The Huskers’ 2023 recruiting class just got bigger.
That’s what happened when Texas defensive lineman Riley Van Poppel committed to the program on Monday. He announced his decision on Twitter.
COMMITTED. GO BIG RED‼️☠️☠️🌽🌽 @toddrodgers13 @Coach_Lundy @coach_frost @coachdawsgbr @CoachChinander @BryanApplewhite @SeanDillonNU @HuskerFBNation @Nebraska247 @TEP5252 @BHoward_11 pic.twitter.com/oaq10fXAI6
— Riley Van Poppel (@Riley_VanPoppel) June 13, 2022
Van Poppel (6-4, 270) was at Nebraska for an official visit over this past weekend. He didn’t do interviews after that visit but all indications were that he came away very impressed by his second trip to Nebraska. His first trip to Lincoln came during the spring. Van Poppel came away from that trip impressed by defensive front coach Mike Dawson.
“I’ve talked to him on the phone, text and all that stuff but getting to see him actually coach was eye opening to me,” Van Poppel said at the time. “I got to sit in a meeting with him, watch how he goes through meetings. I got to stand on the field. I got to watch how he coaches in live action so I loved seeing that.”
Defensive coordinator Erik Chinander and running backs coach Bryan Applewhite were also involved in his recruitment. The Texas defender is the first defensive lineman in the 2023 recruiting class for the Huskers. He could play either 3-4 defensive end or 4-3 defensive tackle at the college level. We just have to see which type of defense the Huskers plan on playing. The program has played more and more 4-3 during the time coach Scott Frost has been leading the program.
The team re-tooled the position group with transfers this offseason so young players are needed at the position for the program to develop. The Huskers did a nice job of identifying Van Poppel early in the process before he got up to over 20 scholarship offers.
He took an official visit the first weekend of June to Tennessee before taking a trip to Nebraska. There was a trip scheduled to Michigan at the end of the month but that trip is canceled now.
The defender is the eighth commitment of the 2023 recruiting class for Nebraska. He’s only the second defensive player joining Florida defensive back Dwight Bootle.
Greg is the Recruiting Analyst for Hail Varsity and has covered Husker athletics since 2013. He has always had a passion for sports while growing up in the Chicago area. As he got older and had to hang up his cleats and sneakers, he realized his passion for sports went beyond just watching and attending games. He has covered many events from the Rose Bowl to championship boxing matches. If he’s not talking sports, he’s hovering over his grill. He is married to an amazing woman, Kim, and they have a dog that barks when Greg yells at the TV during games.
