Honors & Awards
» Big Ten Distinguished Scholar (2021, 2022, 2023)
» Academic All-Big Ten (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)
» Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll (Fall 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022; Spring 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)
» Sam Foltz 27 Hero Leadership Award (2021)
» Brook Berringer Citizenship Team (2021, 2022, 2023)
» Tom Osborne Citizenship Team (2021, 2022, 2023)
2023 (Junior)
Ethan Piper started each of the first seven games at left guard before suffering a season-ending injury against Northwestern. His play helped Nebraska rank second in the Big Ten in rushing.
Piper was selected in the first round of team voting to receive a single-digit numbers as one of Nebraska's "toughest" players, but NCAA rules prohibit offensive linemen from wearing a single-digit number.
2022 (Sophomore)
Piper played in 10 games with eight starts in 2022. He saw action on the offensive line in the season opener against Northwestern and against No. 6 Oklahoma. He earned his first start of the season at left guard against Indiana and started the final eight games at the position
His work on the line helped Trey Palmer set the Nebraska single-season receiving yardage record (1,043), while Anthony Grant rushed for the most yards (915) by a Husker since 2018.
2021 (Redshirt Freshman)
Piper played in five games in 2021, including starting the first three games at left guard. Against Fordham, Piper helped Nebraska total 300 yards rushing and 300 yards passing in the same game for only the third time in program history.
2020 (Covid Season)
Piper played in all eight games as a redshirt freshman, starting the final seven games at left guard. Piper saw action on special teams and on the offensive line in the season opener at No. 5 Ohio State before making his first career start at left guard at Northwestern. He helped Nebraska total 620 yards of offense at Rutgers and was a big reason why the Huskers ranked second in the Big Ten in rushing offense in 2020.
2019 (Redshirt)
Piper redshirted in his first season at Nebraska. He played in one game as a true freshman, playing on the offensive line in the Huskers' win at Maryland. As the second of three Husker true freshman offensive linemen to play in 2019, Piper became only the 13th true freshman offensive lineman to play in a game in school history.
Before Nebraska (Norfolk Catholic HS)
Piper was one of the top prep players in the state of Nebraska after being a dominant presence for Norfolk Catholic and Coach Jeff Bellar. As a senior, Piper’s blocking paved the way for a powerful Norfolk Catholic offense and record-setting rushing attack. Defensively, he recorded 120 tackles, including 14 sacks. His play helped the Knights to an 11-2 record and a runner-up finish in the Class C-2 playoffs. Piper earned All-Nebraska honors as a defensive lineman from the Omaha World-Herald and was a Lincoln Journal Star Super-State pick as an offensive lineman. He was also an honorary captain of the Class C-2 all-state team by both publications.
Piper’s excellent play in 2017 helped Norfolk Catholic to a perfect 13-0 record and a Class C-1 state title. Piper was an All-Nebraska and Super-State selection as an offensive lineman during his junior season. As a sophomore, Piper helped the Knights to a state playoff appearance and earned first-team Class C-1 all-state honors as an offensive lineman from the Omaha World-Herald.
Piper also excelled on the hardwood and in track and field. He captured the Class C shot put title as a junior and was second in the discus before finishing as the runner-up in both events as a senior. He was a four-year member of the varsity basketball team and a three-time honorable-mention all-state choice. Piper averaged 13.5 points and 7.6 rebounds per game as a junior and 15.2 points and 8.0 rebounds per game as a senior.
Piper was a three-star prospect regarded among the top five players in Nebraska by both Rivals and 247Sports, which also ranked him among the top 90 defensive line prospects in the nation. Piper chose Nebraska over offers from Iowa and Ohio.
Personal
Ethan is the son of Les and Leisa Piper, and he was born on March 11, 2001. He is majoring in science education and is on track to graduate in May of 2024. Ethan took part in Nebraska Athletics’ No Filter Service Abroad trip to Panama in 2023 and has also volunteered his time as part of the leadership team for the Nebraska Football Road Race, the Huskers’ Day of Service, Husker Heroes, the Lincoln Marathon and Thanksgiving hospital visits.