Growing up, Matt Erickson attended almost every Nebraska football spring game.
In a couple years, he’ll have the opportunity to participate in the spring game himself as the junior offensive tackle from Millard North committed to the Huskers on Sept. 13 and will be joining the team he grew up watching come 2027.
“Since the day they offered me, I knew I wanted to be a Husker, but, my parents told me that I should enjoy the recruiting process as much as I can,” Erickson told Hail Varsity. “Over the past couple weeks, it’s just been, I feel like I really shouldn’t delay this any longer. So I just felt like I wanted to commit at a home game, and I felt like Houston Christian was a great game to do it at.”
The 6-foot-8, 280-pound lineman chose Nebraska over offers from Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State, Toledo, and Minnesota. He is a three-star recruit according to 247Sports. He’s their fourth-ranked player in Nebraska, 503rd in the nation and the 45th-ranked offensive tackle in his class.
Matt’s father, Mike Erickson, played for the Huskers as an offensive guard from 2000 to 2004. Mike was a three-year starter — two at left guard and one at left tackle. The Papillion-La Vista grad was an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection in 2003 and made 38 consecutive starts as a Husker.
Now, the younger Erickson is following in his father’s footsteps.
“(My inspiration is) really just to continue the legacy and just continue playing for what my dad played for,” Erickson said. “Now, I get to build my own legacy.”
Erickson said he started playing football in eighth grade, with his parents’ support.
“It was really my parents (who got me interested),” Erickson said. “Just growing up, always watching the game, them encouraging me that someday I’ll be able to play, and then starting in eighth grade, just them continuing to encourage me was just awesome.”
Erickson didn’t name a specific player that’s inspired him; rather, he learns from multiple players.
“I really try to model my game after some of the best in the NFL,” Erickson said. “Trying to copy certain techniques that certain guys do and then watching college guys and see how they develop, just trying to copy the stuff that they do, because they’re making it big.”
Offensive line coach Donovan Raiola is who Erickson will be learning from when he arrives in Lincoln. Raiola joined the Husker staff in 2022, after coaching for the Chicago Bears from 2018 to 2021.
Now, Erickson will learn from the former NFL coach.
“I’m hoping to learn anything that he’s ever learned, and that he can work with me to perfect my technique,” Erickson said.
Erickson said that he’s looking to take his game to the next level in a few different ways.
“Right now, really just what I’m trying to improve on is playing lower, and playing a little more aggressively,” Erickson said. “But then, at the next level, just perfecting my technique, and becoming as strong and as good of a player that I can.”
For now, Erickson will continue to play football for the Mustangs, but he is excited to play for his home state school in 2027.
“I’m looking forward to getting to play for the team that I grew up watching and getting to make steps to get into the final destination, which is the NFL.”
