From Lincoln to the League: Nebraska and the NFL Draft

Nebraska’s NFL hopefuls are ready to take the next step, and Matt Rhule hopes their journey defines what it means to be a pro.

Photo courtesy Nebraska Athletics

As Nebraska wraps its spring football slate with Saturday’s “Husker Games,” the attention around Memorial Stadium will be all about who’s stepping up. Well, as much as can be said for a day that includes a “John Cook Roping Round Up” and a wing eating contest.

You can find the full schedule for the afternoon here.

Before we get to that point though, something bigger begins first. The NFL Draft kicks off Thursday in Green Bay.

It’s a different kind of stage. It’s one built not on potential but on production, performance and polish. And for a handful of former Huskers, it’s the start of their next chapter. 

For Matt Rhule and his staff, it’s a moment that validates the work they’ve done behind the scenes to help this group get here and a chance to set the tone for how Nebraska is viewed by NFL front offices going forward.

“We just need our guys going to the next level, building a reputation for what it means to be a Husker at that level,” Rhule said Tuesday. “That will get more people coming here.”