Nebraska football announced Sunday that it has offered a scholarship to 6‑foot‑3, 210‑pound linebacker Owen Price of Grand Island Central Catholic. The offer, the Huskers' second in‑state pledge for the 2028 recruiting cycle, follows a May invitation to the Matt Rhule camp and comes after Price already fielded interest from South Dakota State and Miami (OH).

Owen Price becomes Nebraska's second in‑state 2028 offer after Westside's Justin Parish

Price's commitment arrives just weeks after the Huskers extended an offer to Omaha Westside defensive lineman Justin Parish, another top‑15 rated Nebraska prospect .. According to the source, Parish is listed at 6‑foot‑4, 227 pounds and already has offers from programs such as Florida State and Iowa State. The back‑to‑back in‑state offers siggnal a strategic shift for Nebraska, which had faced criticism for overlooking local talent in recent years.

Price's on‑field production: 96 tackles, 24 TFLs and six sacks in sophomore season

The Grand Island native posted a breakout sophomore campaign, tallying 96 total tackles, 24 tackles for loss and six sacks , plus multiple forced fumbles and turnovers. His postseason performance included eight tackles and a forced fumble in a first‑round playoff win over West Point‑Beemer. as the source notes, Price logged double‑digit tackles in three games and recorded two multi‑sack outings, underscoring his playmaking ability at outside linebacker under coach Jeff Ashby.

Multi‑sport résumé: track speed adds to Nebraska’s recruiting allure

Beyond football, Price is a varsity sprinter, running a 4.51‑second 40‑yard dash, a 40‑inch vertical, and a 10‑8‑foot broad jump. He helped Grand Island finish runner‑up in the Class C 4×100‑meter relay and competed individually in the 100‑ and 200‑meter events. This blend of size and speed aligns with Nebraska’s desire for athletic linebackers who can excel in both coverage and pass‑rush roles.

Unanswered question: Will Price earn a scholarship amid competition from other Power‑Four suitors?

While Nebraska has extended its first Power‑Four offer , Price also attracted interest from South Dakota State and Miami (OH). The source does not confirm whether any other Big Ten programs, such as Iowa, have moved beyond camp invitations to formal offers . Observers will watch how Price weighs a storied program like Nebraska against the immediate playing time potentially offered by smaller schools.

Broader trend: Nebraska’s renewed emphasis on home‑grown talent after 2027 class success

Nebraska’s 2027 recruiting class featured four of the top seven in‑state prospects, including safety Tory Pittman and lineman Matt Erickson, signaling a pivot toward local pipelines. The source highlights that the Huskers secured commitments from former transfers Antayvious Ellis and others at Millard South, further cementing the program’s in‑state resurgence. Price’s offer appears to be the latest piece in this broader strategy to reclaim Nebraska’s recruiting foothold within the state.