Nebraska commit Malcolm Simpson is a high-upside pass rusher

Here’s the key information to know about the Huskers’ latest commit.

Height and weight: 6-3, 235 pounds.

Other key offers: Baylor, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, USC.

* Texas success: Simpson is the first Texan prospect in Nebraska’s 2025 class as the Huskers’ efforts in the state continue for the third consecutive recruiting cycle. Nebraska signed six players out of the state in 2023 the followed with five in last year’s class.

Wide receivers coach Garret McGuire and defensive line coach Terrance Knighton handle much of the recruiting work within the state, with Knighton focusing on the Houston area in particular. It was there that Knighton forged a relationship with Simpson, a prospect who’d been heavily targeted by several Texan schools.

Knighton’s status as an ex-NFL player and his effective coaching style are factors which motivate players such as Simpson. Plus, he doesn’t have to look far to find Texan defensive line recruits — Princewill Umanmielen and Riley Van Poppel — who’ve made strides under Knighton’s leadership.

* Pass rushing potential: Simpson displays strengths as a pass rusher on film, with the defensive lineman having lined up in several positions across his high school career. He has the strength to move opposing linemen as an interior rusher and has also been effective when lining up on the edge.

In order to play Big Ten football, Simpson may need to develop physically — but his strength and ability to use his frame effectively is a key trait the lineman already possesses. Learning effective pass rushing moves from Knighton should be a top priority for Simpson as he develops.

The timing of Simpson’s commitment is important for the long-term health of NU’s 2025 class. The Huskers have long had one defensive line commit in Omaha North’s Tyson Terry, but other targets at the position came and went in recent months. Nebraska hoped to schedule five to six official visitors for June before the likes of Jaylen Williams (Michigan) and Jayden Loftin (Tennessee) committed elsewhere.

Simpson, who’d grown in importance to Nebraska’s 2025 plans since his May offer, now gives the Huskers an excellent long-term complement to Terry with a high degree of upside. NU likely is not finished at the position, but it’ll no longer need to scramble for additional options through the fall and winter.