Rocco Spindler has high hopes and expectations for Nebraska football’s offensive line in 2025.
The senior transfer guard from Notre Dame had a lot of success in his four years with the Fighting Irish, including playing in the national championship in January, and he wants to bring that same mentality to the Huskers.
“We have a lot of talented guys,” Spindler said after Thursday’s practice. “I think we just have to keep sharpening a lot of these edges, and this room can be the best o-line in the country. I believe we can win the Joe Moore award, and I think we will.”
Created in 2015, the Joe Moore Award is given to the best offensive line in college football each year. It is presented to the line that shows the most strength throughout the season, and Spindler thinks it belongs to Nebraska in 2025.
“Our main focus right now is to believe in the basics,” Spindler said. “Just with our technique, our preparation and then our process every single day. If we do that, we have a good chance to win that Joe Moore Award.”
Last season, injury issues impacted the offensive line’s depth, but with the addition of Spindler and senior tackle Teddy Prochazka and sophomore tackle Gunnar Gottula both returning from injury, offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen sees a lot of potential for Donovan Raiola’s unit.
“A lot better than I felt in January,” Holgorsen said of how he feels. “I looked out theire in January and said, ‘Jeez, this ain’t good.’ Now I look out there and say, “’OK, there are capable bodies that are able to play.’”
A great offense starts with the guys up front. Spindler believes that Holgorsen has done a great job of helping improve the line, which will help continue to develop star sophomore quarterback Dylan Raiola.
“The o-line sets the standard, sets the tempo, and then the rest of the unit follows suit,” Spindler said. “Everyone works with Dylan and he’s kind of the head of the snake, and we work with him because he’s the head of this, face of this program. I believe in him, he believes in us, and I love that guy. So Dana really trusts the o-line and trusts Dylan as well. So just building consistency, urgency, every single day, same mentality.”
With the amount of depth in this year’s offensive line room, it allows for a lot of competition going into the season. Spindler said that this is helping push each player to do their best to earn their starting spot on the team as camp continues.
“There’s competition every single day,” Spindler said. “There’s nothing set in stone. If you start to get lackadaisical, you’re being complacent. There’s urgency every day, just as our unit, the camaraderie and kind of the standard and tone we set for ourselves.”
Donovan Raiola has put an emphasis on bonding within the offensive line group. They’ve been spending a lot of time together discussing what has kept them going and just creating friendships. Spindler thinks that this will help them on the field.
“It’s kind of getting to know all the guys, all the o-line, working five as one,” Spindler said. “It’s been good. It’s been a lot of fun. Play video games, and guys go dominate on the field every day.”
It was a quick transition for Spindler coming from Notre Dame to Nebraska, but the senior said he’s happy to be a part of the Big Red and is looking forward to the start of the season.
“As soon as I signed the dotted line, this was my home,” Spindler said. “It did happen fast, there were a lot of moving parts, just getting over here. But now that I’ve settled in, settled down, my dog and I are enjoying the Lincoln area. It’s been really well for us.”
