Welcome to Husker Locker’s “30 Best Players since 1980” portion of the Summer 30 series. Check throughout May to see our updated rankings; the previous rankings will be housed at the bottom of this blog post.

Like or dislike our pick? Comment on it below.

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Remember, too, to weigh in on the Best Individual Performances and Best Games since 1980. Also stay tuned for our ranking of every team, 1980-2009, at the end of the series!

No. 4 Defensive End Grant Wistrom (1994-1997)

One of the great, consummate winners and leaders in Husker history, Wistrom’s impact was immediate from the time he stepped on campus. Though he didn’t start as a freshman, he was an intergral part of NU’s first national title in more than 20 years with 36 tackles and 4.5 sacks. He didn’t miss a start in 1995, 1996 or 1997, and lost only two games in his career. He won the 1997 Lombardi Trophy despite teams game-planning to stop his relentless edge pass rush. He’s now in the College Football Hall of Fame, and his career numbers - 206 tackles, 58.5 tackles for loss, 26.5 sacks - are amazing for a guy who had to share those stats with one incredible defensive teammate after another.

Wistrom’s best attribute? His motor. He simply never stopped. He could crash and collapse a pocket, sometimes on the same play. He was also a two-time Academic All-American. There just isn’t a lot Wistrom didn’t do in his time on campus. He maximized every ounce of his talent, and found a little in reserve. He has three Sears Trophies to show for it.

Check Out the Entire List!

Honorable Mention, No. 30, No. 29, No. 28, No. 27, No. 26, No. 25, No. 24, No. 23, No. 22, No. 21, No. 20, No. 19, No. 18, No. 17, No. 16, No. 15, No. 14, No. 13, No. 12, No. 11, No. 10, No. 9, No. 8, No. 7, No. 6, No. 5

Permanent Link to this Blog Post

Welcome to Husker Locker’s “30 Best Players since 1980” portion of the Summer 30 series. Check throughout May to see our updated rankings; the previous rankings will be housed at the bottom of this blog post.

Like or dislike our pick? Comment on it below.

Not a member, but would like to comment? Join Husker Locker today - it's free!.

Remember, too, to weigh in on the Best Individual Performances and Best Games since 1980. Also stay tuned for our ranking of every team, 1980-2009, at the end of the series!

No. 5 Quarterback Eric Crouch (1998-2001)

Fast, lightning-quick and tougher than a two-dollar steak, Crouch was the improbable - but well-deserving - Heisman Trophy winner in 2001, the only true option quarterback to win the award. He was among the last of his kind, the wizards who lived on the edge of the field, deciding to pitch or keep, and he became a solid passer by the end of his career, as well. His career numbers - 4,481 yards passing, 3434 yards rushing, 88 touchdowns - speak for themselves. So do the Walter Camp and Davey O’Brien Awards.

And so do the signature plays. Running over an Iowa defender in 1999. Taking a screen pass from Bobby Newcombe -who earned a dubious victory over Crouch for the starting job in 1999 for all of two games - to the house for a touchdown. The overtime touchdown at Notre Dame. The 95-yard run vs. Missouri. And, of course, the memorable throwback pass that beat Oklahoma in 2001. Had he been allowed to return punts, there’s little doubt he might have challenged Johnny Rodgers for the Huskers’ best ever at that role.

As a runner, there wasn’t much Crouch couldn’t do. His 6-foot frame allowed to stay low to the ground, and his speed took opponents off guard. He was especially good cutting back into the middle of the field when most option quarterbacks preferred to, as it were, “hit the corner.” Crouch won his share of big games - including a Big 12 title in 1999 - but he was never able to capture a national title. Perhaps then-coach Frank Solich put too much of the offense on Crouch’s soldiers. We know this: Once No. 7 left the building, his replacement, Jammal Lord, rushed for a lot of yards - but he just wasn’t the same kind of player. Crouch was a threat to hit a home run every time he carried the ball.

Check Out the Entire List!

Honorable Mention, No. 30, No. 29, No. 28, No. 27, No. 26, No. 25, No. 24, No. 23, No. 22, No. 21, No. 20, No. 19, No. 18, No. 17, No. 16, No. 15, No. 14, No. 13, No. 12, No. 11, No. 10, No. 9, No. 8, No. 7, No. 6

Permanent Link to this Blog Post

Welcome to Husker Locker’s “30 Best Players since 1980” portion of the Summer 30 series. Check throughout May to see our updated rankings; the previous rankings will be housed at the bottom of this blog post.

