2018 Gameday Program Senior Feature - Austin Rose

The Nebraska football program saw huge success in the 1990s, winning three national championships under Coach Tom Osborne. One of the key players on the 1995 championship team was safety Mike Minter. Fast forward more than 20 years to today’s team and one will find Minter’s nephew, senior running back Austin Rose on the roster.

Rose is entering his senior season for the Huskers and is one of many walk-ons throughout the years who feels a lot of pride for Nebraska football and is grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the storied program.

The Lincoln native always had dreams of playing for the Huskers. He was a standout player at Lincoln North Star. Then he had the opportunity to walk-on for the Huskers. He has spent his career fighting for playing time at the running back position, and has seen occasional game time on special teams. For him, the whole process has been well worth it.

“It means a lot to me since some of my family members have played for the Huskers,” Rose said, “It’s always been something I’ve dreamed of doing and something I’ve always wanted to do.”

Rose understands the work and determination it takes to earn a starting spot for the team. He has seen it through one of his former teammates, former Husker fullback Andy Janovich. Janovich is someone Rose looked up to and admired and he inspired Rose to work even harder.

“One of my former teammates Andy Janovich was a walk-on from Gretna and he put in the work,” Rose said, “And now he’s one of the best fullbacks in the NFL and that’s something I strive to do and someone I can look up to.”

Rose has been through a lot throughout his career at Nebraska. He’s seen a couple of losing seasons and a coaching change. However, he has stayed the course and remains positive, because he’s had many great moments in Lincoln, including his favorite game as a Husker.

“The Michigan State game my redshirt freshman year when they were ranked in the top 10 and came to Lincoln, and we beat them,” Rose said, “It was pretty hype in Memorial Stadium for that one.”

Now as a senior, Rose is experiencing everything differently under first-year Head Coach Scott Frost. It can be tough for players to be motivated and loyal to a new coach, especially in their last year. It can also be difficult when many changes are made within the program that players aren’t used to. However, that is not the case for Rose. It means a lot to him to play for Scott Frost in his final season.

“It means a lot because Scott Frost was someone I looked up to in the coaching ranks and somebody I always wanted to play for,“ Rose said. “So for him to come to Nebraska my senior year was something very special.”

Rose shows passion and dedication on the field, for his teammates and coaches, but he displays it off the field as well.

Rose has been named to the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll in the fall of 2015, 2016 and 2017, and in the spring of 2015 and 2016. Additionally, last year he earned Academic All-Big Ten honors. A criminology and criminal justice major, Rose has shown he truly cares about his academics and his career after football.

“It means a lot, when you’re a student-athlete,” Rose said. “Student comes first, so that’s something I take pride in and something I want to make sure I put my best work into.”