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Jurgens, Taylor-Britt Go in Second Round of NFL Draft

At No. 51, the Nebraska center becomes the highest Husker draft pick in more than a decade

Joe Hudson

Photos by Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports (left) and Nebraska Athletics
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Contents

  1. Jurgens gallery
  2. Taylor-Britt gallery
  3. More coverage

The Cornhusker state is known for its one-house legislature, called the unicameral. But it was a biCameral night for Nebraska during the second round of the NFL draft Friday.

A pair of Cams - center Cam Jurgens and cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt - were chosen nine picks apart from each other in Las Vegas. Jurgens went at No. 51 to the Philadelphia Eagles, and Taylor-Britt was chosen with the 60th selection by the defending AFC champion Cincinnati Bengals.

For Nebraska fans, it was a welcome chance of pace compared with recent drafts, in which the Huskers typically didn't get any takers until the third day, if at all.

Jurgens became Nebraska's highest draft pick since cornerback Prince Amukamara went in the first round in 2011. 

Jurgens came to Lincoln as a highly touted athlete from Beatrice, Nebraska, ready to make his mark at tight end. But he was persuaded to switch to something entirely different -- center -- and he battled issues with injuries and errant snaps as he transitioned to his new position. By 2021, however, he became an undisputed strength on the offensive line and earned third-team All-Big Ten honors.

Taylor-Britt, an Alabama native, came to Nebraska as a three-star athlete whose focus in high school was at quarterback. He quickly found a home in Lincoln at cornerback, where he twice earned second-team All-Big Ten honors.

For Taylor-Britt, the news Friday night came via a call from another former Husker, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor. Watch it unfold in the video below.

 

The Bengals traded up in the draft with the Buffalo Bills to snag Taylor-Britt.

The two Cams join a long list of Nebraska NFL draftees dating back to Bernie Scherer in the 1936 draft. Go here for the full list.

The 2022 draft wraps up with rounds four through seven on Saturday. Of the Husker prospects still hoping to hear their names called, nickel/linebacker JoJo Domann is considered the most likely pick. Also seen as possible draftees are tight end Austin Allen, wide receiver Samori Toure and defensive lineman Damion Daniels. Free agency is considered the more realistic outcome for defensive lineman Ben Stille, defensive backs Deontai Williams and Marquel Dismuke, and wide receiver Levi Falck.

Jurgens gallery

Cam Jurgens center Nebraska 2022 NFL draft
Nebraska Athletics photo
Cam Jurgens NFL Combine drills 2022 USATSI_17826849
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Cam Jurgens 2020 vs Ohio State
Ohio State Athletics
Cam Jurgens and Gabe Ervin 2021 vs Oklahoma cropped
Kenny Larabee, KLIN
Cam Jurgens, Nebraska football center
Nebraska Athletic Communications

Taylor-Britt gallery

Keagan Johnson and Cam Taylor-Britt PBU 4Q 2021 Iowa cropped
Kenny Larabee, KLIN
Cam Taylor-Britt and Jeremiah Hall 2021 Nebraska at Oklahoma USATSI_16778110
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Cam Taylor-Britt, Nebraska cornerback
Nebraska Athletics Communications
Nebraska's Cam Taylor-Britt forces a fumble by South Alabama QB Cephus Johnson. Alex Davis (22) recovered the ball in the end zone for a TD.
Nebraska Athletic Communications
Cam Taylor-Britt, Nebraska football cornerback
Nikos Frazier | Journal & Courier via Imagn Content Services

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Joe Hudson
JOE HUDSON

Joe Hudson has operated a Husker-related website since 1995 and joined forces with David Max to form HuskerPedia (later renamed HuskerMax) in 1999. It began as a hobby during his 35 years as a newspaper editor and reporter, a career that included stints at the Lincoln Star, Omaha World-Herald, Philadelphia Inquirer and Denver Post. In Denver, Joe was chief of the copy desk during his final 16 years at the Post. He is proud to have been involved in Pulitzer Prize-winning projects in both Philadelphia and Denver. Joe has been a Nebraska football fan since the mid-1960s during his childhood in Omaha. He earned his bachelor of arts degree in journalism and economics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1976. He resides a few freeway exits north of Colorado Springs and enjoys bicycling and walking his dogs in his spare time. You can reach him at joeroyhud@outlook.com.

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