Wednesday Afternoon Sports – Huskers Announce Blackshirts, Thompson Named to Unitas Watchlist, Nebraska Names Volleyball Captains, Local Sports Schedule

HUSKERS ANNOUNCE BLACKSHIRTS PRIOR TO OPENING GAME:

The first nine Blackshirts have been awarded to Nebraska football defenders.

Those earning the coveted jersey are Caleb Tannor, Ty Robinson, Marques Buford, Quinton Newsom, Luke Reimer, Garrett Nelson, Nick Henrich, Myles Farmer, and Colton Feist.

Nebraska takes on Northwestern in Dublin, Ireland on Saturday with kickoff set for 11:30 AM.

THOMPSON NAMED TO UNITAS AWARD WATCH LIST:

Nebraska quarterback Casey Thompson was named to the watch list for the 2022 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.

The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award annually recognizes the nation’s top senior or upperclassmen quarterback. The 2021 winner was Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett, who flourished under the direction of offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Mark Whipple, now with the Huskers.

Thompson is also in his first season at Nebraska after transferring from Texas. He played in 19 games with 10 starts as a Longhorn and was Texas’ starting quarterback last season. In 2021, Thompson started the final 10 games and completed 63 percent of his passes for 2,113 yards and 24 touchdowns despite battling a hand injury.

FORMER BEARCAT & HUSKER MAHER WINS COMPETITION WITH COWBOYS:

The Dallas Cowboys surprised a lot of fans Tuesday when they cut Lirim Hajrullahu, leaving former Kearney High Bearcat and Husker Brett Maher as the only kicker on the roster. Hajrullahu and Maher had previously been in a battle for the starting job, but coach Mike McCarthy had apparently seen enough through two preseason games to make his decision.

Maher was chosen as the Cowboys’ Kicker because of his leg strength and confidence. 

The former Husker previously kicked for the Cowboys in 2018 and 2019 and has made the four longest field goals in franchise history.

NEBRASKA VOLLEYBALL NAMES CAPTAINS:

The Nebraska volleyball program announced its three team captains for the 2022 season on Tuesday: senior outside hitter Madi Kubik, senior defensive specialist Kenzie Knuckles and sophomore libero Lexi Rodriguez.

Kubik was an AVCA third-team All-American in 2021, and she received first-team AVCA North All-Region and first-team All-Big Ten honors.

After two years as NU’s libero, Knuckles moved into a defensive specialist role last season.

Rodriguez was recognized as the National Freshman of the Year, a first-team AVCA All-American, North Region Freshman of the Year and first-team North All-Region by the AVCA in 2021. She was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and was a first-team All-Big Ten and Big Ten All-Freshman Team selection.

HUSKER WOMEN’S HOOPS TICKETS AVAILABLE:

Nebraska women’s basketball season tickets went on sale Tuesday for the upcoming 2022-23 campaign.

The Huskers, who return five starters from their 2021-22 team that finished 24-9 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament, provide a variety of affordable season ticket packages.

Nebraska, which has ranked among the top 25 teams nationally in average home attendance for 12 consecutive seasons, is expected to be led inside by 2022 Big Ten Freshman of the Year Alexis Markowski (Lincoln, Neb.) and All-Big Ten forward Isabelle Bourne (Canberra, Australia), while All-Big Ten guards Jaz Shelley (Moe, Australia) and Sam Haiby (Moorhead, Minn.) provide electricity and experience in the backcourt.

Local Results & Schedules:

THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:

TUESDAY:

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Stars Softball: @ CCV
    • KCHS 13 – 5 CCV

WEDNESDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Softball: v. Lincoln Northeast (Doubleheader) – 5 PM @ Patriot Park
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Sports Nightly (6 PM – 8 PM)

THURSDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Softball: @ Fremont – 5 PM
  • Volleyball: @ Lincoln North Star – 6:30 PM
  • Football: @ Lincoln East – 7 PM
    • KGFW Preview Show @ 6 PM; KGFW Pregame @ 6:30 PM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Girls Golf: Kearney Catholic Invite – 9 AM
  • Boys Tennis: @ GICC – 4 PM
  • Softball: v. Hershey (Doubleheader) – 5 PM
  • Volleyball: v. Columbus Scotus – 5:30 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • High School Football Preview Show (6 – 6:30 PM)
  • Kearney High Football @ Lincoln East (6:30 PM – 10 PM)

FRIDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Girls Golf: KHS Invite @ Meadowlark – 9:30 AM
  • Boys Tennis: KHS Quad (v. KCHS, Holdrege, McCook) – 1:30 PM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Boys Tennis: Kearney High Quad (v. KHS, Holdrege, McCook) – 1:30 PM
  • Football: @ Doniphan-Trumbull – 7 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Nebraska Volleyball v. Texas A&M Corpus Christi (10:30 AM – 1:45 PM)
  • Nebraska Volleyball v. Tulsa (6 PM – 9:15 PM)

SATURDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Softball: LPS Softball Classic Invite – 9 AM
  • Volleyball: Norfolk Invite – 9 AM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Boys Tennis: @ GICC Invite – 9 AM
  • Softball: @ Holdrege Invite – 9 AM
  • Volleyball: Kearney Catholic Triangular v. Aquinas & Hastings St. Cecilia – 1 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Nebraska Cornhuskers Football v. Northwestern (7:30 AM – 6:30 PM)

SUNDAY:

• N/a