Nebraska football in the NFL: Every former Husker on 2025 rosters and practice squads

Nebraska’s NFL footprint is wide — and getting younger

For a program still chasing its next big Saturday, Nebraska football keeps showing up on Sundays. Around two dozen former Huskers opened the 2025 league year on NFL depth charts, split between active rosters and practice squads. The mix tells a familiar story: veteran anchors holding down key roles, young players carving out snaps, and a fresh rookie class trying to stick.

On defense, a few names jump off the page. Lavonte David remains the standard in Tampa Bay’s linebacker room, the steadying voice and tackling machine who has been central to the Buccaneers’ identity for a decade. Maliek Collins, now in San Francisco, gives the 49ers a disruptive presence inside — the kind of quick, penetrating tackle who keeps guards busy and makes third-and-long possible. Cam Taylor-Britt has risen fast in Cincinnati’s secondary, playing with the confidence of a corner who’s not afraid to live on an island. Houston’s Khalil Davis brings rotational juice on the interior, while Ben Stille provides depth on the Buccaneers’ line, an insurance policy for a long, physical season.

The offensive pipeline is just as visible. Cam Jurgens has grown into a dependable interior lineman in Philadelphia, the type of smart, mobile blocker the Eagles covet in their scheme. Brenden Jaimes offers versatility for the Chargers, a swing-capable lineman who can cover multiple spots when injuries hit. Ameer Abdullah keeps earning work in Las Vegas as a reliable third-down back and return option. In Tampa Bay, Trey Palmer stretches the field and punishes soft zones, while tight end Travis Vokolek gives Arizona another big target in heavy personnel.

Here’s a snapshot of Huskers on active NFL rosters to start 2025:

• Lavonte David — LB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Maliek Collins — DL, San Francisco 49ers
• Cam Taylor-Britt — CB, Cincinnati Bengals
• Khalil Davis — DT, Houston Texans
• Ben Stille — DL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Cam Jurgens — OL, Philadelphia Eagles
• Brenden Jaimes — OL, Los Angeles Chargers
• Ameer Abdullah — RB, Las Vegas Raiders
• Trey Palmer — WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Travis Vokolek — TE, Arizona Cardinals

A couple of trends are worth watching. Tampa Bay has turned into a small Husker hub, with David setting the tone and Palmer bringing speed outside — and Stille in the room as a depth piece. Philadelphia has leaned on Nebraska linemen for years; Jurgens’ development keeps that thread alive. And Cincinnati’s trust in Taylor-Britt, who plays with edge and short memory, says a lot about how the league now values confident, physical corners.

That broad spread across positions matters for recruiting. Young players see a path at almost every spot — from the trenches to the perimeter. It also matters on Sundays. Special teams snaps, third-down roles, and sixth-offensive-lineman packages are how rosters are won during an 18-week grind.

Practice squads, rookies from 2025, and the pipeline to Sundays

The other half of this story is the development track. Practice squads are bigger and more flexible than ever. Teams can carry up to 16 players, elevate them on game week, and do it as many as three times per player before a 53-man roster decision is required. It’s where special teams aces and sub-package defenders get their foot in the door.

Former Huskers on practice squads to open 2025:

• Dicaprio Bootle — CB, Los Angeles Chargers (practice squad)
• Omar Brown — S, Green Bay Packers (practice squad)
• Quinton Newsome — DB, Denver Broncos (practice squad)
• Luke Gifford — LB, Tennessee Titans (practice squad)
• Ochaun Mathis — LB, New England Patriots (practice squad)
• Nick Gates — C, Philadelphia Eagles (practice squad)
• Jack Stoll — TE, Philadelphia Eagles (practice squad)
• Phalen Sanford — S, Las Vegas Raiders (practice squad)
• Samori Toure — WR, Chicago Bears (practice squad)

These roles aren’t placeholders. Coaches use practice-squad elevations to plug weekend injuries, test matchup-specific plans, and stress-test young players under live bullets. Defensive backs like Bootle, Newsome, and Brown can earn quick elevation if a starting corner tweaks a hamstring on Friday. On offense, a reserve tight end like Stoll can be activated if teams need heavier run looks or help on the edge against a top pass rusher.

Veteran names on these lists can surprise, too. A player like Gates brings starting experience to a practice squad, which matters for a team that wants insurance at center. Gifford has logged real special teams snaps in the league. And Toure, who flashed at times in the NFC North, gives Chicago another downfield option if injuries pile up.

Then there’s the rookie class. The 2025 draft pushed two more names into the league: defensive tackle Ty Robinson in the fourth round and tight end Thomas Fidone II in the seventh. Robinson fits the profile teams want on early downs — strong hands, sturdy base, and the frame to absorb double teams. He’ll be judged on how quickly he holds the point and how often he forces offenses into second-and-9. Fidone, who battled through setbacks in college, brings red-zone size and the kind of straight-line speed that can threaten seams if the timing hits. Seventh-round tight ends make rosters by blocking, playing on kick units, and catching the ball in traffic on third-and-4 — all teachable and valuable traits.

Isaiah Neyor joined as a college free agent. The path is tougher, but every summer there’s a UDFA who forces the issue. For receivers, the formula is simple and brutal: win on special teams, stack clean practices, and own the middle of the field when the veterans sit in August. If you do that, coaches notice — and quarterbacks keep throwing you the ball.

Why does all of this matter for Nebraska? Visibility. When prospects flip on the NFL on Sunday and they see Huskers making tackles in prime time or catching balls in two-minute drills, it reinforces a promise: development travels. The league doesn’t care about preseason rankings or highlight tapes. It cares about who can hold up against the best players on earth for four quarters.

It also reflects the kind of balance the program has pushed for — not just one position group carrying the flag, but a full spread: corners, tight ends, interior linemen, running backs, and defensive tackles. That variety shows the current staff can sell a clean story to recruits at any spot on the field: come here, play fast, get coached hard, and you’ll get your NFL shot.

There’s a practical layer, too. Practice-squad rules mean we’ll likely see this list change week to week. A corner might be elevated three times, then signed to the 53. A veteran might get poached by another team on a Tuesday and play snaps the following Sunday. Keeping track of alumni in the league now is less about a static list and more about tracking weekly call-ups and inactives.

Even with the churn, a few touchstones steady the picture. David’s longevity shows what it looks like to be a pro every day. Jurgens’ rise on the interior underscores the value of technique and fit. Taylor-Britt’s confidence on the boundary is a case study in development. And for the rookies and practice-squad Huskers, the message is simple: your shot is usually one special teams tackle, one third-and-long pressure, or one seam catch away.

As 2025 settles in, keep an eye on clusters. The Buccaneers have leaned into their Husker mix. The Eagles have multiple Nebraska linemen and tight ends in the building. The Raiders, too, have a blend of veterans and developmental defensive backs. Those pockets raise the odds that a Cornhusker voice is in the room when game plans are set — and that another one gets elevated when a window opens.

Put it all together and the picture is clear: Nebraska’s NFL lane is open and active. Veterans are still producing. Young pros are stacking reps. And the newest class is already chasing roster spots. For a fan base that lives for fall weekends, there’s plenty of reason to keep the remote handy on Sundays, too.