Link: https://www.landof10.com/nebraska/ranking-nebraskas-top-25-football-players-25-21
Top 25 in 5 Days: Counting Down Nebraska's Top 25 Players (Nos. 25-21)
by Erin Sorensen & Chris Heady, Land of 10
Nebraska became an official member of the Big Ten Conference on July 1, 2011. At the time, the Huskers were the 12th member of the conference and a part of the Legends Division. Six years later, Nebraska is a full-fledged member of the conference, part of the West Division, and one of 14 conference members.
Nebraska has a rich football history. With that in mind, Land of 10 is unveiling its top 25 players in Nebraska history. Players were evaluated solely on their on-field performance at Nebraska.
We start with Nos. 25-21. The countdown will continue each weekday.
25. Turner Gill (1980-83)
Turner Gill helped create one of the most explosive offensive attacks in college football history. With Gill as quarterback, Nebraska averaged 546.7 yards of total offense and 52 points per game in 1983.
Gill, a three-time All-Big Eight pick and a second-team All-American as a senior, led Nebraska to a 28-2 record and three Big Eight titles. He finished fourth in the 1983 Heisman Trophy voting, which was won by his teammate Mike Rozier.
The Huskers went 12-1 in 1983, losing only to Miami in the 1984 Orange Bowl after a failed 2-point conversion attempt.
24. Scott Frost (1995-97)
Scott Frost transferred to Nebraska in 1995. A two-year letterman at Stanford, he became Nebraska's starting quarterback in 1996 after sitting out a year due to NCAA transfer rules.
During his two years as Nebraska's starter, he became the first quarterback in program history to rush for more than 1,000 yards and pass for more than 1,000 yards in the same season (1997). He was only the 10th player in NCAA history to do so. He also was the first quarterback in Nebraska history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season.
Frost led the Huskers to the most recent national championship, in 1997, and was drafted by the New York Jets in the third round in the 1998 NFL Draft. He spent six seasons in the NFL as a safety, including stops with the Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
After working as a graduate assistant for Nebraska in 2002 and Kansas State in 2006, Frost worked his way up to the head coaching level. He currently is the head coach at the University of Central Florida. He previously was the offensive coordinator at the University of Oregon.
23. Guy Chamberlin (1914-15)
Guy “Champ” Chamberlin was a halfback at Nebraska Wesleyan University in 1911 and 1912 before transferring to the University of Nebraska in 1913. The Huskers were undefeated in 1914 and 1915 and won consecutive Missouri Valley Conference championships. Chamberlin played halfback for Nebraska, scoring on runs as long as 90 yards, and moved to defensive end as a senior.
Chamberlin has a Nebraska trophy named in his honor. It is “presented to the senior player who has shown by the play and contributions to the betterment of the University of Nebraska football squad that he has the qualities and dedication of Guy Chamberlin to the Cornhusker tradition.” It was established in 1967.
22. Brook Berringer (1991-95)
Brook Berringer
entered the 1994 football season as the No. 2 quarterback behind Tommie Frazier. When Frazier was diagnosed with blood clots four games into the season, Berringer was thrust into the starting quarterback role.
Berringer won all seven games he started that season and led Nebraska to the national title game. Frazier recovered in time to start in the Orange Bowl, but Berringer proved indispensable when he entered the game in the second quarter. Alongside Frazier, the duo led Nebraska to a comeback victory over Miami. It was Nebraska head coach Tom Osborne’s first national championship.
Frazier and Berringer competed heavily for the starting role in 1995, with Frazier ultimately winning the job. Berringer responded graciously, supporting Frazier from the No. 2 role as Nebraska won its second straight national championship.
Berringer passed for 1,769 yards, rushed for 396 yards and scored 20 touchdowns in his career. He was expected to be selected in the 1996 NFL Draft, but was killed on April 18, just two days before the draft, when he lost control of the 1946 Piper Club he was piloting. He was 22 years old.
Twenty-one years later, Berringer's legacy lives on. A statue of Berringer and Osborne stands outside Memorial Stadium. The Brook Berringer Citizenship Team annually honors members of the Nebraska football team who “consistently went above and beyond the call of duty providing excellent leadership, involvement and service.”
21. Jerry Tagge (1969-71)
Jerry Tagge quarterbacked Nebraska to its first two national titles in 1970 and 1971. After spending his sophomore season in 1969 as the No. 2 quarterback, he earned the starting role over Van Brownson midway through his junior year.
Tagge logged 5,069 passing yards and 32 touchdowns during his college career. His completion percentage as a senior — 63 percent — was the best in Huskers history until Joe Ganz broke it in 2008. Tagge was named first-team All-American and All-Big 8 after his senior season.
Tagge was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the first round of the 1972 NFL Draft.
20. Trev Alberts (1990-93)
From 1990-93, Trev Alberts was a staple of the Blackshirts.
Alberts played in 43 games at Nebraska, starting his final 22. He sprang onto the stage in 1990, winning Big Eight Defensive Newcomer of the Year.
In 1993, Alberts led the team in tackles with 96, and tied a school record for sacks with 15. He won the 1993 Butkus Award and was a first-team All-American, Big Eight Defensive Player of the Year and Big Eight Male Athlete of the Year.
Alberts still holds the record for career sacks at Nebraska with 29.5.
He was the fifth overall pick in the 1994 NFL Draft, but had an injury-riddled career. He later worked for ESPN and currently is the athletic director for the University of Nebraska-Omaha.
Alberts' No. 34 jersey is retired.
19. Cory Schlesinger (1990-94)
Best known for his two rushing touchdowns in the 1995 Orange Bowl, Cory Schlesinger might be the best fullback in Nebraska history.
Schlesinger was on Nebraska's junior varsity team in 1990, redshirted in 1991, hardly touched the ball in 1992, then exploded onto the scene in 1993.
In his final two seasons at Nebraska, Schlesinger started 17 games, ran for 649 yards and scored 5 touchdowns. He averaged 7.2 yards per carry in 1994, and scored 4 touchdowns as a senior.
He was an honorable mention All-Big Eight pick and an Academic All-Big Eight member in 1994.
Schlesinger went on to a long NFL career, playing 13 seasons with the Detroit Lions, and later with the Miami Dolphins.
But he'll be remembered most for this rumble to the end zone that sealed the first of Tom Osborne's three national championships.