Like or dislike our pick? Comment on it below.

Not a member, but would like to comment? Join Husker Locker today - it's free!.

Remember, too, to weigh in on the Best Individual Performances and Best Games since 1980. Also stay tuned for our ranking of every team, 1980-2009, at the end of the series!

No. 2 Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (2005-2009)

Say, you know this guy, right? We’re not going to belabor the existence of Suh on this list after we’ve written thousands of words about him in the last two years. The numbers - 215 tackles, 57 tackles for loss, 24 sacks, 15 pass breakups, 4 interceptions, 2 defensive touchdowns - speak for themselves. The awards - Lombardi, Nagurski, Outland, Bednarik - do, too. The standout plays. The performance vs. Texas in the Big 12 Championship. His mere presence, which opened up Jared Crick and Ty Steinkuhler, in different years, for monster seasons.

The ink isn’t dry on Suh’s career at NU. But you know he’s worthy of No. 2 on our list. We know it. Nebraska football knows it. Suuuuuuuuuh!

Check Out the Entire List!

Honorable Mention, No. 30, No. 29, No. 28, No. 27, No. 26, No. 25, No. 24, No. 23, No. 22, No. 21, No. 20, No. 19, No. 18, No. 17, No. 16, No. 15, No. 14, No. 13, No. 12, No. 11, No. 10, No. 9, No. 8, No. 7, No. 6, No. 5, No. 4, No. 3

Permanent Link to this Blog Post

Welcome to Husker Locker’s “30 Best Players since 1980” portion of the Summer 30 series. Check throughout May to see our updated rankings; the previous rankings will be housed at the bottom of this blog post.

Like or dislike our pick? Comment on it below.

Not a member, but would like to comment? Join Husker Locker today - it's free!.

Remember, too, to weigh in on the Best Individual Performances and Best Games since 1980. Also stay tuned for our ranking of every team, 1980-2009, at the end of the series!

No. 6 Center Dave Rimington (1980-1982)

The arms. When Rimington ran onto the field on a cold November afternoon without any sleeves, those massive arms popping out from his 6-foot-3, 290-pound frame screamed: Just try and stop us. Opposing defenses rarely did in those years. So good as a center that he had a trophy named after him, Rimington won two Outland trophies in 1981 and 1982 and, for good measure, the Lombardi Trophy in 1982, as well. Elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1997, Rimington is the college standard against which most centers are now measured.

He was so quick. Too quick, at times, as he was sometimes flagged for false start penalties despite hiking the ball. Rimington pounced on his foes so quickly throughout his career that he was often able to chip off and help another lineman. The man was built to block for an option running game, but his seven years in the NFL - playing for the Bengals and Eagles - weren’t quite as successful, in part because of the franchises themselves.

Check Out the Entire List!

Honorable Mention, No. 30, No. 29, No. 28, No. 27, No. 26, No. 25, No. 24, No. 23, No. 22, No. 21, No. 20, No. 19, No. 18, No. 17, No. 16, No. 15, No. 14, No. 13, No. 12, No. 11, No. 10, No. 9, No. 8, No. 7

Permanent Link to this Blog Post

Welcome to Husker Locker’s “30 Best Players since 1980” portion of the Summer 30 series. Check throughout May to see our updated rankings; the previous rankings will be housed at the bottom of this blog post.

Like or dislike our pick? Comment on it below.

Not a member, but would like to comment? Join Husker Locker today - it's free!.

Remember, too, to weigh in on the Best Individual Performances and Best Games since 1980. Also stay tuned for our ranking of every team, 1980-2009, at the end of the series!

No. 1 Quarterback Tommie Frazier (1992-1995)

When he arrived on campus, NU hadn’t beaten a top ten team in three seasons, and serious questions as to whether option football - and thus Nebraska football - was any longer viable had begun to crop up. Even Bill McCartney at Colorado had made the switch to a more wide open, passing offense. Oklahoma had Cale Gundy. The nation’s best teams in 1991 - Miami and Washington - had both thrashed the Huskers thoroughly with a combination of dominant defenses and speedy, multiple offenses.

