Jayden Dawson

Dawson is in his first season at Nebraska in 2026. He serves as a graduate assistant/assistant defensive backs coach. 

Dawson joins the Huskers after spending two seasons (2024-25) as a graduate assistant at San Diego State. He helped lead the 2025 nationally ranked Aztec defense, finishing the season seventh in total defense, fifth in points allowed per game, third in pass efficiency defense, second in red zone defense and third in shutouts in a season. 

He spent the 2023 season coaching the corners at U Mary. 

Dawson has five years of playing experience and was a four-time all-conference honoree. He started his playing career at College of Idaho (2018) and spent one season at Mt. San Jacinto (2019), earning all-conference honors at both stops. Dawson spent two seasons at Idaho State (2020-21), receiving all-conference honors before spending his last year of eligibility at Montana, where he started at defensive back during the 2022 season. 

Dawson earned his bachelor's degree in psychology at Idaho State and his MBA at San Diego State.