University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

Former Loper and Husker Luke McNitt joined the Nebraska-Kearney football program in 2019 and will serve as one of the program’s two graduate assistant coaches. Coming aboard in the spring, he’ll lead the outside receivers.

The Kearney native began his collegiate playing career at UNK before transferring to Nebraska. As a Loper he was a quarterback and receiver, finishing his true freshmen season of 2013 with 733 yards of total offense. Catching, throwing and rushing for a touchdown that year, McNitt helped the Lopers win three games including a 31-13 home decision over Lindenwood. He was the starting QB in that game and finished with 172 yards of total offense and four scores. McNitt went on to have a  team-best seven rushing TD’s that season. 

At Nebraska, McNitt was a full back and special teams player who worked his way up from walk-on to scholarship player. In his senior season of 2017 he was a Team Captain, winner of the Native Son Award and a member of the Brooke Berringer and Tom Osborne Citizenship Teams. A two-time Academic All-Big Ten and Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll qualifier, McNitt also was the 2016 Nebraska Lifter of the Year.

Graduating with a degree in Management, McNitt played in every game his senior season and 13 as a junior, drawing starts vs. Oregon and Wisconsin. Finally, he recovered a fumbled punt vs. Ohio State.

Prior to returning to UNK, McNitt played in two preseason games with the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons and also was in camp with the Minnesota Vikings.

At Kearney High McNitt left with school records for total offense and TD’s while also being a productive linebacker. He was tabbed the 2012 Kearney Hub Offensive Player of the Year and was a first-team Class A all-state pick. Off the grid iron he won the 2013 state title in both the shot put and discus.

The McNitt family has strong ties to UNK as Luke’s father, Steve, and older brother, Tyler, are both Loper football alumni.