While Charlie McBride went to work on the Blackshirts, Tom Osborne landed the most significant recruit of his time at Nebraska. The one who delivered T.O. his first two national titles and served as general to what many consider the greatest college football team in history.

Touchdown Tommie Frazier.

He was immediately capable when he stepped on campus, and started midway through his freshman season, leading the Cornhuskers to lopsided wins over top-ten-ranked Colorado and Kansas. He suffered hiccups in 1992 - a loss at Iowa State was one of them - but he showed a rare confidence and physicality as a runner that many option quarterbacks, undersized as they often were, didn’t possess.

In 1993, he blossomed into a complete player, throwing for 1,159 yards and rushing for 704, accounting for 21 total touchdowns. NU slugged out many close wins that year, but couldn’t close its hands on a national title, losing 18-16 to Florida State in the 1994 Orange Bowl. Frazier did what he could in that loss, and it’s notable that, on NU’s final three offensive plays - when a touchdown might have sealed FSU’s fate - Osborne never gave Frazier the run/pass option he so excelled at. It was a mistake that, at a crucial time one year later, Osborne wouldn’t repeat.

To 1994, where it appeared Frazier was headed for a Heisman Trophy campaign until he sent to a hospital bed with blood clots. He watched as Brook Berringer - and at times Matt Turman - delivered the Huskers to an undefeated regular season. Frazier was healthy enough to start the 1995 Orange Bowl. He didn’t initially play well vs. Miami. But he came off the bench, with the Huskers trailing 17-9, and delivered the two of the most memorable drives in Husker history. Although Frazier scored neither touchbdown - those belonged to Cory Schlesinger - he completed a key two-point conversion pass to tight end Eric Alford. Frazier made the play he wasn’t allowed to make the season before and Turner Gill did not make in the 1984 Orange Bowl.

In 1995, Frazier was unstoppable and brilliant, amassing almost 2,000 total yards - not counting the bowl game, which is counted in all stats today - while leading what some Husker fans consider the best offense in team history. While a hailstorm of bad media swarmed NU in that season, Frazier was the stalwart - steady, confident, tough. Not necessarily liked by all of his teammates, Frazier unquestionably had their respect, and it was always about where Tommie was going - not where he’d been.

He finished second in the Heisman, but the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. He saved his best performance - and best play - for last, rushing for 199 yards in a 62-24 romp over Florida in the 1996 Fiesta Bowl, which included a 75-yard run where Frazier broke free of a gang of Gators on his way to the end zone.

Sometimes it goes beyond numbers. Frazier had fine stats, but Jammal Lord and Crouch broke all of his season and career rushing records, while Zac Taylor and Joe Ganz now own most of the passing records. Frazier is not likely to ever be eclipsed as a winner, however. In his entire career, he lost just three starts. Bravo to that.

Check Out the Entire List!

Honorable Mention, No. 30, No. 29, No. 28, No. 27, No. 26, No. 25, No. 24, No. 23, No. 22, No. 21, No. 20, No. 19, No. 18, No. 17, No. 16, No. 15, No. 14, No. 13, No. 12, No. 11, No. 10, No. 9, No. 8, No. 7, No. 6, No. 5, No. 4, No. 3, No. 2

Permanent Link to this Blog Post

Welcome to Husker Locker’s “30 Best Players since 1980” portion of the Summer 30 series. Check throughout May to see our updated rankings; the previous rankings will be housed at the bottom of this blog post.

Like or dislike our pick? Comment on it below.

Not a member, but would like to comment? Join Husker Locker today - it's free!.

Remember, too, to weigh in on the Best Individual Performances and Best Games since 1980. Also stay tuned for our ranking of every team, 1980-2009, at the end of the series!

No. 30 Kicker Alex Henery (2007-present)

So, yes, Henery is a kicker. That, in itself, is a bit controversial, adding him to a list of 30 best players since 1980. That said, Henery is easily the best kicker in Nebraska history, hitting 50 of 57 field goals in his first three years and 139 of 140 extra points. Plus, five of those seven misses are from beyond 50 yards. A 47 for 49 rate inside 50 yards isn’t merely astonishing - it’s won games for NU, and kept them in countless others.

