Tag: Nebraska in the NFL

Adrian Martinez signs with New York Jets ahead of 2024 season

The New York Jets announced on Saturday that it signed UFL MVP Quarterback Adrian Martinez ahead of the 2024 season.

A former Husker is returning to the NFL following an MVP season in the UFL. On Saturday, the New York Jets announced that it signed UFL MVP Quarterback Adrian Martinez ahead of the 2024 season.

Martinez played for the Birmingham Stallions in the United Football League. He earned UFL MVP honors by throwing for 1,749 yards and 15 touchdowns while rushing for 528 yards. Martinez’s performance helped Birmingham to a UFL Championship, where he was named the game’s MVP.

Martinez entered the UFL after being undrafted and signed by the Detroit Lions in 2023. The Lions waived Martinez during the final roster cuts before picking him up by Birmingham. He now joins a Jets quarterback room that includes Aaron Rodgers, Tyrod Taylor, Jordan Travis, and Andrew Peasley.

Martinez played four seasons at Nebraska before transferring to Kansas State in 2022. In his final season with the Huskers, Martinez threw for 2,863 yards and 14 touchdowns, becoming the first player in school history with four 1,000-yard passing seasons.

He also averaged 308.0 yards of total offense per game, breaking his school record set during his freshman season. In his lone season at Kansas State, Martinez threw for 1,261 yards and six touchdowns while rushing for 627 yards and ten touchdowns.

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Ndamukong Suh named to 2024 Nebraska Athletics Hall of Fame class

The Nebraska Athletics Hall of Fame announced the inductees for its 2024 class on Thursday afternoon.

The Nebraska Athletics Hall of Fame announced the inductees for its 2024 class on Thursday afternoon. Leading the group is star defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.

Suh earns his induction following 13 seasons on the professional level. He started his career with the Detroit Lions as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. He won the 2010 NFL Rookie of the Year and was a five-time Pro Bowl selection in his career.

Suh played 199 games and delivered 600 total tackles, 71.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, and one interception. Suh also won Super Bowl 55 with the Buccaneers, leading Tampa Bay to its first championship since 2002.

At Nebraska, Suh holds the distinction of being the only defensive player to be named the Associated Press College Football Player of the Year. He won the award as a senior in 2009 when he was also a Heisman Trophy finalist.

Suh also won the Outland Trophy, the Lombardi Award, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, and the Chuck Bednarik Award in 2009. He also earned first-team All-American and the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.

Suh totaled 215 tackles in his career at Nebraska, with 57 tackles for loss and 24 sacks. He ranks second all-time at Nebraska in tackles for loss and fourth in sacks. In his senior season, Suh led Nebraska with 85 tackles, along with 24 TFLs, 12 sacks, 10 pass breakups, and three blocked kicks.

Suh’s No. 93 jersey is retired at Nebraska, and he is a member of the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame. Suh joins the class alongside other stellar alumni, including Jordan Hooper, Carl Myerscough, Virginia Stahr, Mary Weatherholt, and Emily Wong.

 

Former Huskers perform well in Week 1 of the NFL Preseason

Week one of the NFL preseason saw several former Nebraska Cornhuskers trending on social media.

Week one of the NFL preseason saw several former Nebraska Cornhuskers trending on social media. Quarterback Adrian Martinez and wide receiver Trey Palmer led the group.

Palmer had four catches for 33 yards and one touchdown for Tampa Bay. Palmer also returned two kickoffs for 54 yards.

Adrian Martinez helped lead the Detroit Lions to a 21-16 victory over the New York Giants. Martinez earned praise from his head coach Dan Campbell although the coach did say that Martinez will lose playing time to recently signed quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.

Scroll below to take a closer look at some of the memorable plays former Nebraska Cornhuskers made in the first week of the NFL preseason.

Former Husker Quarterback impresses coach in preseason debut

A former Husker quarterback impressed his head coach in his preseason debut on Friday night.

A former Husker quarterback impressed his head coach in his preseason debut on Friday night. Adrian Martinez led the Detroit Lions on a game-winning drive in the fourth quarter, defeating the New York Giants 21-16.

Martinez would finish the game 4 of 7 passing for 37 yards. He also had five carries for 14 yards and the game-winning touchdown.

Lions head coach Dan Campbell said after the game that he was impressed with his young quarterback.

“He showed a ton of poise on that drive.” 

However, the praise may be short lived as Campbell said after the game that most of Martinez’ playing time will be given to recently signed backup Teddy Bridgewater.

Former Husker running back Devine Ozigbo led the Lions in rushing with 31 yards on 11 carries with a long run of nine yards.

Former Husker signs with the Houston Texans following USFL Championship season

A former Husker is making a return to the NFL after spending one season in the USFL.

A former Husker is making a return to the NFL after spending one season in the USFL. Defensive tackle Khalil Davis signed a 1-year, $940,000 deal with the Houston Texans on Monday afternoon one month after wrapping up his season in the USFL.

Davis played for four seasons at Nebraska after redshirting freshman year. He finished his collegiate career with 106 tackles, 26 tackles for loss and 13 sacks through 47 career games.

He was then drafted 194th by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL draft. Davis remained on the Buccaneers until part way through the 2021 season and was a part of their Super Bowl LV championship team. He bounced around the NFL through the 2021 and 2022 seasons, making stops in Indianapolis, Pittsburgh and Los Angeles. 

He joined the Birmingham Stallions for the 2023 USFL season, in which he played nine games. Davis racked up a total of 29 tackles and one sack, which came in the USFL Championship against the Pittsburgh Maulers. 

Davis joins a Texans’ team coming off a 4-13 season. It finished 30th in total yards allowed and 27th in total points allowed. 

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