Seven straight losing seasons can take its toll, and, for the second time in five years, Nebraska football did not have a former player selected in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Seven rounds passed over Thursday, Friday and Saturday without a team calling the name of a Husker. Safety Omar Brown was projected by some mock NFL Drafts to go in the 6th or 7th round, but he, like the rest of his former teammates, had to sign NFL free agent deals.
It’s the first time since 2019 — and only the second time in more than 60 years — that a Husker hasn’t been picked in the NFL Draft. In 2019, Nebraska was also coming off the first of a new coach — Scott Frost at the time. On Thursday, current NU coach Matt Rhule, who just completed his first year, said players would eventually get drafted, but did not guarantee one would be picked on Saturday.
Several potential 2024 picks, such as defensive tackle Ty Robinson and offensive tackle Bryce Benhart, chose to return to Nebraska for another season.
After none were picked in the 2024 NFL Draft, several former Huskers signed free agent contracts with professional teams Saturday evening.
According to player confirmations or media reports, the following NU players signed deals:
» Safety Omar Brown signed a contract with the Broncos.
» Interior offensive lineman Nouredin Nouili signed a contract with the Saints.
» Safety Phalen Sanford signed a contract with the Raiders.
»Anthony Grant signed a contract with the Buccaneers.
»Cornerback Quinton Newsome signed a free agent contract with the Broncos.
»Long snapper Marco Ortiz received a minicamp invite from the Chargers.
»Receiver Billy Kemp received a minicamp invite from the Giants.
Photos: Nebraska football spring game
Nebraska's Maurice Mazzccua (33) runs the ball during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Keelan Smith (86) makes a catch in front of Nebraska's D'Andre Barnes (35) during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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A look inside Memorial Stadium during the spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule motions during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Dylan Raiola (15) throws the ball during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Blye Hill (23) is evaluated for an injury during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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The Nebraska offensive and defensive lines line up during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Ollie Clark, 7, throws a football prior to the Nebraska football spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska players take the field for the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Fans hold up their shoes for the kickoff of the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Dante Dowdell (23) makes a catch during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Dylan Raiola (15) runs the ball during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Dylan Raiola (15) hands the ball off to Nebraska's Emmett Johnson (21) during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Emmett Johnson (21) runs the ball during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Emmett Johnson (21) runs the ball past D'Andre Barnes (35) and Micah Mazzccua (56) during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Daniel Kaelin (12) throws the ball during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Heinrich Haarberg (10) fakes the handoff during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Dylan Raiola (15) during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Dylan Raiola (15) looks to throw during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska athletic director Troy Dannen during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska athletic director Troy Dannen during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska fans watch on during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Kwinten Ives (28) runs the ball during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Jacory Barney Jr. (89) runs the ball during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Jacory Barney Jr. (89) runs the ball during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Jacory Barney Jr. (89) is tackled by Nebraska's Tristan Alvano (30) during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Demitrius Bell (11) is carted off the field after an apparent injury during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Isaiah Neyor (18) runs the ball during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Heinrich Haarberg (10) runs the ball during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Blye Hill (23) is evaluated for an injury during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Maurice Mazzccua (33) runs the ball against Ethan Nation (28) during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska defensive coordinator Tony White during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Stefon Thompson (56) blocks Nebraska's Willis McGahee IV (17) during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Dylan Raiola (15) throws the ball during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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A look Memorial Stadium during the spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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A look inside Memorial Stadium during the spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Daniel Kaelin (12) takes the snap during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule stands on the field during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Daniel Kaelin (12) throws the ball during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Dante Dowdell (23) runs the ball during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Luke Longval (19) throws the ball during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Keelan Smith (86) makes a catch during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Rex Guthrie (12) stops Keelan Smith (86) during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Keelan Smith (86) makes a catch in front of Nebraska's D'Andre Barnes (35) during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Keelan Smith (86) makes a catch in front of Nebraska's D'Andre Barnes (35) during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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A look inside Memorial Stadium during the spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Sam Sledge (62), Nebraska's Justin Evans (51) and Nebraska's Jacob Brandl (78) warm up prior to the Nebraska football spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska fans walk around outside Memorial Stadium prior to the Nebraska football spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska fans walk towards Memorial Stadium prior to the Nebraska football spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Annabell Richter, 10, throws a football prior to the Nebraska football spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Daniel Kaelin (12) warms up prior to the Nebraska football spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Dylan Raiola (15) warms up prior to the Nebraska football spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska co-offensive coordinator Glenn Thomas watches warm ups prior to the Nebraska football spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Kwinten Ives (28) warms up prior to the Nebraska football spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Thomas Fidone II (24) warms up prior to the Nebraska football spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule watches warm ups prior to the Nebraska football spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Jack Woche (17) warms up prior to the Nebraska football spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Dylan Raiola (15) and Daniel Kaelin (12) warm up prior to the Nebraska football spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Heinrich Haarberg (10) warms up prior to the Nebraska football spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Dylan Raiola (15) warms up prior to the Nebraska football spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule reacts during warm ups prior to the Nebraska football spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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Nebraska's Dwight Bootle II (21) warms up prior to the Nebraska football spring game in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
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