Nebraska Cornhuskers News

Home

Quizzes

Newsletter

From Walk-On to Potential Game-Changer: The Journey of Nebraska's Jacob Bower

Originally posted on Nebraska Cornhuskers on SI
By Michael Cavallo | Last updated Aug 12, 2025 8:00 AM ET

In an era where college football is increasingly defined by transfer portal headlines and NIL deals, Jacob Bower’s story cuts through the noise with raw authenticity.

A former walk-on who once paid his way just to be part of the Nebraska program, Bower has transformed himself into a scholarship linebacker and a symbol of everything the Huskers hope to build under head coach Matt Rhule. His journey, from scout team reps to spring standout, isn’t just a feel-good tale. It’s a blueprint for the kind of player development that still matters in Lincoln.

Bower’s rise from walk-on to scholarship linebacker at Nebraska is the kind of story that reminds fans why they love college football. At just 10 years old, Bower wasn’t chasing tackles; he was singing in a traveling church choir. But during a performance stop at Memorial Stadium, something shifted.
Bower fell in love with Nebraska football, planting the seed for a journey that would one day bring him back, not as a visitor, but as a linebacker.

The Rancho Santa Margarita, California, native had a full ride waiting at Army, with the chance to play rugby and earn a free education. But the pull of Nebraska was stronger. He turned down certainty for a shot at something bigger, walking on in Lincoln and footing the bill himself, all to chase a dream that started in the stands of Memorial Stadium.

Jacob Bower walked on to Lincoln in 23 to little fanfare,using a RS & developing he continued 24 by playing in 6 games!Getting better every day Bower in 25 has earned a scholarship and will surprise fans this season & has a big future ahead!We are 54 days out til Husker Kickoff! pic.twitter.com/yeNxcgvUQp
— Tyler Pedersen (@TylerSPedersen) July 5, 2025

After piling up 174 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and 4 interceptions over his final two seasons at Santa Margarita Catholic High School, Bower arrived in Lincoln in 2023 as a walk-on determined to earn his place in the Huskers' locker room. Capping off his senior season, Bower earned a spot in the Orange County All-Star Game, where he earned recognition as one of the game’s top defensive performers.

After redshirting in his first season at Nebraska, Bower saw action in six games during the 2024 season, making his Husker debut against UTEP. He logged his first career tackle in the win over Northern Iowa, quietly beginning to carve out a role on Nebraska’s special teams and defensive depth chart.

Bower’s relentless drive and breakout spring showing in 2025 didn’t go unnoticed. During a routine practice, Rhule halted the action to deliver a moment that would redefine Bower’s journey, awarding him a scholarship in front of the entire team.

Bower’s path to a Nebraska scholarship wasn’t paved with headlines or shortcuts. From choir kid to walk-on to game-changer, his story is a reminder that in Lincoln, heart still matters. For the Huskers, Bower isn’t just a player; he’s proof that the dream is still alive.