Nebraska football enjoying its reinforcements on defensive line after thin spring

Terrance Knighton is just happy to see his position room full. Injuries and roster turnover hit Nebraska's defensive line harder than other positions over the offseason, leaving the unit thin during spring camp.
That's not the case anymore. Reinforcements arrived in the summer, helping shape a unit that enters the season, for better or worse, an unknown commodity. The Husker D-line lacks personnel who have played significant Big Ten football. What it does have is a handful of intriguing pieces whose impact and abilities won't be revealed until the season begins in August, Knighton explained on his radio appearance on "Sports Nightly" on Tuesday.
Within the newness and unfamiliarity, Knighton has tried to keep things loose in his position room. Players can stress on the field, he said. Meetings among the group should be more laid back.
“We’re a fun group,” Knighton said. “We enjoy what we do. The guys love each other. Our meeting room is our man cave, where guys can come in. They can be themselves. They can speak freely. No one takes anything personally. I coach them hard, but at the end of the day it’s a brotherhood, just like any other room.”
The group’s collective youth means many of the players’ bodies aren’t as ready for Power Five college football as those of other positions. Princewill Umanmielen and Cameron Lenhardt, the two early enrollees, said they had gained weight by the end of spring camp. Knighton mentioned sophomore Ru’Quan Buckley had “transformed” his body over the offseason. Kai Wallin, a junior college transfer, has put on 25 to 30 pounds. Nash Hutmacher, one of the few veterans, has lost weight as he enters what will likely be his second year of significant playing time.
Red-White Spring Game, 4.22
Nebraska running back Gabe Ervin (left) reaches for a loose fumble next to defensive lineman Cameron Lenhardt (91) during the Red-White Spring Game on April 22 at Memorial Stadium.
Journal Star file photo
Providing the most experience is fifth-year junior Ty Robinson. The Arizona native started every game in 2022, recording 24 tackles and two sacks. Limited in the spring by a shoulder injury, he’s been full-go at summer workouts, where his healthy shoulders handle both the demands of preparing for a new season and a higher expectation of leadership as the lineman who has played the most college football.
“He’s a guy that wants to be a pro, so I hold him to that standard,” Knighton said. “Being able to prepare for games, prepare for practice, prepare for the day and at the same time bring the young guys with him. So I think he’s doing a great job, and I’m excited to see him play.”
Beyond the new faces like Wallin, Umanmielen, Lenhardt and Texas A&M transfer Elijah Jeudy, Blaise Gunnerson is a candidate to see more action in 2023. Gunnerson saw limited action on defense and special teams a year ago but impressed in spring ball. A microcosm of the entire unit, the talent and intrigue are there for the redshirt sophomore. The experience isn’t, and the results in the fall are anybody’s guess.
“The good thing about Blaise is he has higher a standard for himself than anybody else has,” Knighton said. “You can see that at times I gotta help him back a bit and take a deep breath. He’s a guy who wants to go out there and do well all the time. Once he gets into his comfort zone as a leader and as a player, he’s gonna make a lot of plays for us.”