18. Dean Steinkuhler (1980-83)
From the small town of Burr, Nebraska, Dean Steinkuhler made a name for himself as an offensive guard for the Huskers in the 1980s.
In the 1983 season, Steinkuhler blocked for eventual Heisman Trophy winner Mike Rozier. The Huskers ran for 401.7 yards per game that season and led the nation in scoring with 52 points per game.
Steinkuhler ended up winning both the 1983 Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy.
Steinkuhler is known as the beneficiary of the famous "Fumbleroosky" against Miami in the 1984 Orange Bowl.
Steinkuhler was selected second overall by the Houston Oilers in the 1984 NFL Draft.
His No. 71 jersey is retired.
17. Barrett Ruud (2001-04)
Barrett Ruud has a legitimate case as the best linebacker in Nebraska history. From 2001-04, Ruud racked up 432 total tackles, which remains a school record.
He's also the Huskers' all-time leader in unassisted tackles in a season, total number of assisted tackles in school history, and unassisted tackles in a game.
His 2003 and 2004 seasons, with 149 and 143 tackles, rank second and third in school history for tackles in a season.
Ruud was a third-team All-American and first-team All-Big 12 pick in 2004. He also was the Nebraska Defensive MVP and a captain that season.
He made the Big 12 Commissioner's Spring Academic Honor Roll every year from 2002 to 2005.
He was drafted in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft (36th overall) by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
16. Lavonte David (2010-11)
Lavonte David left his mark on the program despite only playing at Nebraska in 2010 and 2011.
After transferring from Fort Scott Community College, David started every game. He totaled 285 tackles, 11 sacks and 28 tackles for loss.
He led the Big 12 in tackles per game as a junior in 2010 and was a unanimous first-team All-Big 12 selection.
He followed that season with a first-team All-America selection in 2011. He was a Butkus Award finalist in 2011, as well as the Butkus-Fitzgerald Big Ten Linebacker of the Year.
David holds the record for career unassisted tackles in school history as a linebacker with 149. He also holds the record for most career tackles by a two-year player.
David was the 58th pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, selected by Tampa Bay, and has been a standout player for the Buccaneers.
15. Jason Peter (1994-97)
After redshirting his freshman season, Jason Peter played defensive tackle and helped the Huskers to a 49-2 record from 1994-97, a run that included three national championships.
As a senior, Peter ranked third on the team in tackles with 60, including 22 solo, third with 7 sacks and second behind Grant Wistrom in tackles for loss (15). Peter was a co-captain his senior season and a consensus first-team All-American.
Peter was also a two-time All-Big 12 selection and a finalist for the Outland Trophy.
Peter was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft.
14. Roger Craig (1979-82)
While freshmen were varsity-eligible beginning in 1972, Roger Craig mostly played on the freshman squad his first season at Nebraska. After a couple of appearances on the varsity team the first season, he played three full seasons as a running back on Nebraska's varsity. He racked up a lot of yards over those three seasons, including 769 yards and 15 touchdowns in 1980 and 1,060 yards and 6 touchdowns on 173 carries in 1981. Craig also earned All-Big 8 honors his junior year.
Craig was limited as a senior due to an injury, but he was able to return for the final regular-season game and rushed for 127 yards.
Craig was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the 1983 NFL Draft. He spent 11 years in the NFL. He was inducted into the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame in 1989.
13. Tom Rathman (1983-85)
Tom Rathman almost didn't become one of the Huskers' greatest fullbacks. In the spring of 1983, he was nearly moved to tight end.
But starting fullback Doug Wilkening quit, and the rest is history.
Rathman became a three-year letter winner at Nebraska, finishing his career with 1,425 rushing yards. As a senior, Rathman carried the ball 118 times for 881 yards and 8 touchdowns.
From 1983-85, Rathman set several school position records. His 881 yards remain a Nebraska record for a fullback in a season.
Rathman was drafted in the third round of the 1986 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers.
12. Rich Glover (1970-72)
Rich Glover is one of the greatest defensive players in Nebraska football history, helping the Huskers secure back-to-back national championships in 1970 and 1971.
A three-year letter winner, Glover earned consensus All-America honors in 1971 and 1972 and finished third in Heisman Trophy voting in 1972. He was named Big Eight Defensive Player of the Year as a senior.
He is the first of four Nebraska players to win both the Outland Trophy and the Lombardi Award in their careers and set the standard by which Dave Rimington, Dean Steinkuhler and Ndamukong Suh were all judged.
Glover was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1995. His jersey -- No. 79 -- was retired following the 1972 season.
11. Lawrence Phillips (1993-95)
When he was on the field, I-back Lawrence Phillips was brilliant. Off the field was another story. When his off-the-field problems spilled over to the football team, Phillips became a lightning rod for coach Tom Osborne.
As a true freshman, Phillips played in every game but one -- the season opener. He finished the season as Nebraska's third-leading rusher with 508 yards on 92 carries and five touchdowns and boasted the third-best all-time rushing season for a Nebraska freshman.
He followed that up by becoming the seventh Nebraska sophomore to rush for 1,000 yards with 1,722. He scored 16 touchdowns in 1994.
Heading into his junior season, Phillips was an early favorite for the Heisman Trophy. But off-field issues -- including assault charges -- caused him to be suspended for six games and tarnished the reputation of Osborne when Phillips was reinstated and named a starter for the Fiesta Bowl. He rushed for 165 yards and two touchdowns in that game, while also scoring a touchdown on a 16-yard reception as Nebraska routed Florida to win Osborne's second national championship.
Phillips opted to forego his senior season at Nebraska, declaring early for the 1996 NFL Draft. He was selected by the St. Louis Rams with the sixth overall pick.
Phillips committed suicide in prison in 2016. He was serving a seven-year term for felony assault with a deadly weapon.
10. Irving Fryar (1981-83)
Irving Fryar, along with Mike Rozier and Turner Gill, rumbled through nearly everyone in the 1980s.
A 6-foot, 195-pound wingback, Fryar caught 67 passes for 1,196 yards and 11 touchdowns in his career. Add to that 615 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns on the ground, an 11.8 yard punt return average and a 23.8 yard kick return average, and you've got one of the most dynamic athletes in Nebraska history.
Fryar was the leader in receptions for the 1982 and 1983 seasons. In 1983, Fryar was a consensus first-team All-American and first-team All-Big 8 player.
