Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule announced on Thursday that starting cornerback Tommi Hill will miss the final two games of the 2024 regular season.
The first of those two games is Saturday, Nov. 23 against the Wisconsin Badgers.
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Hill has been battling a foot injury for the majority of the 2024 season. He played through it for an extended period, including during Nebraska’s last two games against UCLA and USC, respectively.
“Everything’s a collaboration, but I can’t put him out there anymore,” Rhule said during his press conference on Thursday. “[Tommy Hill] cares about his teammates and wants to be out there, but he’s only hurting himself and giving up touchdowns.”
Nebraska coach Matt Rhule says that DB Tommi Hill will be OUT for the final two games of the season.
“Had the foot injury and it’s just never quite been the same.”
“I can’t put him out there anymore.”
“He’s only hurting himself and giving up touchdowns.” #Huskers
— Jacob Bigelow (@JacobABigelow) November 21, 2024
Hill has recorded 21 tackles, one interception and one pass deflection through seven appearances in 2024. Those numbers are all a big drop from his production as Nebraska’s top cornerback in 2023 — 26 tackles, four interceptions and nine pass deflections.
As Rhule noted, the veteran cornerback has struggled at times this season while battling through the lingering foot injury. Rhule noted that he expects younger players to contribute in Hill’s absence both on Saturday against Wisconsin and in Week 14 against Iowa.
The veteran cornerback will now look to get healthy before the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl and NFL draft process.
Nebraska enters Saturday’s matchup allowing 210.9 passing yards per game, including 259 to USC and new quarterback Jayden Maiava in the Cornhuskers’ Week 12 loss.
Wisconsin, meanwhile, needs an offensive boost after scoring just 36 total points over the team’s last three games — losses to Penn State, Iowa and Oregon, respectively. The Badgers fired offensive coordinator Phil Longo after the latest loss.
Hill’s injury may not completely change Saturday’s game, but it is a variable to consider when QB Braedyn Locke and the Badgers passing offense looks for its best performance in a month.
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