Game Program Senior Feature: Joel Lopez

Despite being from Illinois, Joel Lopez grew up in the stands of Memorial Stadium knowing he wanted to be a Husker. He even attended the Nebraska summer football camps all four years of his high school career. Despite being from Illinois, Joel Lopez grew up in the stands of Memorial Stadium knowing he wanted to be a Husker. He even attended the Nebraska summer football camps all four years of his high school career.

“I’ve always wanted to come here since I was a little kid,” Lopez said. “My mom is from Nebraska, and I just kind of grew up admiring them, and I just always wanted to be here.”

Lopez says joining on the team as a walk-on has shaped his entire experience.

“I mean it was a dream come true,” Lopez said. “I knew it was going to be a long road, and I loved every second of it. I wouldn’t change anything about it. I think there are things that you can take away from being a walk-on that you just kind of have to earn everything, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.” 

After graduation, the child, youth and family studies major plans to return home to Illinois to attend graduate school in Chicago, where he is going to be a graduate assistant for the University of Chicago football team and explore his passion for coaching. 

Lopez’s love for Nebraska goes beyond football and he’ll always have that, even a few states away.

“[My] favorite part is probably just being with this great group of guys and being part of the brotherhood and what people have done before us just kind of to play for them. I love that and just being a part of Nebraska in general.”