On Friday night, the Middleton, Wisconsin, defensive back made his commitment to the Big Red known. He is a 2024 recruit who has had offers from Toledo and several other coveted walk-on programs, including Penn State. He is the son of Mark D’Onofrio, a former linebacker for the Nittany Lions who is currently a college football assistant and was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the second round of the 1992 NFL Draft.
On December 1, the Huskers extended the offer to Thomas D’Onofrio as a preferred walk-on.
D’Onofrio, who plays safety for the Wisconsin Badgers, is listed as 6-1, 190 pounds, and is from a community around 18 miles from the university. In 14 games played last year, he contributed to nine team turnovers, including seven interceptions.
Following a 25-year coaching career as an assistant at Wisconsin in 2022, Mark Thomas’s father is the inside linebackers coach at Stanford. Interestingly, he served as Temple’s defensive coordinator from 2006 to 2010 when Matt Rhule was an assistant coach with the Owls.
With the most recent update from this past week, Nebraska would have 150 players on the roster after the latest addition.With time, some decline in the numbers is anticipated.
On early signing day, Rhule stated as much, but he also clarified that this does not imply lowering standards for what the walk-on program can achieve.
“We’re not going to be one of the larger rosters in college football just because that’s been the directive from the athletic department making sure we’re in compliance with Title IX,” Rhule stated at the time. “We can rank among the best even though it may not be the largest walk-on program. We can also hire guys of the finest grade. Some athletes in this class declined scholarships in order to remain in this program and play.”
Prospects, in his opinion, should take note when they witness Huskers like John Bullock and Phalen Sanford succeeding and starting games.
“They are aware that they will have an equal opportunity in this program, and young people only want the chance to compete. Rhule stated, “And we give it to them.” “So I’m just as excited about them as the scholarship guys.”
