LINCOLN -- Nebraska cornerback Tommi Hill won't play Saturday or the rest of the regular season as the senior focuses on recovering from a foot injury that has lingered for more than two months.
Hill -- a five-game starter this season limited by plantar fascia -- will instead lock in on graduating and rehabbing for the Senior Bowl on Feb. 1, NU coach Matt Rhule said Thursday. It's possible the defender could return if the Huskers qualify for a bowl game.
Hill has been dealing with "a lot," Rhule said. He's been playing at half or three-quarter speed and opponents picked on him as he allowed the first scores against Illinois, Indiana and USC.
"I can't put him out there anymore," Rhule said. "He cares about his teammates and wants to be out there but he's only hurting himself and giving up touchdowns. It's unfortunate for him but he has better days ahead."
Nebraska last week started Ceyair Wright and Malcolm Hartzog at corner with DeShon Singleton and Marques Buford at safety. Other younger players like Jeremiah Charles and Mario Buford could also see increased action against Wisconsin on Saturday.
Hill finishes the regular season with 21 tackles and an interception -- the pick-six against Colorado -- in seven total games.
"I feel for him," Rhule said of Hill. "Came into the year into the year with high expectations. Had the foot injury and it's just never quite been the same."
Other notables from Rhule's availability:
" True freshman receiver Quinn Clark has spent much of the season on the scout team but saw "a ton" of reps with the top offense this week, Rhule said. The Montana native may be the "young kid" offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen alluded to during his media chat Tuesday as a potential bigger contributor Saturday.
Clark saw eight offensive snaps in the opener against UTEP and traveled to USC. Rhule said the athleticism, ball skills and body control add up well for the 6-foot-5, 205-pounder.
"We're excited about what I think he has a chance to be if he does the work," Rhule said.
" Rhule stiff-armed a question about the future status of receiver Malachi Coleman. The Lincoln East graduate has appeared in one game this season after seeing action in 11 contests with six starts as a true freshman in 2023.
"I don't know that it's appropriate on a Thursday game week to be talking about redshirting players," Rhule said. "I don't think that's fair to our seniors."
" Those seniors understand the "gravity" of Saturday, Rhule said, when NU can simultaneously end a 10-game losing streak to Wisconsin and a seven-year bowl drought with a positive result. One message this week has been reminding players that they -- not coaches -- will make the difference.
"I know how much they'd like to win," Rhule said. "I know much they'd like to be the ones who broke through. At some point someone has to do it."
" Holgorsen continues to put "a lot of pressure" on the Huskers to execute. The insight is perhaps not too different from what former OC Marcus Satterfield conveyed, Rhule said, though the way it comes across is different.
"He was very direct at his press conference," Rhule said of Holgorsen. "I'm not quite as direct because I'm the head coach. But he was very direct and he's been very direct with them. If they want to win they're going to have to go make plays."
" Nebraska is dealing with a teamwide bout with the flu. USC navigated something similar last week, Rhule said.
" Rhule called Wisconsin receiver Will Pauling "one my favorite players to watch" and a first-team All-Big Ten player. The 5-foot-10 redshirt junior has 42 grabs for 407 yards and three touchdowns this season. His status is unclear for Saturday, with redshirt freshman Trech Kekahuna (16 catches for 236 yards this season) a potential replacement if Pauling can't go.
The 2024 Nebraska football schedule