The New England Patriots selected Fryar with the first overall pick in the 1984 NFL Draft. He went on to have an illustrious NFL career, making the Pro Bowl five times and winning the Bart Starr Man of the Year Award in 1998.
9. Ahman Green (1995-97)
Ahman Green keyed Tom Osborne's final two national titles in the 1995 and 1997 seasons while leading the team in rushing yards.
Green set a Nebraska freshman record with 1,086 yards in 1995, a mark that still stands. In 1996, he again led the team with 917 yards and 7 touchdowns. In 1997, Green was a Doak Walker Award finalist, named first-team All-Big 12 and ranked second nationally in rushing yards with 156.4 per game.
Green remains second in total 100-yard rushing games with 20. He's also tied for the record for most consecutive 100-yard rushing games in a season, with 11 in the 1997 season. Green ran for 200 yards in three straight games that season. He finished with 1,877 yards, the second most by a Husker running back in a single-season behind only Mike Rozier, who ran for 2,148 yards in 1983.
Green was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He went on to be selected to five Pro Bowls with the Green Bay Packers and was inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame in 2014.
8. Will Shields (1989-92)
From 1989 to 1992, Will Shields dominated the offensive line for the Huskers.
Shields helped Nebraska to lead the nation in rushing yards in 1989, 1991 and 1992. He was named to an All-Big 8 team three straight seasons and capped his career with the 1992 Outland Trophy.
After his senior season in 1992, Shields received votes for Big 8 Offensive Player of the Year and ended up a consensus All-American. He was named to Nebraska's All-Century team in 1999.
After Nebraska, Shields was a 12-time Pro Bowler and was a first-team All-Pro three times. He was named NFL Man of the Year in 2003. Shields' No. 75 is retired at Nebraska.
7. Eric Crouch (1998-01)
One of only three players in Nebraska history to win the Heisman Trophy, Eric Crouch led Nebraska to a historic 2001 season.
In addition to winning the Heisman in 2001, Crouch won the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, Davey O'Brien Quarterback Award, was ABC National Player of the Year, Sporting News Offensive Player of the Year and Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. He was a first-team All-Big 12 and first-team All-America selection.
In 2001, Crouch set the record for career rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with 59. He's one of only three quarterbacks in history to run for 3,000 yards and pass for 4,000 in a career.
Crouch accrued a total of 7,915 yards and 88 touchdowns, with 4,481 of those yards coming through the air and 3,950 on the ground.
Crouch was selected by the St. Louis Rams in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft.
6. Dave Rimington (1979-82)
Dave Rimington is often regarded as the best center in college football history. He might be best known for winning the Outland Trophy in 1981 and 1982, the first player ever to win the award in consecutive years. He also won the Lombardi Award in 1982.
Rimington started his final three seasons at Nebraska, blocking for quarterback Turner Gill and eventual Heisman Trophy winner Mike Rozier. In those three seasons, Rimington was named first-team All-American in both 1981 and 1982, and was first-team All-Big 8 in 1980, 1981, and 1982.
His No. 50 jersey was retired in 1982, and he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1997. He played in the NFL for seven seasons before retiring in 1989.
Rimington now has a trophy named after him, which is given annually to the best center in college football.
5. Grant Wistrom (1994-97)
Erin: Defensive end Grant Wistrom is arguably one of the best defensive players in Nebraska history. By the end of his Huskers career, he compiled a 49-2 record and won three national titles (1994, '95, and '97) during that time.
Wistrom was a captain his senior year and finished the season with 51 tackles. That included 8 1/2 sacks and 17 tackles for loss.
Wistrom was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the first round (No. 6 overall) of the 1998 NFL Draft. His No. 98 jersey was also retired that year.
Chris: Wistrom lands at No. 5 for one simple reason: He was a winner. If there was an award, or a game, for Wistrom to win in a Nebraska uniform, he pretty much won it.
Wistrom also won the Lombardi Award (given to the nation's best defensive lineman or linebacker), was a two-time All-American, two-time Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and two-time Big 12 Male Athlete of the Year.
He remains known as one of the best pass rushers in history.
4. Johnny Rodgers (1970-72)
Chris: Johnny "The Jet" Rodgers set pretty much every record in the book for the Huskers in the 1970s.
To this day, Rodgers holds the record for most receiving yards in a season, most touchdown receptions in a career and consecutive games with a reception. The 1972 Heisman Trophy winner was a dynamic return man, and was nearly impossible to take down in the open field. He finished his career with a 5.7 yards-per-carry average, a 17.3 yards-per-catch average and 15.5 yards-per-punt-return average.
Erin: One of the most memorable moments in Nebraska history is Rodgers' 72-yard punt return in 1971. It was the first score in Nebraska's 35-31 victory over Oklahoma in the "Game of the Century".
He was a two-time first-team All-American, inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2000 and was one of six Cornhuskers named to Sports Illustrated's All-Century Team. Two more of those players are still to come in this countdown.
3. Ndamukong Suh (2005-09)
Erin: A quick glance at Ndamukong Suh's player profile at Huskers.com highlights why he is one of the best players of all-time. The list of his awards and accomplishments is extensive, not only at Nebraska but nationally, too. It includes the Guy Chamberlin Trophy, Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, CBSSports.com National Defensive Player of the Year and countless others.
As both a junior and senior, Suh led the Huskers in tackles (76 as a junior, 85 as a senior). Also as a senior, he led the team in tackles for loss (24), sacks (12), quarterback hurries (26) and blocked kicks (3).
Chris: One of the most dominating figures in college football history, Suh had a 2009 season to remember. He was named Associated Press College Player of the Year, finished fourth in Heisman Trophy voting, won the Lombardi Award, Bednarik Award and Nagurski Trophy.
Suh might best be known for his performance against Texas in the 2009 Big 12 Championship Game, when he tossed around Texas QB Colt McCoy. Suh racked up 12 tackles, 7 tackles for loss and 4 1/2 sacks in that game.
2. Mike Rozier (1981-83)
Chris: If we could, we'd put Mike Rozier as No. 1A, rather than No. 2. The most dynamic back in Nebraska history and the 1983 Heisman Trophy winner, Rozier ran for 4,780 yards at Nebraska, including 49 rushing touchdowns.
His 1983 season was one for the ages. Rozier ran for 2,148 yards that season, which remains a school record. That season, he averaged an astounding 7.8 yards per carry, and ran for 29 touchdowns.
