Five Defensive Players to Watch in Nebraska's Red-White Spring Game
While most fans will be focused on Nebraska’s offense and quarterbacks, several notable players are also on the other side of the ball.
Here are five defensive players to keep an eye on during Saturday’s Red-White Spring Game…
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Vincent Shavers Jr., LB, Fr.
No defensive freshman has made an immediate impact quite like Vincent Shavers Jr. The Miami, Florida, native has opened eyes with his play in practice, but he’s also impressed with his maturity and business-like approach. He still has plenty of work to do this offseason, but Shavers is quickly putting himself firmly in the conversation for playing time this fall.
Blye Hill, CB, So.
One of the biggest question marks on Nebraska’s defense entering the spring was who would fill the starting cornerback role opposite Tommi Hill. It didn’t take long for junior college transfer Blye Hill to vault to the forefront of that discussion this spring. The 6-foot-3, 185-pound sophomore brings size, length, and ball skills that have him as the projected No. 2 corner going into the summer.
Chief Borders, LB, Jr.
After a relatively quiet debut last season, Chief Borders has made his presence felt in a big way this spring. The former Florida transfer has been one of Nebraska’s most effective edge rushers in practice, as his speed and quickness at 6-4, 245, have made him a unique weapon for Tony White. Borders emerged as one of NU’s top leaders last year, and now he appears ready to be equally valuable on the field in 2024.
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Marques Buford Jr., S, Jr.
A significant knee injury toward the end of the 2022 season derailed a promising start to Marques Buford Jr.’s Nebraska career. He missed nearly all of the last offseason and the first eight games of 2023. He appeared in the final four contests to preserve his redshirt, and the DeSoto, Texas, native reminded everyone of his potential. Now, he’s ready to pick up where he left off as a fixture on NU’s defense.
Riley Van Poppel, DL, So.
Riley Van Poppel burst onto the scene last season by playing in 11 games as a true freshman. He only posted five tackles, a TFL, and a half sack, but the former Argyle, Texas, standout showed flashes of his potential. Van Poppel has already added 10-15 pounds of muscle since last season and hopes to play at around 290. His goal is to eventually take the reigns as Nebraska’s next dominant defensive tackle, and that path will continue on Saturday.
