Report: Nouredin Nouili agrees to UDFA deal with New Orleans Saints

Former Nebraska Cornhuskers offensive lineman Nouredin Nouili has agreed to a deal with New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent, per report.

This past season, Nouili started in 11 games for the Huskers. He only missed one start, which was due to injury and was primarily used at left guard. In that spot, Nouili helped anchor a Nebraska offensive line than ranked second in the Big Ten in average rushing yards.

He did not play in the 2020 and 2022 seasons, but was a regular member of the offensive line rotation as a sophomore in 2021, where he started the last seven games of the season. That season, Nouili was put on scholarship by then head coach Scott Frost.

The biggest headline Nouili made during his Nebraska career was a surprising one. In 2022, it was announced that he would miss the entire 2022 season due to a failed drug test. His suspension came before the Scott Frost era came to an end in Lincoln, but was allowed to return to the team after Matt Rhule took over in 2023.

During his first media availability after being suspended, Nouili explained what he went through to get back onto the field ahead of his final collegiate season and put the unfortunate situation behind him.

“The day I found out I wasn’t allowed to play this past year was one of the hardest days of my life,” he said at the time. “And I’ve not only hurt this team and the fans, I hurt my family, and I can assure you I hated myself more than anyone else did. My parents have never been able to watch me play in person, and that broke me.

“This past year was hard for everyone on this team, for all the coaches that have come and gone, for all the people that have come and gone, for all the people that have watched us, for everyone. This university has given me the opportunity to play at the highest level, and I messed that up. Now that I’m back, I promise you and everyone out there that I would rather die on the field than have to watch another minute from the sideline.”

Taking accountability for one’s actions is a strong quality to have. Whether that helped the New Orleans Saints ultimately seek out Nouili’s services is up for debate, but he certainly will try to make the most of this opportunity to make the team’s 53-man roster this offseason.