Rozier ran for 100 or more yards on 26 occasions (a school record), including seven 200-plus-yard games. Rozier once ran for 230 yards in a half (vs. Kansas, 1983). He ran for 100 or more yards in 11 straight games, including four straight 200-yard games.
Erin: Rozier truly rewrote the scoring and rushing record books for Nebraska. His senior season also made quite the dent in the Big Eight and NCAA record books. At the end of his collegiate career, he was drafted by both the USFL (first pick overall) and the NFL (second pick overall in the supplemental draft).
Rozier was voted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006.
1. Tommie Frazier (1992-95)
Erin: "Look at Tommie Frazier. How many tackles can one man break?"
The answer to that question for quarterback Tommie Frazier might as well be all of them. Frazier solidified himself in Nebraska history in the mid-1990s, earning all kinds of awards and honors for his on-field performances. While he did not win the Heisman Trophy, many believe he was snubbed. Even without that hardware, he'll forever be one of the best players in not only Nebraska history but also college football history.
Chris: The leader of arguably the best team in college football history in 1995, Frazier helped Nebraska become truly dominant in the 1990s.
The option quarterback was 31-1 in regular season games as the starter and 33-3 overall. He was nearly impossible to game-plan for because of the threat he provided in the ground game and with his arm.
Frazier won the starting job midseason as a true freshman, the first to do so in school history. That season, Nebraska won the Big Eight under Frazier's lead.
In 1993, Frazier started all 11 games and scored a total of 21 touchdowns. He led the Huskers to their first undefeated regular season since 1983.
In 1994, Frazier missed most of the season because of a blood clot, appearing in just four games. He did, however, return for the 1995 Orange Bowl and led Nebraska to two come-from-behind touchdowns in the fourth quarter, helping the Cornhuskers win Tom Osborne's first national championship with a 24-17 win over Miami.
In 1995, Frazier capped off his career with a 12-0 record. He rushed for 604 yards and 14 rushing touchdowns, plus added 1,362 passing yards and 17 touchdowns.
He was the Heisman Trophy runner-up in 1995, losing to Eddie George. He was named first-team All-American, Sporting News Player of the Year and first-team All-Big Eight.
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HONORABLE MENTION
Ameer Abdullah
I-back Ameer Abdullah finished his Nebraska career with 4,588 career rushing yards. He also had three straight 1,000-yard rushing seasons from 2012-14, a first in Nebraska history.
With those numbers, the awards and honors he received during his Nebraska career reflect his work: He was a five-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week, a Doak Walker Award finalist, and a Nebraska team MVP twice (2013 and '14). The list goes on.
With that kind of career, Abdullah finished just outside our top 25.
Prince Amukamara
Cornerback Prince Amukamara was a vital piece of Nebraska's defense during the 2010 season, racking up 59 tackles (including 36 solo stops) and 13 pass breakups. His performance on the field helped the Blackshirts rank fifth nationally in pass efficiency defense. At the conclusion of his senior season, Amukamara was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year by the conference's head coaches.
By the end of his career, he had a total of 27 pass breakups.
Mike Brown
Many believe safety Mike Brown should be included in Nebraska's top 25. The three-year starter did make a strong case for his inclusion, including a long list of awards and honors. That included first-team All-American by the football writers, CBS Sportsline and the AP. He was also a co-captain of the team in 1999 and awarded the Guy Chamberlin Trophy Senior Award.
By the end of his career, he recorded 287 tackles, 137 interceptions and 14 pass breakups.
Ralph Brown
Cornerback Ralph Brown set quite a few school records, some of which still stand. That includes the most pass breakups in a single game (7 vs. Colorado in 1996) and the most career pass breakups (50 from 1996-99).
Like Mike Brown (no relation), he was a co-captain in 1999 and honored as a first-team All-American by Walter Camp, Football News, Sporting News, ABC/BCS.com and the Football Foundation.
Sam Foltz
Punter Sam Foltz was on track to be one of the nation's best punters in 2016 before he was killed in a car crash on July 23, 2016. He was a preseason candidate for the Ray Guy Award and averaged 42.6 yards per punt at Nebraska. He was also the 2015 Eddleman-Fields Big Ten Punter of the Year and First-Team All-Big Ten (Coaches, Media, AP, Phil Steele and ESPN.com) in 2015.
Joe Ganz
Quarterback Joe Ganz still holds Nebraska records, including most passing yards in a single game at 510. At the end of his senior season in 2008, he held more than 20 total Husker records. He also accounted for 3,568 passing yards, 3826 yards of total offense and completed 67.9 percent of his passes.
He was a Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week twice as a senior and also named to the 2008 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award watch list.
Alex Henery
During his time as a Husker, place kicker Alex Henery impressed on both field goal attempts and PATs. He was 68-of-76 on field goals in his career, an 89.5 percent success rate. He also made an incredible 93-of-94 career PATs, which gave him a 96.7 percent accuracy rate.
One of the most memorable moments in Henery's Nebraska career is his 57-yard field goal against Colorado as a sophomore in 2008.
Larry Jacobson
Defensive tackle Larry Jacobson was a standout for the Huskers in 1970 and '71. As a senior he recorded 73 tackles, including 28 solo stops. He also added 12 tackles for a loss of 73 yards and 1 interception, and was one of two All-Americans on the Nebraska defensive line in 1971 (alongside Rich Glover). He also earned All-Big Eight honors that year.
Sam Koch
Sam Koch is easily one of the most prolific punters in Nebraska history. From 2002-05, he racked up 5,902 yards on 134 punts. His single-season average of 46.51 yards in 2005 is still at the top of the Huskers charts to this day. Koch, a former walk-on, was the Huskers' special teams MVP in 2005 and a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award.
Joel Makovicka
Fullback Joel Makovicka appeared in 45 games (including 22 starts) in his five seasons as a Husker. During that time, he was a member of three national championship teams. He amassed 1,447 yards on 247 carries with 13 touchdowns and added 12 catches for 155 yards and a score.
Makovicka was drafted in the fourth round of the 1999 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals.
Zac Taylor
While quarterback Zac Taylor was only at Nebraska for two seasons, he made a big impact. In 2006, he threw for a school single-season record 3,197 passing yards (which stood until Ganz's 3,568). He still holds the Nebraska record for passing touchdowns in a single season with 26 (against only 8 interceptions).
