Nebraska’s defense enters the 2024 season with high expectations. While some may have had their doubts about Tony White’s 3-3-5 defense, its performance in 2023 proved those doubters wrong.
Nebraska finished last season in the Top 15 in scoring defense and total defense. White, though, has made it clear that this year’s unit hasn’t accomplished anything yet.
I’ve said this from day one and I’ll say it until the end of the season. This group of guys, they haven’t done anything. This group together, we have not done anything yet. It’s like building a building. It starts with the little things and making sure they know what to do, they know how to do it. Then, reinforcing, not only coach to player, but player to player.
The defensive coordinator was rewarded for his unit’s work; during the offseason, he renegotiated his contract, which increased his salary from $1 million to $1.6 million per year.
The Cornhuskers were recently listed as one of the eight strongest defenses heading into 2024, according to 247Sports. Scroll below to see where Nebraska ranks.
1
Michigan
Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Scoring Defense: 10.4 ppg (No. 1 overall)
Total Defense: 247 ypg (No. 1 overall)
Run Defense: 90 ypg (No. 5 overall)
2
Ohio State
Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch
Scoring Defense: 11.2 ppg (No. 2 overall)
Total Defense: 265 ypg (No. 3 overall)
Run Defense: 119.5 (No. 27 overall)
3
Iowa
Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Scoring Defense: 14.7 ppg (No. 4 overall)
Total Defense: 282 ypg (No. 7 overall)
Run Defense: 111.8 ypg (No. 15 overall)
4
Oregon
James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
Scoring Defense: 16.5 ppg (No. 9 overall)
Total Defense: 318 ypg (No. 22 overall)
Run Defense: 102.6 ypg (No. 10 overall)
5
Georgia
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Scoring Defense: 15.6 ppg (No. 5 overall)
Total Defense: 289 ypg (No. 9 overall)
Run Defense: 113.6 ypg (No. 18 overall)
6
Clemson
Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
Scoring Defense: 21 ppg (No. 29 overall)
Total Defense: 287 ypg (No. 8 overall)
Run Defense: 114.6 ypg (No. 22 overall)
7
Notre Dame
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Scoring Defense: 15.92 ppg (No. 7 overall)
Total Defense: 276 ypg (No. 5 overall)
Run Defense: 119 ypg (No. 26 overall)
8
Nebraska
Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports
Scoring Defense: 18.25 ppg (No. 13 overall)
Total Defense: 303 ypg (No. 11 overall)
Run Defense: 92.9 ypg (No. 8 overall)