Nebraska’s fall atmosphere is already doing work on the recruiting trail, and Sam Hirschy sounds like he wants to see it for himself.
The 2028 defensive lineman, who picked up an offer from the Huskers earlier this month, told Tim Verghese of Rivals that the chance to experience Lincoln on a game day is what has him most interested in the program. “I know that they got some of the best fans in the country for college football,” he said. “I can’t wait to see the fans and the atmosphere in a game in the fall.”
Hirschy isn’t a prospect who has spent years locked in on Nebraska. He’s said he doesn’t know a ton about the program yet, but that hasn’t stopped the Huskers from landing on his radar. What he wants to see is simple: Memorial Stadium full, loud and alive on a Saturday in the fall.
The 6-foot-4, 258-pound defensive lineman from New Palestine High School in New Palestine, Indiana, is a three-star recruit with a profile that’s still taking shape. Rivals Industry Rankings list him as the No. 267 player in the 2028 class, the No. 25 player at his position and the No. 5 player in Indiana. The 247Sports Composite has him a bit lower, placing him at No. 500 nationally, No. 51 among defensive linemen and No. 7 in the state.
That gap says plenty about where Hirschy stands right now: talented, productive and still flying a little under the radar. As more eyes get on the 2028 class, those rankings figure to move closer together.
On the field, Hirschy has already put together a strong start to his high school career. During his 2025 sophomore season, he posted 63 tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, one pass breakup and one forced fumble. Through two varsity seasons, he has 85 tackles, 23.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, one pass breakup and one forced fumble.
Nebraska is in the mix with a long list of programs already on his offer sheet. Auburn, Bowling Green, Buffalo, California, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Miami (OH), Missouri, Purdue, Tennessee, Toledo, UConn, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech and Wisconsin have all offered as well. For now, though, the Huskers may have a real shot to make an impression before the race gets even more crowded.
That could change quickly if Indiana or Notre Dame get involved. Neither has offered yet, and once they do, the picture could look very different.
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