A look at Nebraska’s deep, versatile defensive line

Cameron Lenhardt keeps a tighter schedule than you do.

Since the Nebraska pass rusher was 16, he’s had no choice but to figure it out, spending several years at the IMG Academy athletic boarding school before he arrived at NU.

“I’ve always had a sense of time management, doing what I’ve got to do, and knowing what I’ve got to do,” Lenhardt said Tuesday after the Huskers’ spring practice. “Knowing the goal in mind.”

In that way, Nebraska defensive line coach Terrence Knighton said, Lenhardt acts like a “true professional.” Cold tub, film room, getting straight A’s in engineering classes — wherever the 6-foot-3, 250-pounder is supposed to be, he is, and whatever he’s supposed to be doing, it gets done.

Lenhardt’s just a sophomore, to boot. And while he has good habits, he doesn’t have to lead the defensive line room. He’s got Ty Robinson and Nash Hutmacher for that. Lenhardt might start — he did four times last year — and he might not.

But he’s going to play as part of a deep, versatile stable of linemen Knighton can throw at opposing offenses.

“I’m always preaching to the group about attacking in waves,” Knighton said. “We need eight, nine guys who can go and play like starters.”

Defensive coordinator Tony White sees Knighton working hard to “get the best fit” for his linemen, who not only understand their own positions but are learning to expand their roles.

“It really helps you in terms of matchups,” White said of calling his aggressive, 3-3-5 defense. “Putting guys over (offensive linemen) and saying, ‘Hey, I know this guy can beat this guy.’ It’s an experiment now. You have the talent, and they know what to do. But every day is like gameday around here. It’s that intense, it’s that physical.”

Every defensive lineman in the room has something to work on, Knighton said.

Robinson, the sixth-year senior, is getting better at third-down pass rush. Hutmacher, at 295 pounds after wrestling season, is developing his skill set at “three technique,” or defensive tackle. Elijah Jeudy, whom Knighton said recently became a father, is trying to unlock his considerable talent.

Walk-on James Williams, a surprise edge rusher in 2023, wants to become a three-down player.

“He’ll stick his nose in there and work the technique,” Knighton said of Williams, who signed last year with NU out of Iowa Central Community College. “His body has to catch up to his mind.”

Princewill Umanmielen is getting healthy again after offseason surgery. Riley Van Poppel, who helped out the Huskers’ goal-line defense, is ready for snaps at different parts of the field. Jimari Butler — a breakout star in 2023 — could have the largest upside of them all.

Lenhardt wants to get better at getting after the passer.

“Enhancing the pass rush, that four-man rush, stuff like that up front,” Lenhardt said. “Recognizing sets and things of that nature.”

He had three sacks last season and especially pushed opposing pockets early in the season. After he sprained his ankle in the win over Northern Illinois, though, he had to work back into the rotation — and back to full speed.

At the time he got hurt, Lenhardt could’ve redshirted. He’d played fewer than four games, Nebraska did not lack for options at defensive end and some, like Williams, were just starting to emerge. Lenhardt could have preserved his season of eligibility.

“It’s always, we have a goal in mind,” Lenhardt said.

And competition to match in a deep room.