2017 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team

Offseason

Departures

Transfers

Outgoing

Incoming

Coaching departures & replacements

Other headlines

• February 22 – WR coach Keith Williams pleaded no contest to a criminal charge of driving under the influence (DUI), steming from his August 14, 2016 car accident and arrest. It is his third DUI conviction in 13 years but his first in Nebraska. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail, 3 years of probation, and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine, with his driver's license revoked and given the option to apply to have his jail sentence converted to house arrest. His jail sentence was converted to house arrest on March 1.
• May 26 – Junior WR Stanley Morgan Jr. and Junior DB Antonio Reed were arrested and charged in Port Orange, Florida with misdemeanor possession of marijuana, following a traffic stop. Charges against Morgan were dropped on July 17 after he successfully completed a drug treatment program.
• June 10 – Freshman early-enrollee WR Keyshawn Johnson Jr. (son of former NFL star Keyshawn Johnson) was cited for possession of marijuana in his dorm room by campus police. On June 20, Johnson reportedly had left the program on a "leave of absence" and will likely not participate with the team during the season, potentially returning in January after the season.
• July 8 – Nebraska defensive analysis and former safeties assistant coach Bob Elliott died in hospice care at age 64.{{cite press release |author=NU Athletic Communications|title=Remembering Coach Bob Elliott
• July 16 – Incoming freshmen CB Elijah Blades and DL Deiontae Watts failed to academically qualify to attend Nebraska, and joined junior colleges as a result.

Recruiting

Position key

Recruits

As of National Signing Day (February 7, 2017), Nebraska's 2017 recruiting class consisted of 20 commits, 8 walk-ons, and 1 JUCO walk-on transfer. On, February 16, 2017, Kade Warner, son of NFL Hall of Famer Kurt Warner, joined the team as a preferred walk-on. 5 non-recruited walk-ons joined the team via tryout on March 29, 2017. One additional preferred walk-on was added in late April.

Scholarship recruits

Walk-on recruits

Scottsdale (AZ) CC

Tryout walk-ons

US Navy SEALs Johnson County CC Coffeyville CC Arkansas (Track & Field)

Returning starters

Offense

Defense

Special teams

Schedule

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Roster and coaching staff

• Mike Riley17th season 3rd year at Nebraska Alma mater: Alabama
• Danny Langsdorf12th season as OC/QB coach 3rd year at Nebraska Alma mater: Linfield
• Bob Diaco7th season as DC coach 1st year at Nebraska Alma mater: Iowa
• Mike Cavanaugh29th season as OL coach 3rd year at Nebraska Alma mater: S Conn St
• Trent Bray8th season as LB coach 3rd year at Nebraska Alma mater: Oregon State
• Reggie Davis9th season as RB coach 3rd year at Nebraska Alma mater: Washington
• John Parrella5th season as DL coach 2nd year at Nebraska Alma mater: Nebraska
• Keith Williams18th season as WR coach 3rd year at Nebraska Alma mater: San Diego State
• Donte Williams10th season as CB coach 1st year at Nebraska Alma mater: Idaho State
• Scott Booker5th season as Safeties/special teams coach 1st year at Nebraska Alma mater: Kent State

Depth chart

Mikale Wilbon Gabe Rahn Michael Decker Matt Farniok Luke Gifford Marquel Dismuke Eric Lee RB Tre Bryant (2) S JoJo Domann (0) OLB Luke Gifford (7)

Game summaries

Spring practice

Arkansas State

Lincoln, NE

• Sources:

Arkansas State Game starters

At Oregon

Eugene, OR

• Sources:

Oregon Game starters

Northern Illinois

Lincoln, NE

• Sources:

Northern Illinois Game starters

Rutgers

Lincoln, NE

• Sources:

Rutgers Game starters

At Illinois

Champaign, IL

• Sources:

Illinois Game starters

Wisconsin

Freedom Trophy** Lincoln, NE

• Sources:

Wisconsin Game starters

Ohio State

Lincoln, NE

• Sources:

Ohio State Game starters

At Purdue

West Lafayette, IN

• Sources:

Purdue Game starters

Northwestern

Lincoln, NE

• Sources:

Northwestern Game starters

At Minnesota

$5 Bits of Broken Chair Trophy** Minneapolis, MN

• Sources:

Minnesota Game starters

At Penn State

University Park, PA

• Sources:

Penn State Game starters

Iowa

Heroes Trophy** Lincoln, NE

• Sources:

Iowa Game starters

Big Ten awards

Player of the Week Honors

All-Conference awards

2017 Big Ten All-Conference Teams and Awards

National awards

USA Today Freshman All-American

JD Spielman

FWAA Freshman All-American

JD Spielman

Team awards

2016 Nebraska Football Team Awards

Players in the 2018 NFL draft

Source:

