fans can be excused if they're not totally familiar with Leslie Black. 

The defensive player was a talented athlete at Statesboro High School in Georgia before joining the Nebraska program. In his final two seasons at the high school level, he recorded 51 tackles from his defensive end spot. 

As a senior, Black made 34 tackles with 3 tackles for loss and 2. That performance was enough to earn him an honorable-mention all-region selection.

Black's commitment to Nebraska is evident in his decision to turn down scholarship offers from Southern Illinois and Savannah State, choosing instead to walk on with the Huskers. 

Black's athletic ability was fully displayed in Statesboro because he was a dual-sport stud. The defensive end was also a forward for his high school and he was ranked as the 11th-best forward in the state for the 2023 class. 

Black didn't see the field in 2023 as he redshirted, and it's possible he might have to miss the 2024 season as well. Back in April, the defensive end suffered an injury during spring practice. Nebraska football head coach Matt Rhule said he suffered a small fracture in his ankle that he had surgery on.

It will be interesting to see if he even gets the chance to try and contribute this fall.