Honors & Awards
» Big Ten Distinguished Scholar (2016, 2018)
» Academic All-Big Ten (2016, 2017)
» Eight-Time Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll
» Brook Berringer Citizenship Team (2016, 2018, 2019)
» Tom Osborne Citizenship Team (2016, 2018, 2019)
2017 (Sophomore)
Michael Decker made six appearances on the Husker offensive line as a sophomore and started five straight games at center in the middle of the season. His emergence was halted in October when he suffered a season-ending injury in the Huskers’ win at Purdue. Nebraska defeated Rutgers and Illinois in Decker’s first two career starts, rushing for 363 yards in those two contests. Each of the Huskers’ top two rushing totals in conference play and three of the top four came with Decker as the starting center. Decker also helped the Husker passing game rank second in the Big Ten (277.5 yards per game) in 2017 while posting the fifth-highest passing total in school history (3,330 yards). The line helped Tanner Lee throw for 3,143 yards in his only season as a Husker, while Stanley Morgan Jr. set a school record with 986 receiving yards and JD Spielman posted the first 200-yard receiving game in school history against No. 9 Ohio State.
2016 (Redshirt Freshman)
Decker was Nebraska's top reserve at center behind senior Dylan Utter. Decker appeared in all 13 games, primarily as a blocker on the Huskers' kicking unit.
2015 (Redshirt)
Decker was part of an impressive group of freshman lineman who redshirted and worked on the scout team in 2015. He got off to a strong start in the classroom and the community, claiming spots on the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll in both the fall and spring semesters of 2015-16, while earning recognition on both the Brook Berringer and Tom Osborne Citizenship teams.
Before Nebraska (Omaha North HS)
Decker joined the Nebraska program after a highly successful prep career at Omaha North High School. Decker's play helped the North Vikings to three consecutive Class A state championship game appearances, including state titles in 2013 and 2014.
Decker was a powerful blocker for Coach Larry Martin's offense, paving the way for record-setting running back Calvin Strong. In helping North to a 13-0 record in 2014, Decker had 22 pancake blocks as the Vikings averaged nearly 310 rushing yards per game and Strong ran for 2,358 yards. Decker also saw limited action on the defensive line as a senior.
Decker was a first-team All-Nebraska pick by the Omaha World-Herald and a Super State pick by the Lincoln Journal Star.
Decker also paved the way for a powerful running attack in 2013, as North finished 12-1 and captured the state title. Decker had 20 pancake blocks, as the Vikings ran for better than 311 rushing yards per game, and Strong established a state record with more than 3,000 rushing yards. Decker also contributed on defense in 2013, recording 26 tackles, including five tackles for loss, a sack and also caused a fumble and recovered another. Decker also earned All-Nebraska and Super State honors as a junior.
Decker earned honorable-mention all-state honors as a sophomore in 2012. His play helped North to a 10-3 record and a trip to the Class A finals. Decker was strong in the classroom as well, carrying better than a 3.8 grade-point average.
Decker committed to Nebraska in April of 2014, and his only other visit was to Kansas State. He was ranked as the top player in Nebraska by Scout, while he ranked No. 2 in Nebraska by Rivals.com and 247Sports. Decker was ranked among the top 50 offensive guards in the country by several outlets, while Scout listed him as the nation's No. 7 center prospect. A multi-talented athlete, Decker also competed in track and field and wrestling at Omaha North.
Personal
Decker was born on Sept. 25, 1996, and he is the son of Chris and Jennifer Decker. He majored in political science and earned his bachelor's degree from Nebraska in May of 2019. He is an eight-time member of the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll. He was a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar in 2016 and 2018. Michael has participated in numerous outreach activities, including Husker Heroes and school and hospital outreach visits, earning him spots on both the Brook Berringer and Tom Osborne Citizenship teams in 2016, 2018 and 2019.