Six years after going from Chicago to UNK, Armani Webster finishing strong as a Loper

Webster went from having his high school coach tweet his highlights at UNK coaches to get their attention, to spending six years as a Loper.

October 21, 2023Updated: October 21, 2023
News Channel NebraskaBy News Channel Nebraska

WATCH EVERY UNK FOOTBALL HOME GAME ON NEWS CHANNEL NEBRASKA TV

KEARNEY, Neb. — Armani Webster is writing the final chapter of an unlikely story.

The Chicago native went from having his high school coach tweet his highlights at UNK coaches to get their attention, to spending six years as a Loper. It’s made for fun reflection with the three other remaining members of the 2018 recruiting class.

“We have come far," Webster said. "As people as players, we have all just evolved and you can see it throughout the years. Even if you just look back, like you look at tape, you look at pictures, you just look at moments of being here. We have all evolved and it’s fun to see.”

The cornerback is happy he chose Nebraska-Kearney and proud that he’s stuck around for his entire eligibility.

“It’s been the best time of my life," Webster said. "It really helped me grow as a person and as a football player, too.”

“Becoming more patient with myself, not being so hard on myself, understanding that everything is a process, even in life," Webster said. "I kind of took that and put that into a football perspective because sometimes you get frustrated when you feel like you should be at a certain level and you’re just not there yet.”

Having a player as experienced as Webster has been a big bonus for first-year secondary coach Eric Lee Jr.

“His ability to see the game and, not only that, be able to teach the game to the guys that are underneath him," Lee said. "It’s been a tremendous help.”

One thing Webster wants to instill in the younger corners? The cutthroat mindset you need to excel as a corner.

“You see that dog on the other side of that fence and you know not to touch that fence, not to go near it," Webster said. "You gotta be that type of dog. You just gotta have a mentality of you won’t get beat, you can’t get beat.”

Webster’s journey at UNK is coming to a conclusion, but the Lopers are just starting to author the story of the Ryan Held era. Webster is confident it will be a good one.

“This team always have fight, we’re never going to quit," Webster said. "Big things are coming.”

Regional

Sen. Pete Ricketts holds roundtable for future progress of AG

Sen. Pete Ricketts holds roundtable for future progress of AG

Semi struck by train on Old Potash Highway in Grand Island

Semi struck by train on Old Potash Highway in Grand Island

Donated pet oxygen mask helps save dog after Grand Island fire

Donated pet oxygen mask helps save dog after Grand Island fire

Hastings Man Accused of Leaving Child in Roadside Ditch Pleads Not Guilty

Hastings Man Accused of Leaving Child in Roadside Ditch Pleads Not Guilty

Army Corps holds Kearney meeting on proposed Perkins County Canal project

Army Corps holds Kearney meeting on proposed Perkins County Canal project

Wyatt Flores, Trace Adkins, Hairball Announced for Adams County Fair Concert Series

Wyatt Flores, Trace Adkins, Hairball Announced for Adams County Fair Concert Series