He didn't win a National Title with the Nebraska football team. Still, Jordan Westerkamp is one of the most celebrated players to come through Lincoln, all the same. His Hail Mary catch in 2013 to beat Northwestern is one of the best plays in Husker history. Now he's taken part in a whole other kind of college football history.
Westerkamp officially started his college coaching career earlier this year when he was hired by NJCAA Division III College of Dupage to be its wide receivers coach. In his first year with the Chaparrals, his charges logged nearly 150 catches for just over 2,100 yards and 20 receiving touchdowns.
Those numbers were part of an explosive offense that saw the former Nebraska wideout be part of a record-breaking fifth consecutive National Title. As the Assistant Director of Athletics said after the win, while this was the 50th time the program has won a title, this one was a big one.
Former Nebraska football star Jordan Westerkamp wins national title on sidelines
"It’s our 50th one overall since 1967. But I think the bigger number is, it’s our 18th overall in the last four and a half years. So we’ve got the right people in place at the administrative level, coaching student athletes. You know, you see those athletes celebrate on the field on Saturday. You want that for all your student athletes."
Those "right people" include Jordan Westerkamp, who is still just getting his feet under him as a coach.
Better known as a player, following his Nebraska career, he went unselected in the 2017 NFL draft. He signed as an undrafted free agent with the Miami Dolphins but was waived with an injury settlement. He also spent time with the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL, the Atlanta Legends of the now-defunct AAF, and the DC Defenders of the then-XFL.
The former Nebraska star went through a frustrating period during the Bo Pelini era. Still, earlier this month, Westerkamp finally got to hoist a National Title trophy.