Dozen Huskers Begin Pro Football Journey

A total of 12 former Huskers will embark on their professional football careers this week following last weekend’s National Football League Draft. 

In addition to Ty Robinson (Philadelphia, fifth round) and Thomas Fidone II (New York Giants, seventh round), who were selected in the draft, six members of the 2024 Huskers signed free agent contracts while four others were invited to NFL mini camps. 
The free agent signees included: John Bullock and Ben Scott (Tampa Bay Buccaneers); Nash Hutmacher and Jahmal Banks (Baltimore Ravens); Isaac Gifford (Carolina Panthers) and Isaiah Neyor (San Francisco 49ers).

Bullock was a two-year starter at linebacker after originally walking on to the Husker program. Last season, he earned honorable-mention All-Big Ten honors, totaling 70 tackles, 10.0 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks, five pass breakups, which were career bests. He had an interception for a touchdown against Purdue and totaled at least one tackle for loss in four of the Huskers’ final five games. For his career, Bullock totaled 126 career tackles, including 12.5 TFLs, and 5.5 sacks in 47 games after originally walking on to the program. 
Scott was a two-year starter at center after transferring from Arizona State. A two-time honorable-mention All-Big Ten pick, he started all 13 games last season, as Nebraska posted its best record since 2016. He helped NU quarterback Dylan Raiola set Nebraska's freshman passing record while NU’s top two receivers and top rusher were all first-year performers at Nebraska. In 2023, Scott played in all 12 games, including 11 starts at center, and helped NU rank second in the Big Ten in rushing offense. For his career, Scott made 50 career starts in 51 career appearances. 

Banks played a significant role in the Huskers’ passing attack in his only season at Nebraska after transferring from Wake Forest. He led the Huskers with 587 receiving yards and ranked second with 44 catches and three receiving touchdowns. He had four-or-more receptions in seven games, including a season-high eight catches for 84 yards against Illinois. He finished his college career with 151 catches, 1991 yards and 16 touchdowns in 56 career games. 

Hutmacher was an honorable-mention All-Big Ten selection each of the past two seasons, providing a physical presence on the defensive front. Hutmacher started all 13 games in 2024 and finished with 24 tackles, four tackles for loss and two sacks.  The South Dakota native broke out during the 2023 season when he started all 12 games and had career best totals of 40 tackles, eight TFL and 4.5 sacks. His play helped the Nebraska defense post its best rushing defense, total defense and scoring defense totals in more than a decade.  Hutmacher also wrested at Nebraska in 2024, qualifying for the NCAA Championships at heavyweight in his only season on the mat. 

A Lincoln native, Gifford started 35 games in the Husker secondary over his final three seasons at Nebraska. He finished his career with 240 career tackles, which marked the third-highest total by a defensive back in school history. His 57 career games played is the third-most in school history. Gifford led the team in tackles in each of his final two seasons. In 2024, he had 73 tackles, including 4.0 tackles for loss, and one pass breakup. His 86 tackles in 2023 included 44 unassisted tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss, and he added eight PBU. Gifford also ranked among the team leaders with 70 tackles and five tackles for loss in 2022. 

Neyor finished his collegiate career at Nebraska as a key part of the passing game in the 2024 season. He played in all 12 regular-season games for the Huskers and led the team with five receiving touchdowns. He ranked second on the team with 455 receiving yards on 34 receptions. He enjoyed his best game as a Husker in the opener against UTEP when he caught six passes for 121 yards, including a 59-yard touchdown. Neyor previously spent two seasons at Texas in 2022 and 2023 and three years at Wyoming from 2019 to 2021. He totaled 87 receptions for 1595 yards and 17 touchdowns in his college career. 

In addition to the six signees, MJ Sherman (Denver Broncos), Tommi Hill (Minnesota Vikings), Brian Buschini (New York Giants) and Micah Mazzccua (Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers) were invited to mini camps. 

Sherman was a two-year performer for the Huskers who enjoyed a career season in 2024. He started 12 of 13 games and totaled 29 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks, setting career highs in each of those categories. One of his best games came against national champion Ohio State, when he had three stops, including two tackles for loss and a sack. He started five games in 2023, totaling 16 tackles, including 1.5 sacks. Sherman, who began his career at Georgia, finished with 59 career tackles, including 7.5 TFLs in 64 career games. 

Hill played both sides of the ball and on special teams during his three-year Husker career before moving to cornerback midway through the 2023 season. Last year, he battled through injuries to play in seven games before injuries ending his season in November. He finished with 21 tackles and an interception for a touchdown against Colorado. Hill’s best season came in 2023, when he earned honorable-mention All-Big Ten honors. That year, he set career bests in tackles (26), pass breakups (nine) and interception (four) while leading the Big Ten with 13 passes defended. His four interceptions was fourth in the conference. He also led NU with six kickoff returns for 144 yards. As a cornerback, he finished with 73 career tackles, 14 pass breakups and interceptions in his four-year college career, which included a season at Arizona State. 

Buschini spent his final three seasons at Nebraska after beginning his career at Montana. He averaged 44.7 yards per punt, the fifth-highest average in school history, in 2024 on his way to honorable-mention All-Big Ten honors. Buschini placed 16 of his 45 punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line, including eight inside the 10-yard line. Buschini also was NU’s kickoff specialist with 23 touchbacks on his 47 kickoffs. He finished his Husker career holding two of the top-10 single-season marks in school history, as he also averaged 44.0 yards per punt in 2023 to rank ninth.  For his college career, Buschini averaged 43.9 yards per punt in his career while 35 percent of his career kicks were placed inside the 20-yard line.

Mazzccua spent one season at Nebraska after stints at Florida (2023) and Baylor (2020-22). He made three starts for the Huskers on the offensive line, as he split time between guard and tackles. In all, he started 24 career games while appearing in 40 contests at the Division I level. 

NFL Draftees
Ty Robinson (Philadelphia Eagles, fifth round)
Thomas Fidone II (New York Giants, seventh round)

Free Agent Signees
Jahmal Banks (Baltimore Ravens)
John Bullock (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Isaac Gifford (Carolina Panthers)
Nash Hutmacher (Baltimore Ravens)
Isaiah Neyor (San Francisco 49ers)
Ben Scott (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Mini-Camp Invitees
Brian Buschini (New York Giants)
Tommi Hill (Minnesota Vikings)
Micah Mazzccua (Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers)
MJ Sherman (Denver Broncos)