JD PicKell: Ochaun Mathis changes the complexion of Nebraska's defense

This offseason, the Nebraska Cornhuskers went out and snagged former TCU edge rusher Ochaun Mathis through the transfer portal. During a recent edition of the Hard Count, On3’s J.D PicKell revealed just how important Mathis will be to the Cornhuskers’ defensive efforts in 2022.

“Looking at the defense and last year, Nebraska’s pass-rush was relatively non existent. I mean, then they were 86th in the country in terms of sack percentage – but this coming season, they beefed up a little bit wins the portal after losing some guys on the defensive line they didn’t expect to lose,” PicKell said. “[They] came out [and added] Stephon Wynn from Alabama, Devin Drew from Texas Tech, Both guys that have played at the Power Five level guys that should add a boost to that defensive line.

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“And then the guy that I’m really watching – the guy that I think this whole conversation is centered around is Ochaun Mathis transferred from TCU to Nebraska. A lot of people thought he was going to go to Texas, Nebraska sneaks in at the last second, gets him on a visit, get him to Lincoln, and he is going to be someone that changes the complexion of the way that teams try and attack Nebraska because Ochaun Mathis – you have to at least consider double teaming him … You have to give him more attention because he’s coming off the edge, he’s a freak show.”

Mathis burst onto the scene in 2020 with a breakout season for the Horned Frogs where he recorded 46 total tackles alongside nine sacks and a forced fumble. His production would maintain in 2021, and the Cornhuskers believe Mathis will be an integral piece to their new-look defensive line.

In 2020 Mathis had a breakout year at TCU. He went on to record 46 total tackles, 25 solo, nine sacks, and a forced fumble. However, Mathis’s production dropped off the following season, much like the rest of the Horned Frogs team. He finished the 2021 campaign with similar numbers for stats and solo tackles, 45 and 30, but only recorded four sacks on the season.

“He’s got really good speed, he gets to the quarterback consistently … ” So with the guys [Nebraska] beefed up on this defensive line, adding Ochaun Mathis is a key ingredient to just throwing a whole other wrinkle into what teams have to now do when they play in Nebraska.

Will Nebraska be a top-10 defense? PicKell isn’t ready to go that far, yet. Instead, he predicts the Cornhuskers’ pass rush will be far more productive than they were one year ago.