Nebraska Football: The First 2017 Blackshirts Are Named

After intimating their imminent release at this morning’s presser, Nebraska has announced the 2017 Blackshirts. These players will don the iconic black jerseys in practices this fall denoting their status as defensive starters. This year’s edition has a tough job ahead of them, sheparding Nebraska’s shift from a 4-3 Defense to a 3-4.

The athletic department discussed this further, keying in on Luke Gifford.

...16 players to receive Blackshirts before Monday’s practice. Others were defensive linemenFreedom Akinmoladun, Khalil Davis, Carlos Davis and Mick Stoltenberg; linebackers Newby, Weber, Dedrick Young II,Mohamed Barry and Alex Davis; cornerbacks Lee, Lamar Jackson and Dicaprio Bootle, and safeties Aaron Williams,Antonio Reed and Joshua Kalu, who also turned 22 on Monday.

This year’s Blackshirts:

#91 Freedom Akinmoladun, JR, DE

#44 Mick Stoltenberg, JR, NT

#96 Carlos Davis, SO, DE

#3 Marcus Newby, SR, OLB

#49 Chris Weber, JR, ILB

#5 Dedrick Young II, JR, ILB

#22 Alex Davis, SO, OLB

#6 Eric Lee Jr., SO, CB

#46 Joshua Kalu, SR, S

#24 Aaron Williams, JR, S

#21 Lamar Jackson, SO, CB

#12 Luke Gifford, JR, OLB

#94 Khalil Davis, SO, DE

#7 Mohamed Berry, SO, LB

#23 Dicaprio Bootle, RFr., CB

#25 Antonio Reed, JR, S

A hearty congratulations to these young men on their achievement, and here’s hoping they return the Blackshirts to their former glories. Go Big Red!

Oh, and happy birthday to Luke Gifford and Joshua Kalu!