Nebraska football freshman turns NIL into powerful hometown gesture

While most college students spend spring break relaxing or heading off to the beach, freshman Nebraska football wide receiver Cortez Mills had a different plan in mind. The speedburning standout used part of his break to give back to the place that helped shape him—not with words, but with action. And money.

During his time off, Mills returned to his hometown in Florida and donated $2,000 to his old high school, the Homestead High Broncos. The gesture turned heads not just because of the money involved, but because of what it says about the kind of player—and person—the Huskers have in its locker room.

Rivals reporter Tim Verghese shed light on the Nebraska football receiver’s act of kindness when he posted the announcement as well as a couple of pictures of Mills handing over the check to his old coach and posing with various current students at the school.

Nebraska football wide receiver uses NIL funds to give back

The introduction of NIL to the college football world has certainly had some big drawbacks. But what Mills is doing with his money highlights that there absolutely are positives. It allows him to not only offer thanks to the people that helped him position himself for a big freshman season in Lincoln.

He can offer thanks in ways that truly help other people.

There’s also the angle that events like this show the kind of people Matt Rhule and his staff are bringing into the Nebraska football program. Cortez Mills is talented as all get out. But he’s also a good guy. Someone who is easy to root for on and off the field.