2018 Gameday Program Senior Feature - Devine Ozigbo

Devine Ozigbo fell in love with Nebraska when he first stepped on campus. He felt the love from the team, coaches and fans. He knew this was his new home.

“[It has] always felt like home,” Ozigbo said. “The quality of people really made me fall in love with the Midwest.”

And Husker fans had a similar feeling about him. It wasn’t hard to see Ozigbo was going to continue the tradition of great Nebraska backs. The running back from Sachse, Texas, made an immediate impact as a true freshman. He played in 11 games as one of four backs with more than 200 rushing yards. Ozigbo finished with 38 carries for 209 yards and a touchdown. He had a breakout game, scoring his first touchdown against Illinois that year.

“That was cool because it was the first time I got in the end zone. That was the first time I made an impactful play on the field in college. It does seem pretty far away but I do always think about that. That’s the first one. Illinois always holds a space in my heart because that’s where it happened.”

While battling an ankle injury for half of his sophomore season, Ozigbo managed to play in 11 games. While providing depth behind senior starter Terrell Newby, Ozigbo accumulated 412 rushing yards on 97 carries. 

Ozigbo continued to improve as a junior, despite missing the first two games. He put up 493 rushing yards with 129 carries and three rushing touchdowns and caught 16 passes for 123 yards.

Ozigbo has excelled in his senior campaign. Nebraska’s leading rusher this season, he has totaled 958 yards, rushing for 95.8 yards per game. Ozigbo moved into a starting role against Purdue and in his seven games as a starter, he is averaging 124.0 rushing yards per game. He has scored 11 rushing touchdowns in his seven starts.

Ozigbo takes pride in his performance, but as a great teammate, he credits his offensive line as well.

“It was a great feeling knowing the work the [offensive line], this offense and I have put in, has paid off and has allowed our run game to flourish,” Ozigbo said.

Now, with two games left as a Husker, Ozigbo needs just 42 yards to become Nebraska’s first 1,000-yard rusher since Ameer Abdullah in 2014.

“That’s something I definitely want to go out there and grab for a personal goal, but I definitely just want to do something for the team and especially for the fans,” Ozigbo said. “It’s something they’ve been talking about for a few years now and it would be good to give it to them.”

Being a Husker will always have a special place in his heart. The moments he will cherish the most are the memories that have been made, and the “pride that you get when you are a part of [Nebraska] and its tradition,” Ozigbo said.

When he leaves Nebraska, Ozigbo hopes to play in the NFL. His childhood dream was to play for the New England Patriots, but he says for now, he just wants to make it.

And his head coach thinks he’s got a shot. 

“He is a Sunday guy,” Scott Frost said after Nebraska’s 53-28 win against Minnesota.

And to Ozigbo, that means the world.

If [Coach Frost] sees that, that gives me some confidence, and I really appreciate it,” Ozigbo said.

And while he’s looking ahead to his future, he still has a few snaps left in a Husker jersey, and Ozigbo plans to make them count.

“This is my last time being able to play this team,” he said. “I’ve got to go out there and give everything I’ve got.”