Back in 2024, the Nebraska football team lost a recruiting battle with Iowa State for linebacker Will Hawthorne. After one season with the Cyclones, the Ames, Iowa native decided he wanted to see what the Huskers really had to offer, transferring to NU on Tuesday afternoon.
NU linebackers coach Rob Dvoracek got a second shot at the athletic 6-foot-2, 225lb linebacker this winter and didn't miss this time. Hawthorne camped in front of Dvoracek in early June 2024 and earned a long-awaited offer from Nebraska. The Huskers emerged as a top contender, alongside Iowa State, the hometown program.
The newest member of the Nebraska football program redshirted as a true freshman at Iowa State this year. He used the redshirt season to bulk up from 215lbs to 225lbs.
Nebraska scores linebacker Will Hawthorne in recruiting do-over
As a senior at Gilbert High, he ran for 2,263 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns offensively, and tallied 44.5 tackles, ten tackles for loss, 2 sacks, and 3 forced fumbles defensively.
Hawthorne was named the 2024 MaxPreps Iowa High School Football Player of the Year, a member of the Des Moines Register's All-Iowa Elite Team, and a two-time District 4 MVP. On the track, he recorded multiple sub-11 100-meter dash times, including a 10.82 PR. He recorded 22.35 in the 200-meter and is the Gilbert school record holder for the 4×100-meter dash.
The speedy defender explained to 247Sports why he chose the Huskers this time after initially turning them down for Matt Campbell and Iowa State.
"I trust the coaches in developing me, I get to play in the B1G, and I'm still close to my family," he said.
Will Hawthorne is the fourth commitment for Nebraska out of the transfer portal and the second linebacker. He joins former San Diego State LB Owen Chambliss on the defensive side of the ball. Hawthorne is also the second former Cyclone to join the Huskers as his teammate, offensive lineman Brendan Black, signed with NU on Sunday. The linebacker is also the second commit of Tuesday, following offensive lineman Tree Babalade.