Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 49-21vs Ohio | 2 | 2 | 1.0 | 1.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 2 tackles |
| Wk 2 | W 56-7vs Bowling Green | 2 | 1 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Total | 4 | 3 | 2.0 | 1.0 | — | 0 |
#5
Riley Van Poppel
Junior defensive tackle for Nebraska. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′5″ · 295 lb · Argyle, TX · Argyle
CFB Index 36 · #291 of 420 edge rushersLow confidenceReturning to Nebraska for 2026
CFB Index
A single number blending on-field production (an EPA-based value lane) with box-score output for this player's position.
0-100, scaled within each position's own cohort — not directly comparable across positions.
The numbers
1
sack · 2026
2 TFL · 4 tackles
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 1 sacks, 1 TFL, 2 tackles, vs Ohio
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
3 defensive tackle for Nebraska. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 4-star recruit to Nebraska in 2023.
Riley Van Poppel
Wins his gap play after play. This is his fourth year in the same defensive front at Nebraska. The receipt: 2 tackles, 1 TFL against Bowling Green — Week 2, 2026.
4 TACKLES · 1 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- seasons on the roster
- game log
His career
He was on the field for 4 seasons. That is rarer than it sounds.
20236 games
- Signed with Nebraska4-star out of Argyle
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★★
CFB
College
Nebraska
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2023–2026
1 coach2023–2026
Nebraska
Played his entire career under Matt Rhule.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
4 seasons under Matt Rhule — 21-19 over that span.
2023Nebraska5-7HC: Matt Rhule · Run-heavy, slow tempo
2024Nebraska7-6HC: Matt Rhule · Balanced
2025Nebraska7-6HC: Matt Rhule · Run-leaning
2026Nebraska2-0HC: Matt Rhule · Run-leaning
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Medium confidence
Elite: sacks (87th percentile). Strength: tackles for loss (85th percentile). Concern: tackles (0th percentile).
Box-score production (6)
Percentiles are versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score production. There are no play-by-play efficiency bars here: CFBD's play-value model credits offensive players only, so no defensive EPA exists to rank.
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 2 games: 2.0 TKL/g, 1.0 TFL/g, 0.5 SACK/g, 0.0 PD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Matt Rhule
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2025
Rotational
Tackle volume for the position in rotation-piece range.
Recognition
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Production · CFB Index Score
36 · #291 of 420 edge rushers
Former four-star. Now #291 at the position.
2026 outlook
Outside shot for All-Big Ten
Based on 2025: #49 of 69 Big Ten DLs
How the All-Big Ten estimate is computed
15% estimated, 95% confidence interval 13–17%. Base rate measured from players who finished at a comparable rank in their conference and came back the next season. It is an estimate from a small sample, not a forecast of this player.
Career stats
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2026
W 56–7
2 TOT · 1 SOLO · 1 TFL
Dominant 49-point win at home against Bowling Green.
With A. Colandrea — 222 yds · 4 TD · 1 INT · QBR 52.8 · 33 rush yds (4 car) · J. Barney Jr. — 8 rec · 115 yds · 2 TD
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Stout at the point of attack — steady tackle-for-loss production without a standout pass-rush number.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Nebraska
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Defensive tackle · Nebraska
Returning around him
- 1 Nebraska player drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -2 net (17 in / 19 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Nebraska · Last season: 7-6 (AP #25) · Talent rank #22 · 2026 recruiting class #88
DNA match
Player DNA
Two-Gap Base
Stout at the point of attack — steady tackle-for-loss production without a standout pass-rush number.
IDL
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Tavion Gadson’s 2025 season.
92%match
Matches Tavion on
Class year
Sack rate
Weight
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to Lucas Conti's junior season at UNLV (2025).
76%match
Matches Lucas on
Class year
Weight
TFL rate
Differs from Lucas on
Hurry rate (higher)
Player DNA
Players who play like Riley Van Poppel
The defensive line · Nebraska
- #93Kade Pietrzak6 tackles for loss · 2025
- #96Williams Nwaneri5 tackles for loss · 2025
- #44Jahsear Whittington3.5 tackles for loss · 2025
- #5Riley Van Poppel2.5 tackles for loss · 2025
- #11Cameron Lenhardt2.5 tackles for loss · 2025
16 more on the roster · Nebraska team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology