A year at Nebraska has helped send Ochaun Mathis to the NFL.
The former Nebraska edge rusher became the first Husker to hear his name called this week when the Los Angeles Rams selected Mathis No. 189 overall in the 6th round of the NFL draft on Saturday.
A one-year contributor at Nebraska after four seasons at TCU, Mathis recorded 48 tackles and 3½ sacks during Nebraska’s 2022 season. His sophomore year at TCU in 2020 still stands as the most productive of Mathis’ collegiate career — nine sacks in just 10 games — but his status as a run defender evolved during his year in Lincoln as well.
Mathis could have returned for another year of college football, but at 24 years old, the time to make the jump to the NFL was now. The athletic drills of Mathis, who was an invitee to the NFL combine, weren’t the highlight of his day. A 35¼-inch wingspan measurement was the third-highest of any edge rusher, giving Mathis a key trait for teams to fixate on.
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Mathis is the first Nebraska defensive end to be selected in the NFL draft since Jared Crick in 2012.
Photos: Nebraska football’s Red-White Spring Game
Nebraska quarterback Jeff Sims (14) celebrates with offensive lineman Ethan Piper (57) at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
Nebraska quarterback Jeff Sims (14) shares a smile after scoring a touchdown during the Red-White Spring Game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
Nebraska quarterback Jeff Sims (14) jumps into the endzone for a touchdown during the Red-White Spring Game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
The 45 yard line markers are outlined ahead of the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium. It’s a tip of the cap to former Nebraska football head coach Frank Solich, who wore the number 45 as a Husker player.
Nebraska football players and staff walk to Memorial Stadium during Unity Walk before the annual Red-White Spring Game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule walks up to Memorial Stadium during Unity Walk before the Red-White Spring Game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule walks up to Memorial Stadium during Unity Walk before the Red-White Spring Game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
Nebraska football players and staff walk to Memorial Stadium during Unity Walk before the annual Red-White Spring Game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
Nebraska players walk on the field before the Red-White Spring Game, Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule leads the team before the Red-White Spring Game, Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
Dark Clouds hang over Memorial Stadium ahead of the Red-White Spring Game, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
Rexton Gompert climbs The Legacy statue near the East Stadium entrance to get a better view of the team as he waits for the Unity Walk with his family ahead of the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
Reed Gompert climbs The Legacy statue near the East Stadium entrance as he waits for the Unity Walk with his family ahead of the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska quarterbacks Casey Thompson and Chubba Purdy (from left) laugh as the converse during the Unity Walk ahead of the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska football head coach Matt Rhule walks in the middle of the pack with his team during the Unity Walk ahead of the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
The Nebraska White team wears all white track suits as the participate in the Unity Walk ahead of the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska offensive linemen Ethan Piper during the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
The Nebraska offensive line readies themselves before a play in the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska quarterback Jeff Sims completes a pass in the third quarter of the Red-White Spring Game on April 22 at Memorial Stadium.
Hunter Sallis watches Nebraska football’s Red-White Spring Game along with men’s basketball coach Fred Hoiberg (right) on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
White Team’s Chief Borders (first left)stops Red Team’s Joshua Fleeks (center) dead in his tracks as he tries to push through the line in the first quarter during the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska quarterback Jeff Sims (14) jumps into the endzone for a touchdown during the Red-White Spring Game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
Nebraska quarterback Jeff Sims (14) jumps in for a touchdown as Zavier Betts (right) jumps on his shoulders to celebrate during the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska’s Marcus Washington (left) is defended by Syncere Safeeullah during the Red-White Spring Game, Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska’s Jeff Sims makes a throw during the Red-White Spring Game, Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule walks with the team during Red-White Spring Game, Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska quarterback Jeff Sims (14) celebrates with offensive lineman Ethan Piper (57) after scoring a touchdown during the Red-White Spring Game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
Dennis McGinty cheers on the Nebraska band before kickoff of the annual Red-White Spring Game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
The newest iteration of Herbie Husker was unveiled before the annual Red-White Game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
The newest iteration of Herbie Husker was unveiled before the annual Red-White Game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
Nebraska football runs on the field to kickoff the annual Red-White Game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
Nebraska football runs on the field to kickoff the annual Red-White Game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
Nebraska wide receiver Roman Mangini (26) holds up a heart to the crowd after the Red-White Spring Game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
Nebraska defensive back Myles Farmer (18) signs a football for fans after the Red-White Spring Game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
Nebraska defensive back Tamon Lynum (38) hands a fan his wristwrap as a hand extends out for a high five after the Red-White Spring Game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
Nebraska defensive back Javier Morton (25) reacts to fans after the Red-White Spring Game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
Nebraska linebacker Chief Borders (14) points to fans after the Red-White Game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
Nebraska fans cheer on the team after the Red-White Spring Game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
Nebraska’s Timmy Bleekrode makes a field goal during the Red-White Spring Game, Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska players enter Memorial Stadium before the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday.
Nebraska Athletic Director Trev Alberts (left) shares a laugh with former head coach Frank Solich after Solich received the game ball during Red-White Spring Game, Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
Herbie Husker enters Memorial Stadium on a motorcycle before the Red-White Spring Game, Saturday, April 22, 2023.
Red Team’s Blake Closman brings down White Team’s Billy Kemp IV on a run in the third quarter during the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
White Team’s Gabe Evrvin Jr. runs in a early touchdown in the first quarter during the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska offensove lineman Nouredin Nouili (right) battles Red Team’s Maverick Noonan to defend the quarteback in the during the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
Red Team’s Princewill Umanmielen celebrates after a fumble recovery by his team during the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska offensive linemen Nouredin Nouili (center) and Ethan Piper (right) block members of the Red Team during the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
White Team’s Braxton Clark, Rahmir Johnson and Quinton Newsome (from left) walk off the field together following the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
White Team’s Marcus Washington has a pass intended for him broken up by Red Team’s Syncere Safeeullah in the third quarter during the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska White Team quarterback Jeff Sims hands off the ball to Anthony Grant in the second quarter during the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
UNL President Ted Carter is seen on the sidelines during the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska Red Team quarterback Chubba Purdy runs the ball while chased by White Team’s Javin Wright in the fourth quarter during the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
Huskers sign autographs for fans following the conclusion of the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
White Team’s Grant Tagge recovers a fumble by Red Team’s Chubba Purdy in the third quarter during the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
Red Team’s Ru’Quan Buckley (88) is held back by offensive lineman Ethan Piper during the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska football head coach Matt Rhule is shown during the Red-White Spring Game on April 22 at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska quarterback Casey Thompson is seen on the sideline ahead of the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska’s Heinrich Haarberg throws the ball during the Red-White Spring Game, Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule looks to the sidelines during the Red-White Spring Game, Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska’s Shawn Hardy runs with the ball during the Red-White Spring Game, Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule wears his headphone during the Red-White Spring Game, Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
Herbie Husker is seen during Red-White Spring Game, Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska’s MJ Sherman (right) celebrates a defensive play next to teammate Javier Morton during Red-White Spring Game, Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
The Nebraska Huskers takes the field for the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska football head coach Matt Rhule walks onto the field as his team heads to their respective sidelines takes the field for the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
White Team’s Nate Boerkircher runs the ball while pursued by Red Team’s Omar Brown in the first quarter during the Red-White Spring Game on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
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