After 40 consecutive starts—a program record—on the Nebraska offensive line, Brenden Jaimes is calling it a career.
The senior left tackle announced Monday that he would be turning his attention toward preparation for the NFL Draft. He will not play Friday against Rutgers and he will not return for an additional year granted by the NCAA.
Proverbs 3:5-6 #GBR pic.twitter.com/JgD9RzVmWF
— Brenden Jaimes (@BrendenJaimes) December 14, 2020
“Being a Nebraska Cornhusker has been one of the greatest experiences of my life,” Jaimes wrote on Twitter. “I chose Nebraska to be a part of The Pipeline, a tradition like no other. After much thought and prayer, I have decided to start a new chapter in my life and prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft.”
In his absence, Nebraska might turn to true freshman Turner Corcoran (6-foot-6, 300 pounds) or redshirt freshman Brant Banks (6-foot-7, 305 pounds). Corcoran has served as the primary backup to Jaimes this season and would seem to be in line for a shot.
Nebraska is scheduled to play Rutgers on Friday at 3 p.m. CT on the road.
“(Jaimes) has been really solid for us,” head coach Scott Frost said Monday. “I think he’s got a good future in football. He’s been an important piece.”
Jaimes played four years for Nebraska. He was the rare true freshman starter on the offensive line. He started the final nine games of his freshman season at right tackle. When he made his debut—a week four win over Rutgers at home—Jaimes became just the fifth true freshman offensive lineman to start at Nebraska and only the 11th Husker offensive lineman to play as a true freshman. Jaimes’ nine starts became a new school record for a true freshman offensive lineman.
He’s manned the left tackle spot ever since.
When the staff that recruited him out of Texas—coach Mike Riley and line coach Mike Cavanaugh—changed over after the 2017 season, Jaimes elected to stick it out.
“I put a lot of trust in Coach Frost and his coaching staff and I’m glad that they are the staff that came,” he said last week. “I couldn’t imagine a better coach than (line coach Greg) Austin. He’s a main reason why I stayed. I love playing for him. I love being coached by him. I love being with him every single day.”
Austin said before this season that Jaimes turned down NFL opportunities to run it back for his senior year at Nebraska. He thought Jaimes could be one of the better left tackles in the conference.
Now, Jaimes will hope NFL scouts felt the same way. He’s looking to break something of a dry spell. Nebraska hasn’t had an offensive lineman drafted into the NFL since Alex Lewis was taken by the Ravens in the fourth round of the 2016 draft. NU has only had four linemen taken this decade.
Derek is a newbie on the Hail Varsity staff covering Husker athletics. In college, he was best known as ‘that guy from Twitter.’ He has covered a Sugar Bowl, a tennis national championship and almost everything in between (except an NCAA men’s basketball tournament game… *tears*). In his spare time, he can be found arguing with literally anyone about sports.
