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.