LINCOLN, NEB. - Without Nebraska's strong defensive efforts, Saturday's 14-7 win over Rutgers may not happen. 

Time and time again, the Blackshirts put up a brick wall against the Scarlet Knights, from a goal line stand, to holding Rutgers to just 2.4 yards per attempt on the ground. A major part of those efforts was defensive lineman James Williams. 

Head Coach Matt Rhule largely credits Williams' level of play to his redshirt year last season. 

"James Williams goes out and has a big game statistically... Last year, we made the big decision, and hard decision to redshirt him," Rhule said. "Now you see a much much more developed player in my mind."

Williams, a Missouri native, transferred to Nebraska in the summer of 2023 after starting his college career at Iowa Western. 

In the win over the Scarlet Knights, Williams got after the quarterback eight times, sacking Athan Kaliakmanis twice in the second half. 

"I just know James, his heart, who he is as a person he's a really really wonderful young man... My kids love him, my dogs love him, he just has that kind of a heart," Rhule said. "I think Terrance [Knighton] has done a great job in that room creating a brotherhood, a camaraderie where they cheer for each other. I'm proud of James, he's doing well in school, socially, he's a really good dude."

Nebraska is on bye week this week, but takes on #18 Indiana on Oct. 19 in Bloomington. 

Announced Monday, Nebraska's contest with the Hoosiers is FOX's Big Noon Kickoff, and will begin at 11:00 a.m. CT.