Illinois lineman will walk-on at Nebraska

When Burlington (Ill.) Central defensive tackle Joel Lopez received the opportunity to walk-on at Nebraska it was a pretty easy decision.

The 6-foot-2, 275 pound Lopez was born in Nebraska and both of his parents attended the University of Nebraska. Lopez's mother is originally from Wilber, which is about 40 miles south of Lincoln.

Lopez has attended NU's summer football camps the past four years and the chance to play for Nebraska has been a lifelong dream.

"When they called and offered me a spot to walk-on I accepted right away," Lopez said. "I was pretty thrilled.

"I'm actually from Nebraska and I was born there. I've gone to their camp the past four years and I had a lot of fun when I went there and that's always been my dream. That's why I made my decision now."

As a senior Lopez was an all-area and all-conference selection for 5A Burlington Central, which sits about 40 to 50 miles West of Chicago.

Rocket head coach Rick Crabel described Lopez as the best two-way player on his team, as Lopez finished the season with 60 tackles, nine tackles for loss and two quarterback sacks to go along with nine catches for 94 yards as a tight end on offense.

"I don't know if his best years have come about," Crabel said. "He was a three-sport athlete at our school and he had torn up his knee at the end of his sophomore year playing baseball. He came back halfway through his junior year and finished up last year and he was probably our best two-way player playing as a defensive lineman and tight end. He's a big-bodied young man."

Lopez said he's excited to get the chance to work and develop in Nebraska's strength program, as he understands the road as a walk-on won't be easy.

"I'm strong, but I'm quick for my size," Lopez said when asked to describe his strengths. "I just know that at Nebraska if you work hard eventually you'll find your way on the field. I know I won't play right away, but with the weight program they have there I know it's going to be the best."

Crabel expects Lopez to really develop at NU once he puts his focus only on football.

"I think he has a lot of room to get bigger," Crabel said. "He's thick and he has a great work ethic in the weight room for us, but I think that could just possibly explode for him at the next level when he gets with people that are training him on a daily basis."

Lopez joins Flower Mound (Texas) offensive lineman Dustin Glaser as the first two confirmed walk-on recruits in Nebraska's class of 2013.