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Heinrich Haarberg stuns crowd, wins halftime dunk contest during Nebraska vs. Illinois

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz•01/30/25•

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Heinrich Haarberg wins Nebraska football dunk contest
Screenshot courtesy of @CBBonFOX/X

For the second straight year, some Nebraska football players took part in a dunk contest during a basketball game. The crowd at Pinnacle Bank Arena saw a show – especially when Heinrich Haarberg stepped up.

Haarberg electrified the fans in attendance, throwing the ball off the backboard before throwing down a windmill dunk. That helped him win the contest, unseating last year’s champion, Jeremiah Charles.

Haarberg and Charles were two of the six Huskers to participate in the dunk contest, which took place at halftime of Thursday’s game against Illinois. Emmett Johnson, Connor Schutt, Quinn Clark and Dasan McCullough also participated and fired up the crowd. But it was Haarberg – the quarterback-turned-tight end – who came out on top.

Haarberg was part of Nebraska’s rotating quarterback room during the 2023 season and backed up Dylan Raiola during the 2024 campaign. But by the end of the year, he was making the move to tight end, though Matt Rhule said he’d be available at quarterback in the Pinstripe Bowl, if needed.

Rhule raved about Haarberg’s athleticism and knowledge for the game, both of which will benefit him as he shifts to his new position. With Dana Holgorsen now set to return as offensive coordinator after taking the controls late in 2024, it could set Haarberg up for success.

“He’s probably [one of] the best athletes I’ve ever had a chance to coach,” Rhule said in December. “He’s big, he’s explosive, he’s athletic. He can catch the ball, he’s really smart. Heinrich can go out there and play tailback on one play and play X receiver on the next, in terms of knowing what to do. I’m not saying all those are specific to his skillset. With a play designer like Dana, guys who can run and catch and block, they can do it. He’s gonna have a real, real chance there.”

Heinrich Haarberg still appeared in 12 games in 2024 despite serving in a backup role. He threw for 101 yards while adding 102 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground. Now, he’ll make the move to tight end as Raiola gets ready for his sophomore season in Lincoln.

Nebraska made its first bowl game since 2016 this past season and got its first bowl victory since 2015 to finish 7-6 in Rhule’s second year as head coach. The Cornhuskers have been active in the transfer portal this offseason with 15 players on their way to campus.