Although the Huskers lost to Texas and Virginia Tech in 2009, Henery kept NU in both games with his right foot alone. His punting, especially inside the 20-yard line, helped the Huskers win the field position battle during the last half of the season. It also earned Henery a rare honor: The Blackshirt. And if Bo can bestow that on him, it’s good enough for us.

Had Henery wanted to play college soccer - and play it well - he could have done it. He chose another path - and was wise to do it. He’ll be, in 12 months time, one of the few kickers taken in the NFL Draft. It may not be the conventional pick, but Henery belongs on the list.

Check Out the Entire List!

Honorable Mention, No. 30

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Welcome to Husker Locker’s “30 Best Players since 1980” portion of the Summer 30 series. Check throughout May to see our updated rankings; the previous rankings will be housed at the bottom of this blog post.

Like or dislike our pick? Comment on it below.

Not a member, but would like to comment? Join Husker Locker today - it's free!.

Remember, too, to weigh in on the Best Individual Performances and Best Games since 1980. Also stay tuned for our ranking of every team, 1980-2009, at the end of the series!

No. 9 Wide Receiver Irving Fryar (1980-1983)

A 6-foot, 200 pounds, Fryar was one of the most impressive athletes - in any sport - ever to play at Nebraska. His longevity in the NFL - 17 years, 851 catches and 12,785 yards as a relatively undersized receiver - proved it. Although his career stats - 1800 total yards and 16 touchdowns in four seasons - are modest compared to some on this list, consider that, each time Fryar rushed or caught a pass in his career, he averaged more than 15 yards per play. For an option football team. That had Turner Gill and Mike Rozier on it, too.

In other words, Fryar was the ultimate special weapon, the second coming of Johnny Rodgers - whom some consider the greatest Husker of them all - minus the kick and punt returns. On a team like NU’s in 2010, he’d shatter every useful receiving record on the books. He was that good.

Tom Osborne was never better than when he had Gill, Rozier and Fryar at his disposal. He could send Fryar on a deep post, and Fryar would zoom by the defenders in the secondary. On reverses, Fryar often located a second gear, outrunning opposing tacklers to the sideline. His change of direction was sudden and violent, with maximum speed.

Fryar spent the first half of his NFL career in New England before peaking as a performer at Miami and Philadelphia. He went to five Pro Bowls, once as a punt returner.

Check Out the Entire List!

Honorable Mention, No. 30, No. 29, No. 28, No. 27, No. 26, No. 25, No. 24, No. 23, No. 22, No. 21, No. 20, No. 19, No. 18, No. 17, No. 16, No. 15, No. 14, No. 13, No. 12, No. 11, No. 10No. 9

Permanent Link to this Blog Post

Welcome to Husker Locker’s “30 Best Players since 1980” portion of the Summer 30 series. Check throughout May to see our updated rankings; the previous rankings will be housed at the bottom of this blog post.

Like or dislike our pick? Comment on it below.

Not a member, but would like to comment? Join Husker Locker today - it's free!.

Remember, too, to weigh in on the Best Individual Performances and Best Games since 1980. Also stay tuned for our ranking of every team, 1980-2009, at the end of the series!

No. 8 Offensive guard Dean Steinkuehler (1980-1983)

The name. Steinkuhler. Just sounds like a blocking monster, doesn’t it? He ate defensive tackles for a living, and was so adept a blocker on option plays that running backs Roger Craig and Mike Rozier often had massive lanes through which to run. Medium-sized for the era - 6-3, 270 pounds - Steinkuhler’s biggest assets were his motor and his quickness. Combine that with good technique, which Steinkuhler had by his sophomore year, and you’re looking at one of NU’s best players ever.

He won the Outland and Lombardi Trophies in 1983 and was named to both the Sports Illustrated and Walter Camp All-Century teams in 1999, as well. His sons, Ty and Baker, have enjoyed productive careers at NU. He played eight years for the Houston Oilers after being selected No. 2 in the 1984 NFL Draft - right behind Irving Fryar.

Check Out the Entire List!

Honorable Mention, No. 30, No. 29, No. 28, No. 27, No. 26, No. 25, No. 24, No. 23, No. 22, No. 21, No. 20, No. 19, No. 18, No. 17, No. 16, No. 15, No. 14, No. 13, No. 12, No. 11, No. 10No. 9

Permanent Link to this Blog Post

Welcome to Husker Locker’s “30 Best Players since 1980” portion of the Summer 30 series. Check throughout May to see our updated rankings; the previous rankings will be housed at the bottom of this blog post.

