Huskers place walk-on lineman Hixson from Omaha Skutt on scholarship

LINCOLN — Trent Hixson was already trending toward starting at left guard this season. Now he’ll do so as a scholarship player.

Nebraska coach Scott Frost announced Friday that the former walk-on from Omaha Skutt was put on scholarship during the workout. Hixson, listed at 6-foot-4 and 310 pounds, appeared in four games as a redshirt freshman last season.

“The team was fired up for him,” Frost said. “So he’ll be on scholarship the remainder of his time at Nebraska.”

The Huskers still have two other scholarships to give, Frost said, and coaches are deciding among a few candidates. Possibilities likely include potential starting punter and senior Isaac Armstrong along with senior running back Wyatt Mazour.

Frost said the day marks progress for a walk-on program he believes will continue to help the team.

“I kind of thought Trent might be the first guy, but he’s really the first one I hope in a long line of walk-ons while I’m here that comes in, goes to work and becomes a guy that’s going to play or start for us,” Frost said. “So he deserves it, and I hope this isn’t the last one.”

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Nebraska awarded scholarships to three walk-ons a year ago in then-senior receiver Bryan Reimers and juniors Jacob Weinmaster and Mazour. Reimers has since graduated while Weinmaster decided to stop playing. None played major on-field roles.

Hixson has long been a favorite of the NU staff. Frost said in the spring that the lineman would be a likely candidate for a scholarship if one was available. Offensive line coach Greg Austin has said previously Hixson played with “his hair on fire” and tweeted “Well Deserved!” after the announcement Friday.