Wednesday was a great day for Nebraska football as the Huskers introduced 30 new players — both scholarship and walk-on — on the first day of the early signing period. Unfortunately, Thursday’s news wasn’t as positive as linebacker Jacob Weinmaster announced his retirement from football because of medial reasons.
Weinmaster, who just completed his junior season, shared the news on his private Twitter account. Here is what his message said:
Dear Husker Nation,
It is with great sadness that I am announcing my retirement from football due to medical reasons. I cannot think you, Coach Frost and Staff, or my teammates enough for giving me the opportunity to pursue a lifelong dream. I praise God, knowing that His plans for me are far better, and WILL BE better than anything that I could accomplish on my own. By his grace, I hope to still be a part of the team in some way, but that role is yet to be determined fully. I feel extremely blessed to have been part of such a great tradition. “Bring that trophy back to Lincoln!”
Go Big Red
#GBR #Blackshirts #Walkonforlife
Weinmaster, a 6-foot, 225-pound linebacker walked on at Nebraska out of Loveland, Colorado. He redshirted in 2015 and earned Scout Team Defensive MVP honors, then missed 2016 with an injury. As a sophomore in 2017, Weinmaster earned his way onto the field on special teams, playing in all 12 games. He recorded two solo tackles in Nebraska’s comeback win over Purdue.
Last season, Weinmaster worked his way up the depth chart at inside linebacker and was one of three walk-ons placed on scholarship in August. He saw the field primarily as a special teams contributor but also as a linebacker as he earned a back-up role behind starters Mohamed Barry and Dedrick Young. He tied for the team lead with eight special teams tackles, all on kickoff coverage, and recorded five more on defense.
With Young’s eligibility expiring and Weinmaster retiring, Barry, junior Collin Miller and junior Will Honas (coming off a torn ACL this season) are the only inside linebackers returning with on-field experience. On Wednesday, the Huskers signed three players — Nick Henrich, Jackson Hannah and Garrett Snodgrass — who will likely start their careers at inside ‘backer.
Weinmaster’s younger brother, Zach, is also currently committed to walk on at Nebraska next season. Zach Weinmaster was named the 4A football player of the year in Colorado this year.
Jacob Padilla has been writing for Hail Varsity since 2015. He covers football, volleyball men’s basketball and prep sports. He also co-hosts the Nebraska Preps Postgame and Nebraska Shootaround podcasts for the Hurrdat Media and Hail Varsity podcast networks. His love of basketball can best be described as an obsession and if you need to find him, he’s probably in a gym somewhere watching, coaching or playing hoops.