Like or dislike our pick? Comment on it below.

Not a member, but would like to comment? Join Husker Locker today - it's free!.

Remember, too, to weigh in on the Best Individual Performances and Best Games since 1980. Also stay tuned for our ranking of every team, 1980-2009, at the end of the series!

No. 3 Running Back Mike Rozier (1981-1983)

It is still, without any debate, the single greatest offensive season by a Husker football player: 2,148 rushing yards, 2,486 all-purpose yards, 29 touchdowns, 7.8 yards per carry, 11 straight 100-yard rushing games, the Heisman, the Maxwell, and the Walter Camp Awards. Man, what a year! And what a player.

Rozier is the best running back in NU history, finishing with 4,780 yards and 52 touchdowns in just three seasons, despite sharing time with another of the great Husker backs, Roger Craig. Short - 5-foot-10 - but built - 205 pounds - he churned through holes quickly, and was remarkably hard to knock down. Among his many strengths, balance was probably the one that stood out; Rozier’s low center of gravity and squared shoulders allowed him to change directions without losing momentum. Rozier scampered, sprinted, bolted, spun and tore away. A flimsy, tearable jersey, allowed back then by the NCAA, helped.

It’s nearly been 30 years since he last donned the pads for the Huskers, so younger fans foolishly tab Lawrence Phillips as the more talented of the two. In a word, hogwash. Rozier was just as tough and more explosive, combining the speed of an Ahman Green with the hard-nosed toughness of a Derek Brown. Phillips could not have ripped off prodigious 93-yard runs like Rozier did vs. Kansas State in 1981, nor spanned the length of the field twice to score a two-yard touchdown, as Rozier did vs. UCLA in 1983. Phillips may have broken more tackles in his career, true, but Rozier was harder to tackle. The numbers favor Rozier, as well. While Phillips won two national titles, and Rozier did not, Phillips also enjoyed a world-class defense.

In short, Rozier’s mark may never be eclipsed at NU, and if it is, it’ll certainly never be in the way Rozier eclipsed it, at the nation’s best program with less than 300 carries.

Rozier unwisely played in the USFL for one season out of college; much like other USFL running backs, he struggled to cross over to the NFL. He did play eight years, mostly with the run-n-shoot Houston Oilers, making two Pro Bowls and a few playoff games. But he was never what he was at Nebraska. No matter. He was great in college, and that’s enough for the Big Red.


Check Out the Entire List!

Honorable Mention, No. 30, No. 29, No. 28, No. 27, No. 26, No. 25, No. 24, No. 23, No. 22, No. 21, No. 20, No. 19, No. 18, No. 17, No. 16, No. 15, No. 14, No. 13, No. 12, No. 11, No. 10, No. 9, No. 8, No. 7, No. 6, No. 5, No. 4

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Six strong takes as we begin to prepare our NCAA Tournament guide. Look for it a week from now!

*Bo Pelini and Co. can smell a bonanza recruiting season ahead.

We told you, on the 2010 Signing Day, what was coming. Now NU is making its move to surpass the Big 12 North and the back half of the Big 12 South, settling in as the No. 3 recruiting power in the league behind Texas and Oklahoma.

If you look at scholarship offers in talent-rich areas - with a key expansion in Florida - and the aggression toward getting top-notch prospects - like Chandler (Ariz.) offensive lineman Christian Westerman - to attend the Red/White Spring Game on their own dime, there’s a distinct sense of urgency to create buzz and momentum after spellbinding the nation during the Big 12 Championship and turning in the most dominant performance of the bowl season.

According to the Rivals.com database - as always, those gents do terrific gumshoe work - NU has offered nine players from Florida, getting a verbal commitment, thus far, from Clearwater offensive lineman Tyler Moore. There will be more. Few states grow speed - both to stock the spread offense and to stop it - quite like the Sunshine State, and when you get the scent of Tampa, Miami and Ft. Lauderdale in your nostrils, it’s hard to get out.

The key is landing the cream of the Florida crop - not the second-tier better suited for the MAC or its Big 12 brother, Iowa State.

The usual full-court press is being done in Texas. The Huskers have already offered 11 wide receiver prospects, two of which have committed to Texas and Oklahoma, respectively.

