Cameron Lenhardt's rapid rise at Nebraska continues as season nears
Cameron Lenhardt has been catching attention since he arrived on campus as an early-enrollee true freshman this spring.
That hasn’t changed a bit for the former four-star defensive end, with his first Nebraska fall camp now winding down. In fact, depending on how the final week of camp shakes out, Lenhardt could be a Day 1 starter for the Huskers’ season opener at Minnesota.
Head coach Matt Rhule turned the dial up on Lenhardt’s hype following NU’s second fall scrimmage on Saturday. When asked about releasing a Week 1 depth chart, Rhule pointed to the defensive end battle between Lenhardt and fourth-year sophomore Blaise Gunnerson as an example of competitions that were still neck and neck.
“I couldn’t tell you who’s the starter, Cam Lenhardt or Blaise Gunnerson,” Rhule said. “The answer is yes, they’re both starters.”
Lenhardt caught Rhule’s eye immediately
The 6-foot-3, 250-pound native of Staten Island, New York, immediately impressed in his first Nebraska practices this spring and hasn’t slowed down since.
A high school All-American at prep power IMG Academy, NU immediately threw Lenhardt into the fire with first-team practice reps. Along with holding his own on the field, he also carried himself like a seasoned veteran.
For a coach like Rhule, who values dependability almost as much as any trait in a player, Lenhardt quickly vaulted into his favor.
“Cam’s been fantastic since he got here,” Rhule said. “He’s an old soul, mature beyond his years, and an excellent player. He’s going to play a ton of football for us.”
Lenhardt’s teammates echo early praise
Rhule hasn’t been the only one impressed with Lenhardt’s rapid acclimation to the next level at Nebraska. Fifth-year junior Ty Robinson, the leader of NU’s defensive line, agreed that Lenhardt was different than most true freshmen.
“I really like Cam Lenhardt,” Robinson said earlier in fall camp. “I think he’s got a lot of potential here, especially for this season.”
Newly-added Georgia linebacker transfer M.J. Sherman has seen plenty of elite defensive talent over his career. He didn’t hesitate either in expressing trust in Lenhardt — as well as fellow freshman edge Princewill Umanmielen — taking on an immediate role.
“I look at them as someone who can line up and do the same job every time,” Sherman said. “They’re accountable. They’re trustworthy… Princewill and Cam, there’s a lot I could say about those guys, but I don’t want to stand here too long.”
Starter or not, Lenhardt should be a factor in 2023
Whether Nebraska names him a starter on its opening depth chart or not, Lenhardt has positioned himself to be a fixture on the defense this season.
The next test in that path begins this week. He and the rest of NU’s true freshmen must now juggle the responsibilities of football and academics with the start of the fall semester this week.
Based on what Rhule has seen over the past eight months, there appears to be little concern about Lenhardt’s trajectory slowing down any time soon.
“Cam comes from a great family, first and foremost,” Rhule said. “So, I know he was certainly raised with standards. And I think going away (to IMG), there’s a level of independence… I think the people at IMG do a tremendous job with their sports psychology and all those different things.
“He gets here, and he’s talking about neutrality and all these high-end things, so he’s been trained.”
