Predicting who will lead Nebraska football in sacks in 2024

One thing that has become clear during Nebraska football fall camp is that the Huskers’ defensive line is deep, talented, and ready to be dominant in 2024.

To be fair, the Huskers were dominant up front last season. They had one of the best run defenses in college football and ranked 18th in scoring defense.

Nash Hutmacher and Ty Robinson played a huge role in that. Hutmacher had 4.5 sacks last season in addition to eight tackles for loss and 40 total stops. Nebraska football had 32 sacks total, which was good enough for fifth in the Big Ten.

However, no individual had more than 5.5 sacks. Jimari Butler led the Huskers with 5.5. Luke Reimer was right behind him with five. Reimer has graduated. Butler is back and as I wrote last month, he’s one of the most underrated players on the roster.

Who will lead Nebraska football in sacks this season?

Butler could easily lead Nebraska football in sacks again. But Hutmacher, Robinson, Cameron Lenhardt, James Williams, and Princewill Umanmielen could too. Between Lenhardt, Williams, and Umanmielen, those guys had six sacks (an average of two per player) in their first season with the program.

Williams, a 6-foot-6 defensive lineman also getting snaps at defensive tackle, flashed in just four games last season (two sacks). But now, he seems poised to be Nebraska’s best pass rusher.

Lenhardt and Umanmielen should take steps forward too, along with Butler. So who will lead Nebraska football in sacks this season?

Huskers’ sack leader could be a former walk-on

My money right now is on James Williams. He talked on Tuesday about how he’s better against the run, which could mean more snaps and more chances to rush the passer.

I love the idea of him bumping inside. Butler will be hard to surpass this season. I also think Lenhardt and Umanmielen have a good shot to get five sacks apiece. Hell, you can make the case that Nash could get at least five sacks too, which would give the Huskers five different players in that category.

Keona Davis is a freshman who could make an impact this season too. Williams talked him up on Tuesday too as just about every coach/defender has in recent weeks.

The pass rush should be fierce though and so will the competition to lead Nebraska football in sacks. Williams is my prediciton for now, but Butler and Lenhardt are right there and in total, this defense should be closer to 40 sacks in 2024 than 30.

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