Fantastic Signing: With just one new commitment for 2024, the Nebraska Cornhuskers’ thin linebacker room is boosted by the return of a dependable veteran linebacker.

One of the strongest defenses Nebraska has seen since joining the Big Ten was made possible by Bullock and his colleagues

John Bullock, a linebacker, is coming back for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, who lost a number of important players last offseason.

Bullock was a walk-on when he first joined Nebraska, but this year, new head coach Matt Rhule gave him a scholarship. The Creighton Prep alumnus is a native of Nebraska and has always supported the state. Bullock describes how much it means to him to play for the Huskers in a post on NebraskaRivals.

“It means the world to me,” Bullock said of Rhule putting him on scholarship. “I’ve been working for this day ever since I got here. It was awesome to be able to share that with my teammates, and I’m very appreciative of Coach Rhule for that. … Growing up as a Nebraska kid, that was my team. That’s all I watched. It means the world. It was my dream to play here. I don’t take it for granted at all. It’s a dream come true for me.”

Bullock’s talent was acknowledged by Hule and the club prior to the season. Bullock’s teammates vote on the program’s hardest players, and the winner receives a single-digit number. The former walk-on had a career year. On Thursday, he announced using his COVID year on social media.

Bullock only had offers from the Lindenwood Lions and Augustana Vikings after high school, thus he redshirted his freshman year in 2019. Before making a name for himself in the 2023 campaign, he made his way onto the pitch to assist with special teams.

Matt Rhule, Tony White and the Nebraska Cornhuskers utilized Bullock better than anyone before them

Bullock only totaled six tackles during his Husker career until making a big contribution in 2023. Bullock joined the team five years ago, although he didn’t start collecting statistics until 2021.

Bullock was a valuable member of defensive coordinator Tony White’s 3-3-5 unit this season. Throughout the season, Bullock racked up 50 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and one forced fumble.

Bullock did not record multiple tackles in any of the team’s games this season until the mid-November matchup against the Maryland Terrapins. Bullock played in all 12 games this season, recording five or more tackles in half of them.

Bullock was a key contributor to the best Nebraska Cornhusker defense since joining the Big Ten

One of the strongest defenses Nebraska has seen since joining the Big Ten was made possible by Bullock and his colleagues, under the direction of first-year defensive coordinator Tony White. The Huskers held opponent attacks to less than 20 points per game on fewer than five yards per play for the first time in a Big Ten season.

Due in large part to his outstanding first-year performance, Tony White was offered numerous head coaching positions this winter; nevertheless, Nebraska offered him a salary increase to retain him. After interviewing for the head coaching post at San Diego State and being considered for the defensive coordinator position at USC, White received a 60% pay increase, bringing his salary to $1.6 million.

With a front seven that allowed only 92.9 yards per game, Nebraska’s running defense ranked eighth in the country, thanks in part to Bullock. With just 4.62 yards allowed per play this season, they were ranked ninth in yards per play as well.

Bullock’s return is appreciated because there is only one commit from the 2024 recruiting class, Willis McGahee IV. Due to the retirement of Luke Reimer (eligibility) and Nick Heinrich (retirement due to injury), the linebacker room is now quite thin.

Bullock is joined by a number of other returning veterans in an attempt to be a member of the group that is accountable for the turnaround of the Cornhuskers. Those veterans are:

• Ty Robinson (defensive line)
• Nash Hutmacher (defense line)
• Isaac Gifford (safety)
• Ben Scott (offensive line)
• Bryce Benhart (offensive line)

Although White, the coordinator, and the defense, which is ranked nationally, retain a strong core, the offensive competition for the 2024 campaign will be slightly stronger.