Nebraska picks up two veteran returnees for 2024. Nebraska football got two more big pieces back for the 2024 season, as starting right tackle Bryce Benhart and rover Isaac Gifford announced they plan to return in a social media posting.
Gifford manned the rover position for Nebraska and led the Huskers in tackles with 86 stops, the most by a Husker defensive back in nine seasons. Gifford was second on the team with eight pass breakups while his 6.5 tackles for loss was among the best for Big Ten defensive backs. He earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors for his efforts. Gifford was tremendously durable last season for the Huskers, playing in 692 defensive snaps according to Pro Football Focus, which led the Huskers.
Gifford’s 86 tackles were a career high and Gifford’s return helps to solidify the rover position — a key spot in defensive coordinator Tony White’s 3-3-5 defense. His return also provides more of a veteran presence in the Husker secondary, where Nebraska will lose safeties Omar Brown and Phalen Sanford, as well as cornerback Quinton Newsome going into next season. Benhart played the best football of his Husker career in 2023, becoming the only Husker offensive player to start all 12 games this season. The 6-foot-9, 315-pound Benhart has 41 career starts, tying for the most in school history by an offensive lineman.
Benhart’s return is potentially big for Nebraska’s offensive line. Nebraska is still relatively thin with depth at the tackle spots, and his return gives Nebraska a sixth-year player at one of the most important spots on the line. Nebraska is only set to lose offensive guard Nouredin Nouili, who completed his eligibility this season. In addition to Benhart, the Huskers return center Ben Scott, rotational guards Henry Lutovsky and Justin Evans-Jenkins, and veterans Teddy Prochazka and Turner Corcoran. Guard Ethan Piper, who suffered a season-ending injury, could also still return. Benhart played in 748 offensive snaps last season for Nebraska, which was top among Husker offensive linemen.