Rankings

References

References

1. McKewon, Sam. (November 25, 2017). "Nebraska fires football coach Mike Riley after three seasons". Omaha World-Herald.
2. (2017-11-25). "Nebraska Fires Mike Riley After 4–8 Record in His Third Season". The New York Times.
3. Kercheval, Ben. (2017-12-02). "UCF's Scott Frost agrees to seven-year deal to become Nebraska's next coach".
4. "Nebraska hiring Scott Frost as new head coach". SI.com.
5. Christopherson, Brian. (January 13, 2017). "Diaco to be named Husker defensive coordinator". [[Lincoln Journal Star]].
6. (February 13, 2017). "Riley Adds Veteran Elliott to Husker Coaching Staff". [[University of Nebraska–Lincoln]].
7. [[The Canadian Press]]. (Mar 3, 2017). "Alouettes name former NFL coach Bruce Read as special teams co-ordinator". [[Montreal Gazette]].
8. Christopherson, Brian. (June 20, 2017). "Huskers make staff changes; Booker moved to full-time assistant as Elliott takes off-field role". [[Lincoln Journal Star]].
9. Kaipust, Rich. (Mar 11, 2017). "It's special teams coaching by committee for Huskers; even Bob Diaco is involved, tutoring punters". [[Omaha World-Herald]].
10. Johnson, Riley. (February 22, 2017). "WR coach Williams sentenced to jail for DUI; can apply for house arrest". [[Lincoln Journal Star]].
11. Johnson, Riley. (March 1, 2017). "Huskers coach approved for house arrest". [[Lincoln Journal Star]].
12. (May 26, 2017). "Husker Stanley Morgan, Jr. arrested on drug charge". [[KETV]].
13. "Prosecutors in Florida drop marijuana charge against Husker receiver Stanley Morgan".
14. Klecker, Mara. (June 10, 2017). "Husker receiver Keyshawn Johnson Jr. cited on suspicion of marijuana possession". [[Omaha World-Herald]].
15. (June 20, 2017). "Keyshawn Johnson Jr. not currently with Husker program". [[Lincoln Journal Star]].
16. Heady, Chris. (July 9, 2017). "Nebraska defensive analyst, former Iowa player Bob Elliott dies at 64". Land of 10.
17. Fortuna, Matt. (April 19, 2012). "Elliott still coaching and inspiring". [[ESPN]].
18. "Prized corner signee Elijah Blades will not join Huskers, to attend Arizona Western instead".
19. "2017 defensive line signee Deiontae Watts not enrolling at Nebraska".
20. "Kade Warner, son of former NFL QB Kurt Warner, will join Huskers as preferred walk-on".
21. "Huskers add several walk-on players".
22. "Nebraska adds Omaha Skutt record-breaker Christian Banker as preferred walk-on".
23. "FRANKLIN AMERICAN MORTGAGE MUSIC CITY BOWL MEDIA GUIDE (Section: Depth Chart, Page 36)". [[Nebraska Cornhuskers]].
24. "2017 Nebraska Cornhuskers Football Schedule". Huskers.com.
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35. . (November 18, 2017). ["Nebraska vs. Penn State – Box Score"](http://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=400935415).
36. . (November 24, 2017). ["Iowa vs. Nebraska – Box Score"](http://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=400935417).
37. (September 2, 2017). "Scoring Summary (Final), 2017 Nebraska Football, Nebraska vs. Arkansas State (September 2, 2017 at Lincoln, NE)". University of Nebraska–Lincoln Department of Athletics.
38. (September 9, 2017). "Scoring Summary (Final), 2017 Nebraska Football, Nebraska vs. Oregon (September 9, 2017 at Eugene, OR)". University of Nebraska–Lincoln Department of Athletics.
39. (September 16, 2017). "Scoring Summary (Final), 2017 Nebraska Football, Nebraska vs. Northern Illinois (September 16, 2017 at Lincoln, NE)". University of Nebraska–Lincoln Department of Athletics.
40. (September 23, 2017). "Scoring Summary (Final), 2017 Nebraska Football, Nebraska vs. Rutgers (September 23, 2017 at Lincoln, NE)". University of Nebraska–Lincoln Department of Athletics.
41. (September 29, 2017). "Scoring Summary (Final), 2017 Nebraska Football, Nebraska vs. Illinois (September 29, 2017 at Champaign, IL)". University of Nebraska–Lincoln Department of Athletics.
42. (October 7, 2017). "Scoring Summary (Final), 2017 Nebraska Football, Nebraska vs. Wisconsin (October 7, 2017 at Lincoln, NE)". University of Nebraska–Lincoln Department of Athletics.
43. (October 7, 2017). "Scoring Summary (Final), 2017 Nebraska Football, Nebraska vs. Ohio State (October 14, 2017 at Lincoln, NE)". University of Nebraska–Lincoln Department of Athletics.
44. (October 28, 2017). "Scoring Summary (Final), 2017 Nebraska Football, Nebraska vs. Purdue (October 28, 2017 at West Lafayette, IN)". University of Nebraska–Lincoln Department of Athletics.
45. (November 4, 2017). "Scoring Summary (Final), 2017 Nebraska Football, Nebraska vs. Northwestern (November 4, 2017 at Lincoln, NE)". University of Nebraska–Lincoln Department of Athletics.
46. (November 11, 2017). "Scoring Summary (Final), 2017 Nebraska Football, Nebraska vs. Minnesota (November 11, 2017 at Minneapolis, MN)". University of Nebraska–Lincoln Department of Athletics.
47. (November 18, 2017). "Scoring Summary (Final), 2017 Nebraska Football, Nebraska vs. Penn State (November 18, 2017 at University Park, PA)". University of Nebraska–Lincoln Department of Athletics.
48. (November 24, 2017). "Scoring Summary (Final), 2017 Nebraska Football, Nebraska vs. Iowa (November 24, 2017 at Lincoln, NE)". University of Nebraska–Lincoln Department of Athletics.
49. (October 2, 2017). "Big Ten Players of the Week". Big Ten Conference.
50. "2017 Big Ten All-Conference Teams and Awards".
51. [http://www.huskers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=1&SPID=22&DB_OEM_ID=100&ATCLID=211689464 Record-Setting Husker Receivers Honored]
52. [http://www.huskers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=100&ATCLID=211691745 Spielman Named to FWAA Freshman All-America Team]
53. (September 2019)
54. VanDervoort, Oliver. (2018-04-29). "Nebraska football: Where former Huskers landed on NFL Draft weekend".