Slew of Husker football players sign with NFL teams
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – No Husker football alums were picked during the NFL draft last week — but a slew of players signed with teams afterward.
As of Monday afternoon, seven Huskers have signed with an NFL team:
- Safety Omar Brown – Denver Broncos
- Cornerback Quinton Newsome – Denver Broncos
- Safety Phalen Sanford – Las Vegas Raiders
- Offensive guard Nouredin Nouili – New Orleans Saints
- Wide receiver Billy Kemp IV – New York Giants
- Running back Anthony Grant – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Long snapper Marco Ortiz – Los Angeles Chargers
Brown spent his last two seasons at Nebraska after starting his collegiate career at Northern Iowa.
In 2023, he earned an All-Big Ten honorable mention and finished the season with 51 tackles.
Newsome — a mainstay in Nebraska’s secondary for five seasons — played in 53 games, finishing with 149 tackles, 17 pass breakups and seven tackles for a loss.
Last season, Newsome returned a blocked field goal 68 yards for a touchdown to help Nebraska defeat Purdue.
He was then named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week.
Sanford spent his five seasons at Nebraska on special teams and as a reserve safety. He played in 12 games in 2023, picking up 40 tackles and causing two fumbles.
Nouili transferred to Nebraska from Colorado State in 2021. He started in 18 games and helped the Huskers rank second in the Big Ten in rushing offense last year.
Kemp came to Nebraska for his sixth collegiate season in 2023, leading the Huskers with 35 receptions and 310 yards.
Grant had 15 starts in two seasons with the Huskers. He was an honorable mention all-conference selection in 2022, when he led the Huskers with 915 yards and six touchdowns.
Ortiz was a Florida Gator for five seasons before coming to Nebraska last year. He handled snapping duties for both place-kicking and punting.