In 2006, Taylor threw 80 or more consecutive passes without an interception three times. He was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year that season, as well.
Top 25 in 5 Days: Counting Down Nebraska's Top 25 Players (Nos. 25-21)
by Erin Sorensen & Chris Heady, Land of 10
Nebraska became an official member of the Big Ten Conference on July 1, 2011. At the time, the Huskers were the 12th member of the conference and a part of the Legends Division. Six years later, Nebraska is a full-fledged member of the conference, part of the West Division, and one of 14 conference members.
Nebraska has a rich football history. With that in mind, Land of 10 is unveiling its top 25 players in Nebraska history. Players were evaluated solely on their on-field performance at Nebraska.
We start with Nos. 25-21. The countdown will continue each weekday.
25. Turner Gill (1980-83)
Turner Gill helped create one of the most explosive offensive attacks in college football history. With Gill as quarterback, Nebraska averaged 546.7 yards of total offense and 52 points per game in 1983.
Gill, a three-time All-Big Eight pick and a second-team All-American as a senior, led Nebraska to a 28-2 record and three Big Eight titles. He finished fourth in the 1983 Heisman Trophy voting, which was won by his teammate Mike Rozier.
The Huskers went 12-1 in 1983, losing only to Miami in the 1984 Orange Bowl after a failed 2-point conversion attempt.
24. Scott Frost (1995-97)
Scott Frost transferred to Nebraska in 1995. A two-year letterman at Stanford, he became Nebraska's starting quarterback in 1996 after sitting out a year due to NCAA transfer rules.
During his two years as Nebraska's starter, he became the first quarterback in program history to rush for more than 1,000 yards and pass for more than 1,000 yards in the same season (1997). He was only the 10th player in NCAA history to do so. He also was the first quarterback in Nebraska history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season.
Frost led the Huskers to the most recent national championship, in 1997, and was drafted by the New York Jets in the third round in the 1998 NFL Draft. He spent six seasons in the NFL as a safety, including stops with the Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
After working as a graduate assistant for Nebraska in 2002 and Kansas State in 2006, Frost worked his way up to the head coaching level. He currently is the head coach at the University of Central Florida. He previously was the offensive coordinator at the University of Oregon.
23. Guy Chamberlin (1914-15)
Guy “Champ” Chamberlin was a halfback at Nebraska Wesleyan University in 1911 and 1912 before transferring to the University of Nebraska in 1913. The Huskers were undefeated in 1914 and 1915 and won consecutive Missouri Valley Conference championships. Chamberlin played halfback for Nebraska, scoring on runs as long as 90 yards, and moved to defensive end as a senior.
Chamberlin has a Nebraska trophy named in his honor. It is “presented to the senior player who has shown by the play and contributions to the betterment of the University of Nebraska football squad that he has the qualities and dedication of Guy Chamberlin to the Cornhusker tradition.” It was established in 1967.
22. Brook Berringer (1991-95)
Brook Berringer
entered the 1994 football season as the No. 2 quarterback behind Tommie Frazier. When Frazier was diagnosed with blood clots four games into the season, Berringer was thrust into the starting quarterback role.
Berringer won all seven games he started that season and led Nebraska to the national title game. Frazier recovered in time to start in the Orange Bowl, but Berringer proved indispensable when he entered the game in the second quarter. Alongside Frazier, the duo led Nebraska to a comeback victory over Miami. It was Nebraska head coach Tom Osborne’s first national championship.
Frazier and Berringer competed heavily for the starting role in 1995, with Frazier ultimately winning the job. Berringer responded graciously, supporting Frazier from the No. 2 role as Nebraska won its second straight national championship.
Berringer passed for 1,769 yards, rushed for 396 yards and scored 20 touchdowns in his career. He was expected to be selected in the 1996 NFL Draft, but was killed on April 18, just two days before the draft, when he lost control of the 1946 Piper Club he was piloting. He was 22 years old.
Twenty-one years later, Berringer's legacy lives on. A statue of Berringer and Osborne stands outside Memorial Stadium. The Brook Berringer Citizenship Team annually honors members of the Nebraska football team who “consistently went above and beyond the call of duty providing excellent leadership, involvement and service.”
21. Jerry Tagge (1969-71)
Jerry Tagge quarterbacked Nebraska to its first two national titles in 1970 and 1971. After spending his sophomore season in 1969 as the No. 2 quarterback, he earned the starting role over Van Brownson midway through his junior year.
Tagge logged 5,069 passing yards and 32 touchdowns during his college career. His completion percentage as a senior — 63 percent — was the best in Huskers history until Joe Ganz broke it in 2008. Tagge was named first-team All-American and All-Big 8 after his senior season.
Tagge was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the first round of the 1972 NFL Draft.
20. Trev Alberts (1990-93)
From 1990-93, Trev Alberts was a staple of the Blackshirts.
Alberts played in 43 games at Nebraska, starting his final 22. He sprang onto the stage in 1990, winning Big Eight Defensive Newcomer of the Year.
In 1993, Alberts led the team in tackles with 96, and tied a school record for sacks with 15. He won the 1993 Butkus Award and was a first-team All-American, Big Eight Defensive Player of the Year and Big Eight Male Athlete of the Year.
Alberts still holds the record for career sacks at Nebraska with 29.5.
He was the fifth overall pick in the 1994 NFL Draft, but had an injury-riddled career. He later worked for ESPN and currently is the athletic director for the University of Nebraska-Omaha.
Alberts' No. 34 jersey is retired.
19. Cory Schlesinger (1990-94)
Best known for his two rushing touchdowns in the 1995 Orange Bowl, Cory Schlesinger might be the best fullback in Nebraska history.
Schlesinger was on Nebraska's junior varsity team in 1990, redshirted in 1991, hardly touched the ball in 1992, then exploded onto the scene in 1993.
In his final two seasons at Nebraska, Schlesinger started 17 games, ran for 649 yards and scored 5 touchdowns. He averaged 7.2 yards per carry in 1994, and scored 4 touchdowns as a senior.
He was an honorable mention All-Big Eight pick and an Academic All-Big Eight member in 1994.
Schlesinger went on to a long NFL career, playing 13 seasons with the Detroit Lions, and later with the Miami Dolphins.
But he'll be remembered most for this rumble to the end zone that sealed the first of Tom Osborne's three national championships.
18. Dean Steinkuhler (1980-83)
From the small town of Burr, Nebraska, Dean Steinkuhler made a name for himself as an offensive guard for the Huskers in the 1980s.
