Eagles draft Nebraska safety Gerry in fifth round

Entering this weekend’s 2017 NFL Draft in Philadelphia, Nebraska stood as the only program in college football to have a player selected in the past 53 drafts dating back to 1963.

On Saturday, that streak was extended to 54 years in a row when the Philadelphia Eagles selected former Husker safety Nathan Gerry with the 184th overall pick in the fifth round.

One of just two NU players to earn an invitation to the NFL Combine in February along with tight end Cethan Carter, there were some questions of whether Gerry would hear his name called this weekend.

Part of it had to do with somewhat disappointing testing numbers at the combine (4.58 40-yard dash, 17 reps on bench press, 30.5 inch vertical and 122.0 inch broad jump), but the concern more so had to do with Gerry’s issues off the field.

The native of Sioux Falls, S.D., was suspended for both last year’s season opener and the Music City Bowl for violations of team rules, though Gerry clarified at the combine that they were due to academics.

On the field, there weren’t many questions as to whether the 6-foot-2, 220-pound third-team All-American and first-team All-Big Ten selection could play at the next level.

Gerry ended his Nebraska career tied for second all-time in school history in interceptions with 13, just one behind the school record of 14 held by Dana Stephenson.

He also ranked sixth all-time in career tackles and second for defensive backs with 273, only behind former NU All-American Mike Brown's 287 tackles.

Gerry ended up No. 1 all-time with 19 tackles for loss as a defensive back, breaking Brown's record of 17 set in 1999.