2018 Gameday Program Senior Feature - Luke Gifford

Luke Gifford grew up in Lincoln, went to Southeast High School and attended almost every Nebraska football home game since he was 5-years-old. Like many of his childhood friends with the same background, Gifford dreamed of playing football for the Huskers.

How did he differentiate from them? It was quite simple. Gifford was 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds by his senior year of high school and one of the top 40 athlete prospects in the country by
Rivals.com.

The two-way standout for Coach Ryan Gottula at Southeast was a first-team All-Nebraska defensive back and passed for 970 yards and five touchdowns to lead the Knights to Class A state playoffs.

Gifford, who fantasized himself wearing scarlet and cream for a long time, finds it hard to put into words now that his dream has come to fruition and has reached the stage it has, as one of the team captains in his senior year with the Huskers.

“It’s pretty surreal,” Gifford said. “I’ve kind of tried to slow this year down, and soak it all up, be-cause it’s been something I’ve dreamt about since I was little. When I think about high school and how fast that went, and some of the things you miss about high school, and I just want make sure there’s nothing I miss out on [this year].”

The starting outside linebacker for Nebraska – now stronger, at 245 pounds – is one of four captains this season. Gifford’s leadership might as well be genetic -- his two younger brothers are captains of the Lincoln Southeast football team, while his sister was a captain for her volleyball team.

As a member of a family of captains, Gifford shares what he tries to pass on to younger teammates, especially when results aren’t going as expected.

“It’s just being really consistent with everything you do,” Gifford said. “That’s being on time, the way you lift, the way you do things in practice… you can’t be a leader and not be doing the things you’re supposed to all the time. It sounds easy, but when you’re in actually in that role, you have to realize that everyone’s eyes are always on you.”

Looking at Nebraska football’s future, Gifford has to first travel back to when he was just 2-years-old. Obviously, he doesn’t remember much about Frost leading the Huskers to that national championship campaign in 1997, but his parents and relatives have shared vivid memories with him of those days.

“I’ve heard a lot of stories about Coach Frost when he played quarterback here,” Gifford said. “I’ve seen that interview - I think when they beat Tennessee - giving a speech about how they should be national champions. And it’s surreal [to be playing for him]. Even that first meeting we had when he was here, it was kind of crazy that it was actually happening. It’s been a real treat. It’s been fun.”

Inspired by Frost’s leadership and success, Gifford has loved playing for him, and assures that Frost has “everything” to turn this program around and take it to the next level. And in Gifford’s opinion, it shouldn’t take very long.

“I know it’s just in the beginning stages, but it’s going to take off really soon,” Gifford said. “I think there’s going to be a lot of games won in the next couple of years. I just wanted to set the foundation for these guys, and we’ll watch [how it goes].”