In the 1983 season, Steinkuhler blocked for eventual Heisman Trophy winner Mike Rozier. The Huskers ran for 401.7 yards per game that season and led the nation in scoring with 52 points per game.
Steinkuhler ended up winning both the 1983 Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy.
Steinkuhler is known as the beneficiary of the famous "Fumbleroosky" against Miami in the 1984 Orange Bowl.
Steinkuhler was selected second overall by the Houston Oilers in the 1984 NFL Draft.
His No. 71 jersey is retired.
17. Barrett Ruud (2001-04)
Barrett Ruud has a legitimate case as the best linebacker in Nebraska history. From 2001-04, Ruud racked up 432 total tackles, which remains a school record.
He's also the Huskers' all-time leader in unassisted tackles in a season, total number of assisted tackles in school history, and unassisted tackles in a game.
His 2003 and 2004 seasons, with 149 and 143 tackles, rank second and third in school history for tackles in a season.
Ruud was a third-team All-American and first-team All-Big 12 pick in 2004. He also was the Nebraska Defensive MVP and a captain that season.
He made the Big 12 Commissioner's Spring Academic Honor Roll every year from 2002 to 2005.
He was drafted in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft (36th overall) by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
16. Lavonte David (2010-11)
Lavonte David left his mark on the program despite only playing at Nebraska in 2010 and 2011.
After transferring from Fort Scott Community College, David started every game. He totaled 285 tackles, 11 sacks and 28 tackles for loss.
He led the Big 12 in tackles per game as a junior in 2010 and was a unanimous first-team All-Big 12 selection.
He followed that season with a first-team All-America selection in 2011. He was a Butkus Award finalist in 2011, as well as the Butkus-Fitzgerald Big Ten Linebacker of the Year.
David holds the record for career unassisted tackles in school history as a linebacker with 149. He also holds the record for most career tackles by a two-year player.
David was the 58th pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, selected by Tampa Bay, and has been a standout player for the Buccaneers.
15. Jason Peter (1994-97)
After redshirting his freshman season, Jason Peter played defensive tackle and helped the Huskers to a 49-2 record from 1994-97, a run that included three national championships.
As a senior, Peter ranked third on the team in tackles with 60, including 22 solo, third with 7 sacks and second behind Grant Wistrom in tackles for loss (15). Peter was a co-captain his senior season and a consensus first-team All-American.
Peter was also a two-time All-Big 12 selection and a finalist for the Outland Trophy.
Peter was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft.
14. Roger Craig (1979-82)
While freshmen were varsity-eligible beginning in 1972, Roger Craig mostly played on the freshman squad his first season at Nebraska. After a couple of appearances on the varsity team the first season, he played three full seasons as a running back on Nebraska's varsity. He racked up a lot of yards over those three seasons, including 769 yards and 15 touchdowns in 1980 and 1,060 yards and 6 touchdowns on 173 carries in 1981. Craig also earned All-Big 8 honors his junior year.
Craig was limited as a senior due to an injury, but he was able to return for the final regular-season game and rushed for 127 yards.
Craig was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the 1983 NFL Draft. He spent 11 years in the NFL. He was inducted into the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame in 1989.
13. Tom Rathman (1983-85)
Tom Rathman almost didn't become one of the Huskers' greatest fullbacks. In the spring of 1983, he was nearly moved to tight end.
But starting fullback Doug Wilkening quit, and the rest is history.
Rathman became a three-year letter winner at Nebraska, finishing his career with 1,425 rushing yards. As a senior, Rathman carried the ball 118 times for 881 yards and 8 touchdowns.
From 1983-85, Rathman set several school position records. His 881 yards remain a Nebraska record for a fullback in a season.
Rathman was drafted in the third round of the 1986 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers.
12. Rich Glover (1970-72)
Rich Glover is one of the greatest defensive players in Nebraska football history, helping the Huskers secure back-to-back national championships in 1970 and 1971.
A three-year letter winner, Glover earned consensus All-America honors in 1971 and 1972 and finished third in Heisman Trophy voting in 1972. He was named Big Eight Defensive Player of the Year as a senior.
He is the first of four Nebraska players to win both the Outland Trophy and the Lombardi Award in their careers and set the standard by which Dave Rimington, Dean Steinkuhler and Ndamukong Suh were all judged.
Glover was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1995. His jersey -- No. 79 -- was retired following the 1972 season.
11. Lawrence Phillips (1993-95)
When he was on the field, I-back Lawrence Phillips was brilliant. Off the field was another story. When his off-the-field problems spilled over to the football team, Phillips became a lightning rod for coach Tom Osborne.
As a true freshman, Phillips played in every game but one -- the season opener. He finished the season as Nebraska's third-leading rusher with 508 yards on 92 carries and five touchdowns and boasted the third-best all-time rushing season for a Nebraska freshman.
He followed that up by becoming the seventh Nebraska sophomore to rush for 1,000 yards with 1,722. He scored 16 touchdowns in 1994.
Heading into his junior season, Phillips was an early favorite for the Heisman Trophy. But off-field issues -- including assault charges -- caused him to be suspended for six games and tarnished the reputation of Osborne when Phillips was reinstated and named a starter for the Fiesta Bowl. He rushed for 165 yards and two touchdowns in that game, while also scoring a touchdown on a 16-yard reception as Nebraska routed Florida to win Osborne's second national championship.
Phillips opted to forego his senior season at Nebraska, declaring early for the 1996 NFL Draft. He was selected by the St. Louis Rams with the sixth overall pick.
Phillips committed suicide in prison in 2016. He was serving a seven-year term for felony assault with a deadly weapon.
10. Irving Fryar (1981-83)
Irving Fryar, along with Mike Rozier and Turner Gill, rumbled through nearly everyone in the 1980s.
A 6-foot, 195-pound wingback, Fryar caught 67 passes for 1,196 yards and 11 touchdowns in his career. Add to that 615 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns on the ground, an 11.8 yard punt return average and a 23.8 yard kick return average, and you've got one of the most dynamic athletes in Nebraska history.
Fryar was the leader in receptions for the 1982 and 1983 seasons. In 1983, Fryar was a consensus first-team All-American and first-team All-Big 8 player.
