The right-hander from western Wisconsin announced his commitment to the Huskers on Sunday, less than a week after receiving an offer during a visit to Lincoln that left no doubt about his future home.

“You can tell the coaches have a real relationship with the players and the players wanted to be there,” Pankonin said. “I really appreciate that because sometimes coaches think they are way above the players. I liked everything from the facilities to the coaches to the relationships to the culture. Everything was exactly what I wanted from a school.”

Pankonin seemed to be on his way to a normal routine as a hard-throwing sophomore with an offer from Iowa and interest from TCU and others. A pars fracture in a vertebra in his lower back in the spring of 2023 derailed that, requiring him to wear a brace for five months and train without a phone for four more months into last winter.

A strong spring season with River Falls High School — in Hudson, just across the St. Croix River from St. Paul, Minn. — and a summer showcase brought back Division I coaches. Nebraska saw Pankonin at a showcase event last month. He had already visited Arizona and Arizona State, with Kansas State and South Florida on his list. Florida has also talked to him, he said.

Schools liked his story of overcoming a setback, he said. They liked the relatively low mileage of his arm because of the injury and because he lives in the Midwest. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound player throws a fastball up to 90 mph and ride, as well as a slider and a split changeup.

Pankonin is also a former alpine ski racer who, as a young boy, was one of the country’s best in his age group in the giant slalom – “I did pretty well,” he said.

The Huskers’ class of 2025 now has 16 commitments after receiving their third commitment this month. NU also received three 2026 commitments during that time period.

“I’m so glad the coaches at Nebraska gave me this opportunity,” Pankonin said. “I’m excited to make it happen.”