Nathan Gerry

Honors & Awards
» Bednarik Award Semifinalist (2016)
» Team Captain (2015, 2016)
» First-Team All-American (Pro Football Focus, 2016)
» Second-Team All-American (USA Today, 2016)
» Third-Team All-American (AP, 2016)
» First-Team All-Big Ten (AP, 2016)
» Second-Team All-Big Ten (Media, 2014, 2016)
» Third-Team All-Big Ten (Media, 2015, Coaches, 2016)
» Honorable-Mention All-Big Ten (Coaches, 2014 and 2015)
» Jim Thorpe Award Watch List (2016)
» 2015 Lott Trophy Watch List
» Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week (Iowa, 2014; Wyoming, 2016)
» Nebraska Defensive co-MVP (2014)
» Honorable-Mention Big Ten All-Freshman Team (BTN, 2013)
» Brook Berringer Citizenship Team (2016)
» Tom Osborne Citizenship Team (2016)

Safety Nathan Gerry was a fixture on the Blackshirt defense for four seasons and capped his career with a strong 2016 campaign, helping Nebraska rank among the nation's most improved defenses.

The South Dakota native ranked in the top two for the Blackshirt defense in both tackles and interceptions for three consecutive seasons. In the process, the 6-2, 220-pound Gerry was also an all-conference honoree for his final three seasons, while serving as a team captain in both 2015 and 2016. 

Gerry was the prototypical safety with an excellent blend of coverage skills and ability to support the run. He finished his career with 273 tackles to rank second among NU defensive backs and sixth overall in tackles. He had at least four interceptions in each of his final three seasons and his 13 career interceptions were tied for second in Husker history, just one off the school record. 

2016 (Senior)
Gerry played in 11 games and made 11 starts, while missing the season opener with Fresno State the the bowl game against Tennessee. Gerry was second on the team with 74 tackles, including 47 solo stops. He had six games with at least seven tackles, including a pair of nine-tackle games against Oregon and Ohio State. Gerry also had four interceptions, including two each against Wyoming and Wisconsin and added eight pass breakups.

Gerry earned All-America honors from Pro Football Focus (first team), USA Today (second team) and the Associated Press (third team). The AP also chose him as a first-team all-conference performer, while the Big Ten media panel named him to its second-team all-league squad. Gerry was also a semifinalist for the Bednarik Award. 

Gerry opened his season with seven tackles and a pair of picks against Wyoming. A week later he had nine tackles, two tackles for loss and a breakup in the Huskers' victory over Oregon. In the Big Ten opener at Northwestern, Gerry made eight tackles, had two tackles for loss, while also sharing a sack and breaking up a season-high two passes.

Gerry also had eight tackles, including two behind the line of scrimmage at Indiana. In a strong defensive effort at Wisconsin, Gerry made seven solo tackles and had two fourth-quarter interceptons as the Huskers rallied to force overtime. He had nine unassisted tackles at Ohio State and capped his career with six tackles at Iowa. 

2015 (Junior)
Gerry started every game and led the Huskers with 79 tackles, including 49 solo stops, with at least six tackles eight times. He led the team with four interceptions, returning the picks 90 yards. Gerry tied for the team lead with seven pass breakups.

Gerry opened the year with six tackles and an interception against BYU. His third-quarter interception and 43-yard return set up a Nebraska touchdown. He added his second interception against South Alabama and had nine tackles, a tackle for loss and two breakups at Miami.

Gerry had at least six tackles in each of the first three Big Ten games. He made his third interception of the year at Minnesota, sealing a victory. Gerry had his only sack against Northwestern before closing the regular season in strong fashion. Gerry had at least eight tackles in three straight games, including a season-high 14 against Michigan State. He added two breakups against both the Spartans and Rutgers, and recorded his fourth pick of the year at Rutgers.

2014 (Sophomore)
Gerry started every game and led the Huskers with five interceptions, all in Big Ten games. His interception total was second in the Big Ten and led the conference in league games. Gerry was second on the team with 88 tackles and had three games with double-figure tackle totals. He added seven tackles for loss, caused two fumbles, had four pass breakups and recovered a fumble.