The New England Patriots selected Fryar with the first overall pick in the 1984 NFL Draft. He went on to have an illustrious NFL career, making the Pro Bowl five times and winning the Bart Starr Man of the Year Award in 1998.
9. Ahman Green (1995-97)
Ahman Green keyed Tom Osborne's final two national titles in the 1995 and 1997 seasons while leading the team in rushing yards.
Green set a Nebraska freshman record with 1,086 yards in 1995, a mark that still stands. In 1996, he again led the team with 917 yards and 7 touchdowns. In 1997, Green was a Doak Walker Award finalist, named first-team All-Big 12 and ranked second nationally in rushing yards with 156.4 per game.
Green remains second in total 100-yard rushing games with 20. He's also tied for the record for most consecutive 100-yard rushing games in a season, with 11 in the 1997 season. Green ran for 200 yards in three straight games that season. He finished with 1,877 yards, the second most by a Husker running back in a single-season behind only Mike Rozier, who ran for 2,148 yards in 1983.
Green was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He went on to be selected to five Pro Bowls with the Green Bay Packers and was inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame in 2014.
8. Will Shields (1989-92)
From 1989 to 1992, Will Shields dominated the offensive line for the Huskers.
Shields helped Nebraska to lead the nation in rushing yards in 1989, 1991 and 1992. He was named to an All-Big 8 team three straight seasons and capped his career with the 1992 Outland Trophy.
After his senior season in 1992, Shields received votes for Big 8 Offensive Player of the Year and ended up a consensus All-American. He was named to Nebraska's All-Century team in 1999.
After Nebraska, Shields was a 12-time Pro Bowler and was a first-team All-Pro three times. He was named NFL Man of the Year in 2003. Shields' No. 75 is retired at Nebraska.
7. Eric Crouch (1998-01)
One of only three players in Nebraska history to win the Heisman Trophy, Eric Crouch led Nebraska to a historic 2001 season.
In addition to winning the Heisman in 2001, Crouch won the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, Davey O'Brien Quarterback Award, was ABC National Player of the Year, Sporting News Offensive Player of the Year and Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. He was a first-team All-Big 12 and first-team All-America selection.
In 2001, Crouch set the record for career rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with 59. He's one of only three quarterbacks in history to run for 3,000 yards and pass for 4,000 in a career.
Crouch accrued a total of 7,915 yards and 88 touchdowns, with 4,481 of those yards coming through the air and 3,950 on the ground.
Crouch was selected by the St. Louis Rams in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft.
6. Dave Rimington (1979-82)
Dave Rimington is often regarded as the best center in college football history. He might be best known for winning the Outland Trophy in 1981 and 1982, the first player ever to win the award in consecutive years. He also won the Lombardi Award in 1982.
Rimington started his final three seasons at Nebraska, blocking for quarterback Turner Gill and eventual Heisman Trophy winner Mike Rozier. In those three seasons, Rimington was named first-team All-American in both 1981 and 1982, and was first-team All-Big 8 in 1980, 1981, and 1982.
His No. 50 jersey was retired in 1982, and he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1997. He played in the NFL for seven seasons before retiring in 1989.
Rimington now has a trophy named after him, which is given annually to the best center in college football.
5. Grant Wistrom (1994-97)
Erin: Defensive end Grant Wistrom is arguably one of the best defensive players in Nebraska history. By the end of his Huskers career, he compiled a 49-2 record and won three national titles (1994, '95, and '97) during that time.
Wistrom was a captain his senior year and finished the season with 51 tackles. That included 8 1/2 sacks and 17 tackles for loss.
Wistrom was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the first round (No. 6 overall) of the 1998 NFL Draft. His No. 98 jersey was also retired that year.
Chris: Wistrom lands at No. 5 for one simple reason: He was a winner. If there was an award, or a game, for Wistrom to win in a Nebraska uniform, he pretty much won it.
Wistrom also won the Lombardi Award (given to the nation's best defensive lineman or linebacker), was a two-time All-American, two-time Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and two-time Big 12 Male Athlete of the Year.
He remains known as one of the best pass rushers in history.
4. Johnny Rodgers (1970-72)
Chris: Johnny "The Jet" Rodgers set pretty much every record in the book for the Huskers in the 1970s.
To this day, Rodgers holds the record for most receiving yards in a season, most touchdown receptions in a career and consecutive games with a reception. The 1972 Heisman Trophy winner was a dynamic return man, and was nearly impossible to take down in the open field. He finished his career with a 5.7 yards-per-carry average, a 17.3 yards-per-catch average and 15.5 yards-per-punt-return average.
Erin: One of the most memorable moments in Nebraska history is Rodgers' 72-yard punt return in 1971. It was the first score in Nebraska's 35-31 victory over Oklahoma in the "Game of the Century".
He was a two-time first-team All-American, inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2000 and was one of six Cornhuskers named to Sports Illustrated's All-Century Team. Two more of those players are still to come in this countdown.
3. Ndamukong Suh (2005-09)
Erin: A quick glance at Ndamukong Suh's player profile at Huskers.com highlights why he is one of the best players of all-time. The list of his awards and accomplishments is extensive, not only at Nebraska but nationally, too. It includes the Guy Chamberlin Trophy, Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, CBSSports.com National Defensive Player of the Year and countless others.
As both a junior and senior, Suh led the Huskers in tackles (76 as a junior, 85 as a senior). Also as a senior, he led the team in tackles for loss (24), sacks (12), quarterback hurries (26) and blocked kicks (3).
Chris: One of the most dominating figures in college football history, Suh had a 2009 season to remember. He was named Associated Press College Player of the Year, finished fourth in Heisman Trophy voting, won the Lombardi Award, Bednarik Award and Nagurski Trophy.
Suh might best be known for his performance against Texas in the 2009 Big 12 Championship Game, when he tossed around Texas QB Colt McCoy. Suh racked up 12 tackles, 7 tackles for loss and 4 1/2 sacks in that game.
2. Mike Rozier (1981-83)
Chris: If we could, we'd put Mike Rozier as No. 1A, rather than No. 2. The most dynamic back in Nebraska history and the 1983 Heisman Trophy winner, Rozier ran for 4,780 yards at Nebraska, including 49 rushing touchdowns.
His 1983 season was one for the ages. Rozier ran for 2,148 yards that season, which remains a school record. That season, he averaged an astounding 7.8 yards per carry, and ran for 29 touchdowns.
