The Huskers have added a walk on transfer with some unique ties to Nebraska.
Nouredin Nouili announced recently that he would be transferring from Colorado State. Almost immediately speculation began that he would end up at Nebraska. He made it official on Friday morning via a tweet.
https://twitter.com/Nouri_73/status/1205525396176830464
Nouili, who is from Germany, graduated high school at Norris High. Hail Varsity caught up with him shortly after his announcement to see what led to his decision.
“The fact that I want to come home,” Nouili said. “My host brother [2020 walk on Ashton Hausmann] was working me as well. My coach leaving here kind of gave me the last push to say ok ‘this is what I want.’”
The transfer lineman is hoping to be immediately eligible this season. It’s not a done deal yet but he thinks there is a chance. After his conversation with coach Scott Frost this week, he is even more fired up to try to contribute early.
“I talked to him [Frost] on Tuesday night,” he explained. “It was pretty good. It’s always a pleasure to talk to a living legend. We talked about what I can expect the next few months and why I didn’t get a scholarship. He explained the process as well that I can get a scholarship as soon as I get there if I am able to contribute. That’s the plan. I want to contribute as quick as possible and help bring back the pipeline that we know.”
Last season Nouili got seven starts as a true freshman for Colorado State at left guard. The team had a tough year going 4-8 but played in a lot of tight games. How did a German-born offensive lineman end up graduating from Norris High School before heading to Colorado State?
“I had played two seasons there [in Germany] that I don’t really count as playing,” Nouili explained. “We practiced twice a week and you are coaching yourself up. There are more fans than coaches there. I played two seasons and enjoyed my time there. I went to our All-State team that we have there and played on that.
“I had a friend of mine ask if I wanted to try it in America, do a high school exchange year. I wanted to do an exchange year anyway. I think it widens your horizons. You can see a new culture and see the way they live life. I took the opportunity to play football here and seize the American dream. It was a hell of a journey and I loved every second of it.
Nouili was able to lean on his host family for advice. His parents back home don’t know much about American football. The Hausmann family helped him a lot and he enjoys being able to talk to them about everything. The lineman also counts former coach Mike Bobo as someone that he was able to get good advice from.
The new transfer also has some specific recall when asked what comes to mind when he thinks of the Pipeline.
“Toughness. Nastiness. Somebody who will knock you upside the head,” he said. “I want to be one of them. I want to be one of guys that brings back the tradition of the Nebraska offensive line. Of course, there are the Blackshirts as well and the defensive side but the offensive side is mostly known for the pipeline. Or I should say was known for it. I want to bring that tradition back and bring it back to the back-to-back national championship years.”
Nouili is finishing up finals at Colorado State and will return to Nebraska later this month. He will enroll at semester in January. To get a small taste of the kind of physicality Nouili plans to bring check out this clip from earlier this season.
WOWZERS!! @CSUFootball LG Nouili demonstrates that #PassProIsNotPassive. #FullSlab with white bread and extra sauce #Rams #CSURams #EDGE pic.twitter.com/HRyhswyj0T
— Aaron Taylor (@AaronTaylorCFB) September 25, 2019
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.