Gerry was named a second-team All-Big Ten defender by the conference’s media panel, while receiving honorable-mention recognition from the coaches. He was chosen as NU’s co-Defensive MVP as voted by his teammates.

Gerry had a takeaway in six of eight Big Ten games and also reached the end zone on an 85-yard blocked field goal return against Minnesota. He capped the regular season with a career-high 15 tackles and an interception at Iowa to earn Big Ten Defensive Player-of-the-Week honors.

Gerry opened the year with four tackles, a tackle for loss and forced fumble against FAU. He had a team-high 13 tackles, a pair of tackles for loss, and a breakup against McNeese State. Gerry had five tackles and his first career interception against Illinois, returning the pick 54 yards to set up a score.

Gerry recorded an interception in three straight games against Northwestern, Rutgers and Purdue. He had nine tackles, including seven solo stops, at Wisconsin and also forced and recovered a fumble against the Badgers. Gerry had 11 tackles against Minnesota in addition to his touchdown return. His fifth interception came at Iowa, ending a Hawkeye scoring threat in the first quarter. Ten of his 15 tackles were solo stops, and he had a career-high three TFL.

2013 (Freshman)
Gerry saw action in every game, making starts at linebacker against Southern Miss, UCLA and South Dakota State. Gerry had 32 tackles, including 18 solo stops. He added two tackles for loss and a quarterback hurry.

Gerry made five tackles in the season opener against Wyoming, then had a season-high seven tackles against UCLA, when he produced his first career tackle for loss. He had four tackles each against Purdue and Minnesota. Gerry led the Huskers with seven tackles on special teams.

Before Nebraska (Washington HS)
Gerry was Nebraska’s first scholarship signee from South Dakota since 2003, and just the Huskers’ third signee from the state since 1997. Gerry’s play helped Washington High and Coach Brian Hermanson to a 48-3 record and three state championships over four years.

In 2012, Sioux Falls Washington posted a perfect 12-0 record and outscored its opponents by a combined score of 549-81. Gerry made 64 tackles, including 13.5 tackles for loss, and added eight pass breakups, five interceptions and also forced two fumbles. He played running back and receiver on offense and accounted for 1,216 all-purpose yards and 22 touchdowns. Gerry also handled the kicking and punting chores as a senior. Gerry was a first-team Class 11AA all-state selection as a receiver for his play in 2012.

Gerry was also a two-way starter as a junior when Washington posted a 10-3 record and was the state runner-up. Gerry made 73 tackles, with two sacks and three interceptions, while adding 37 receptions for 647 yards and eight touchdowns as a receiver.

Gerry was also a track standout at Washington High. He won his second straight 200-meter state title as a senior in 2013. He also won the 100 meters as a senior, after finishing second as a junior. Gerry set the state record in the 200 meters with a time of 21.52. Gerry was regarded as one of the top 50 athlete prospects in the country. He only visited Nebraska, but had offers from Iowa, Iowa State, Michigan State, Minnesota and Arizona State.

Personal
Gerry was born on Feb. 23, 1995, and is the son of Brian and Kelli Gerry. Nathan was a sociology major. He has volunteered his time with team hospital visits, Big Brothers/Big Sisters and Uplifting Athletes.

 

Gerry's Career Statistics

		Tackles					Fum.				QB
Year	G/S	UT	AT	TT	TFL	Sacks	C-R	BK	PBU	INT	Hry.
2013	13/3	18	14	32	2-3	0.0-0	0-0	0	0	0	1
2014	13/13	49	39	88	7-9	0.5-2	2-1	0	4	5	3
2015	13/13	49	30	79	3-12	1.0-9	1-0	0	7	4	0
2016	11/11	47	27	74	7-7	0.5-1	0-0	0	8	4	1
Totals	50/40	163	110	273	19-31	2-12	3-1	0	19	13	5

Single-Game Highs
» Tackles - 15 at Iowa (2014)
» Solo Tackles - 4 at Purdue (2013)
» Tackles for Loss - 3 at Iowa (2014)
» Pass Breakups – 2, four times
» Long Interception Return– 54 vs. Illinois (2014)