Rozier ran for 100 or more yards on 26 occasions (a school record), including seven 200-plus-yard games. Rozier once ran for 230 yards in a half (vs. Kansas, 1983). He ran for 100 or more yards in 11 straight games, including four straight 200-yard games.
Erin: Rozier truly rewrote the scoring and rushing record books for Nebraska. His senior season also made quite the dent in the Big Eight and NCAA record books. At the end of his collegiate career, he was drafted by both the USFL (first pick overall) and the NFL (second pick overall in the supplemental draft).
Rozier was voted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006.
1. Tommie Frazier (1992-95)
Erin: "Look at Tommie Frazier. How many tackles can one man break?"
The answer to that question for quarterback Tommie Frazier might as well be all of them. Frazier solidified himself in Nebraska history in the mid-1990s, earning all kinds of awards and honors for his on-field performances. While he did not win the Heisman Trophy, many believe he was snubbed. Even without that hardware, he'll forever be one of the best players in not only Nebraska history but also college football history.
Chris: The leader of arguably the best team in college football history in 1995, Frazier helped Nebraska become truly dominant in the 1990s.
The option quarterback was 31-1 in regular season games as the starter and 33-3 overall. He was nearly impossible to game-plan for because of the threat he provided in the ground game and with his arm.
Frazier won the starting job midseason as a true freshman, the first to do so in school history. That season, Nebraska won the Big Eight under Frazier's lead.
In 1993, Frazier started all 11 games and scored a total of 21 touchdowns. He led the Huskers to their first undefeated regular season since 1983.
In 1994, Frazier missed most of the season because of a blood clot, appearing in just four games. He did, however, return for the 1995 Orange Bowl and led Nebraska to two come-from-behind touchdowns in the fourth quarter, helping the Cornhuskers win Tom Osborne's first national championship with a 24-17 win over Miami.
In 1995, Frazier capped off his career with a 12-0 record. He rushed for 604 yards and 14 rushing touchdowns, plus added 1,362 passing yards and 17 touchdowns.
He was the Heisman Trophy runner-up in 1995, losing to Eddie George. He was named first-team All-American, Sporting News Player of the Year and first-team All-Big Eight.
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HONORABLE MENTION
Ameer Abdullah
I-back Ameer Abdullah finished his Nebraska career with 4,588 career rushing yards. He also had three straight 1,000-yard rushing seasons from 2012-14, a first in Nebraska history.
With those numbers, the awards and honors he received during his Nebraska career reflect his work: He was a five-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week, a Doak Walker Award finalist, and a Nebraska team MVP twice (2013 and '14). The list goes on.
With that kind of career, Abdullah finished just outside our top 25.
Prince Amukamara
Cornerback Prince Amukamara was a vital piece of Nebraska's defense during the 2010 season, racking up 59 tackles (including 36 solo stops) and 13 pass breakups. His performance on the field helped the Blackshirts rank fifth nationally in pass efficiency defense. At the conclusion of his senior season, Amukamara was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year by the conference's head coaches.
By the end of his career, he had a total of 27 pass breakups.
Mike Brown
Many believe safety Mike Brown should be included in Nebraska's top 25. The three-year starter did make a strong case for his inclusion, including a long list of awards and honors. That included first-team All-American by the football writers, CBS Sportsline and the AP. He was also a co-captain of the team in 1999 and awarded the Guy Chamberlin Trophy Senior Award.
By the end of his career, he recorded 287 tackles, 137 interceptions and 14 pass breakups.
Ralph Brown
Cornerback Ralph Brown set quite a few school records, some of which still stand. That includes the most pass breakups in a single game (7 vs. Colorado in 1996) and the most career pass breakups (50 from 1996-99).
Like Mike Brown (no relation), he was a co-captain in 1999 and honored as a first-team All-American by Walter Camp, Football News, Sporting News, ABC/BCS.com and the Football Foundation.
Sam Foltz
Punter Sam Foltz was on track to be one of the nation's best punters in 2016 before he was killed in a car crash on July 23, 2016. He was a preseason candidate for the Ray Guy Award and averaged 42.6 yards per punt at Nebraska. He was also the 2015 Eddleman-Fields Big Ten Punter of the Year and First-Team All-Big Ten (Coaches, Media, AP, Phil Steele and ESPN.com) in 2015.
Joe Ganz
Quarterback Joe Ganz still holds Nebraska records, including most passing yards in a single game at 510. At the end of his senior season in 2008, he held more than 20 total Husker records. He also accounted for 3,568 passing yards, 3826 yards of total offense and completed 67.9 percent of his passes.
He was a Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week twice as a senior and also named to the 2008 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award watch list.
Alex Henery
During his time as a Husker, place kicker Alex Henery impressed on both field goal attempts and PATs. He was 68-of-76 on field goals in his career, an 89.5 percent success rate. He also made an incredible 93-of-94 career PATs, which gave him a 96.7 percent accuracy rate.
One of the most memorable moments in Henery's Nebraska career is his 57-yard field goal against Colorado as a sophomore in 2008.
Larry Jacobson
Defensive tackle Larry Jacobson was a standout for the Huskers in 1970 and '71. As a senior he recorded 73 tackles, including 28 solo stops. He also added 12 tackles for a loss of 73 yards and 1 interception, and was one of two All-Americans on the Nebraska defensive line in 1971 (alongside Rich Glover). He also earned All-Big Eight honors that year.
Sam Koch
Sam Koch is easily one of the most prolific punters in Nebraska history. From 2002-05, he racked up 5,902 yards on 134 punts. His single-season average of 46.51 yards in 2005 is still at the top of the Huskers charts to this day. Koch, a former walk-on, was the Huskers' special teams MVP in 2005 and a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award.
Joel Makovicka
Fullback Joel Makovicka appeared in 45 games (including 22 starts) in his five seasons as a Husker. During that time, he was a member of three national championship teams. He amassed 1,447 yards on 247 carries with 13 touchdowns and added 12 catches for 155 yards and a score.
Makovicka was drafted in the fourth round of the 1999 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals.
Zac Taylor
While quarterback Zac Taylor was only at Nebraska for two seasons, he made a big impact. In 2006, he threw for a school single-season record 3,197 passing yards (which stood until Ganz's 3,568). He still holds the Nebraska record for passing touchdowns in a single season with 26 (against only 8 interceptions).
In 2006, Taylor threw 80 or more consecutive passes without an interception three times. He was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year that season, as well.
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