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Nebraska Football Coaches Fielding Calls on Huskers Ahead of NFL Draft

The Nebraska staff has been fielding calls about several former Huskers ahead of the NFL draft later this month.

Kaleb Henry

Nebraska defensive lineman Ty Robinson participates in drills during the 2025 NFL Combine.
Nebraska defensive lineman Ty Robinson participates in drills during the 2025 NFL Combine. / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
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The NFL draft is just a couple of weeks away.

From now until the last available moment, organizations will continue to turn over every possible stone on their potential draft selections. That includes more phone calls to the coaches who know those players best, including queries about former Huskers to current Nebraska defensive coordinator John Butler.

"They've all put themselves in pretty good positions, based on the feedback that I've gotten from NFL scouts that I know personally, secondary coaches, defensive line coaches, defensive coordinators, GMs that have called me that I've either worked with or have personal relationships," Butler said Tuesday.

Nebraska tight end Thomas Fidone (TE09) participates in drills during the 2025 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Nebraska tight end Thomas Fidone catches a ball during the 2025 NFL Combine. / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Butler said since the season ended with the Pinstripe Bowl, the Huskers hoping to hear their names called at the draft have done a good job of improving their stock.

"Those guys that participated in Pro Day and even some of the offensive guys because they always want to know who knows stuff, I think they've really helped themselves with their offseason," Butler said.

Whether a player hears his name or not, Butler has a direct message to those guys during this "exciting time".

"At the end of the day, what I tell them is that where you get drafted is just where you start," Butler said. "Where you get drafted and who you get drafted to, that's just the beginning and now the work begins again. Your pro career will be determined on the work that you put in in the organization that you're in and it'll have nothing to do with what you've done to this point."

Nebraska defensive back Tommi Hill (DB14) during the 2025 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Nebraska defensive back Tommi Hill during the 2025 NFL Combine. / Tanner Pearson-Imagn Images

Butler noted that people have called about Isaac Gifford, Ty Robinson, Nash Hutmacher, Thomas Fidone, and MJ Sherman, among others.

"I'm glad they're calling about him because if they're calling about him they're interested in adding him to their organization," Butler said.

The latest three-round NFL mock draft from CBS saw no Huskers taken on what would be the first two days. The NFL draft is April 24-26 in Green Bay. The event will be broadcast on ABC and ESPN.

You can watch Butler's full media appearance from Tuesday below.

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Kaleb Henry
KALEB HENRY

Kaleb Henry is an award-winning sports reporter, covering collegiate athletics since 2014 via radio, podcasting, and digital journalism. His experience with Big Ten Conference teams goes back more than a decade, including time covering programs such as the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Oregon Ducks, and USC Trojans. He has contributed to Sports Illustrated since 2021. Kaleb has won multiple awards for his sports coverage from the Nebraska Broadcasters Association and Midwest Broadcast Journalists Association. Prior to working in sports journalism, Kaleb was a Division I athlete on the Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Track and Field team where he discussed NCAA legislation as SIUE's representative to the Ohio Valley Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. 

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