Nebraska Football: Former Husker teammates find NFL squads

Two former Nebraska football teammates have both find their way onto NFL squads thanks to UDFA contracts just hours after the 2023 NFL Draft.

Once a Husker, always a Husker. That’s how the saying goes. And that’s why Nebraska football fans should be happy to see that a couple of former Huskers who were teammates at two different stops are going to get to try and ply their trade at the next level.

Adrian Martinez and Kade Warner started their college careers with the Nebraska Cornhuskers, but both ended up moving over to a former rival of their old school in Kansas State. Now the pair got their shots to make it big on the next level.

Neither Martinez nor Warner was selected in the draft, but the former Nebraska football quarterback was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Detroit Lions. Warner got the same sort of deal with the Tampa Bay Buccanneers.

If one had to guess, it would seem like Warner, the son of Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner, might have the best shot at sticking on an NFL roster. Ironically, he might end up going head-to-head with another former Nebraska football player in Trey Palmer. Palmer was drafted in the sixth round by the Bucs.

Former Nebraska football players get their shot

Warner showed flashes with the Huskers but never really put it all together the way he did at Kansas State, especially in 2022. Last season with the Wildcats he hauled down 46 passes (easily a career high) for 456 yards and five touchdowns. Those were also easily career bests.

Adrian Martinez had a more up-and-down season, sadly because he was once again beset with injuries. While shining against Oklahoma in one big game, he missed most of the year’s second half with nagging owies.

He finished his final college campaign 1,200 yards passing, six touchdowns and one interception and ran for more than 500 yards on the ground. Now he’ll try and show that he can be a dual-threat quarterback in the NFL.