Nebraska Football has sent another alum to the pros.
Another Nebraska Cornhusker is off the market as signings continue to pour in following the conclusion of the NFL Draft. Former Nebraska Football linebacker Luke Gifford has signed a contract with the Dallas Cowboys according to the Omaha World-Herald.
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As many of you may recall, Gifford was a huge part of the Nebraska Football defense. Gifford played hard and played well. He recorded 13.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks to go along with 62 tackles. He truly did offer the Nebraska defense and he proved to be a strong leader. He was named team captain, and his play garnered him honorable mention All-Big Ten honors by the coaches and media who watched him play. In what was a very impressive four-year career in Lincoln, he tallied 109 tackles and seven sacks.
Gifford was a player that I was very surprised went undrafted. He has great instincts and seems to know where the football is at all times. The Dallas defense played well last season and certainly is aggressive. Gifford should fit right in as he looks to make a play every snap. He was a defensive catalyst for Nebraska and the player who always played hard every single game. His departure will certainly be felt on the defensive side of the football next year.
As he told the World-Herald , Gifford is ready to hit the field as soon as possible. I can imagine how stressful the draft process has been, not just for Gifford but for all the draftees involved.
"“It’s awesome; it’s been a long process,” Gifford said. “It’s good to finally move on to the next chapter and start playing football again.”"
This was a great pick for Dallas as he is a guy with tremendous upside. I certainly could say that about all the undrafted free agents Nebraska had. However, I truly believe that this is a good scheme fit for the Cowboys. The linebackers are an important part of their defense due to their pass-rushing abilities. Gifford should be able to fit in right away. He has tremendous upside and should be able to see the field a little bit next year. He is a guy that could benefit from training camp and open the eyes of the coaching staff.
It’s great to see Gifford be able to realize his dream of playing in the National Football League. I wouldn’t be surprised if he had a long career, as he has the type of play style that will make him very serviceable in the National Football League.