Who has NU not offered? Three in-state prospects with D-I tenders: Omaha Central’s Ted Lampkin (Kansas State and Iowa State), Millard North’s Cole Fisher (Iowa and Kansas) and 6-foot-9 Hastings St. Cecilia giant Zach Sterup (Iowa and Ohio). Nebraska will invite all three to camp - Fisher is recovering from an injury - but, by then, the Huskers might have scooped up bigger names based on the varyag of players heading to the Spring Game.

Nebraska walks a fine line with the in-state ham-and-eggers. Bonanza or not, NU needs their camp money, and some Husker faithful believe when a player is worthy of a scholarship offer at Iowa - which will begin next season ranked inside the top ten - then he‘s earned a seat the Big Red’s table. Other (mostly younger) fans wouldn’t care if the entire roster was comprised of kids from Nova Scotia, if that’s what it took to win a Big 12 title.

*The word out of winter conditioning and 7-on-7 drills is that Cody Green appears ready to make the leap. Let’s see in practice and the Spring Game. Zac Lee is the clubhouse leader; Green, still out on the course, will have his chance. Getting scolded earlier in the 2009 season for playing too recklessly in mop-up duty - and that pick six in the Baylor game - shifted Green shifted into a piece of unsteady wood who strung out plays and doubted his skills.

*Ndamukong Suh won’t fall below the No. 3 pick to Tampa Bay - but swish this scenario around in your mouth for a second: The Seattle Seahawks have the No. 6 and No. 14 picks to play around with, and it’s not a sure thing that the quarterback they want - Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford - will be around that long. While Seattle has the ammo to go after the St. Louis Rams’ top pick if it wants Bradford that badly, I wouldn’t be shocked if new coach Pete Carroll packages his two picks to jump a few spots and land Suh.

Talk about a home run. Suh would know Carroll’s defensive system as well as any in the NFL - Carroll mentored Bo Pelini, remember - Seattle is close to Suh’s Portland home, and it’s close to his primary sponsor, Nike. Plus, the Seahawks need defensive linemen. Starters Colin Cole and Brandon Mebane are solid-but-unspectacular.

*Kelsey Griffin is a shoe-in to be a Naismith finalist. She ought to win it - especially after a spectacular 36-point performance to preserve the Nebraska women’s basketball team’s undefeated season - but since ESPN and most other news outlets treat the sport like the Connecticut/Tennessee Invitational, you can expect UConn’s Maya Moore, who won the Naismith in 2009, to win it again.

Let’s look more closely at the numbers:

Moore’s per-game numbers: 18.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, 4 assists, 2.1 steals and 1 block in 28 minutes.

Griffin’s per game numbers: 20.4 points, 10.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.8 steals, 0.7 blocks in 27 minutes.

Looks like Griffin holds up. Moore is more dynamic, Griffin draws more fouls. While UConn’s non-conference schedule was harder (games vs. Oklahoma, Texas, Stanford and Florida State) the Big 12, top-to-bottom, is stronger than the Big East. And Griffin, let’s face it, means more to Nebraska than Moore does to the Huskies. Moore is one of many studettes in Storrs. Griffin is the straw that stirs Nebraska’s drink.

*Not only would it be nearly impossible to fit a 96-team NCAA Tournament bracket on a 8½-by-11-inch piece of paper legibly, any expansion of the Big Dance hurts the very best teams.

No. 1 and No. 2 seeds would no longer play a retread from the MEAC in the first round, but some 20-win mid-major with a warm-up game already under its belt. No. 9 seeds would play the retreads, getting the advantage of a 40-minute, live practice the No. 8 seeds wouldn’t enjoy. Fair? Not hardly. An expansion only fattens the wallets of programs and coaches whose teams aren’t quite good enough to qualify now. The improved reputation of a few is not worth trashing a beautiful thing.

*Nebraska baseball needs two weeks of passable weather. Livable. Playable. In those two weeks, NU plays five games at Haymarket Park - including a three-game series vs. Houston Baptist - and should win all of them. Every bit of confidence and practice will help when the Huskers head to Texas Mar. 19 for a three-game series. The Longhorns - great pitching, good enough offense - are similar to UCLA, the team that just swept NU.

The Huskers are better than their 3-7 record suggests. Closer to breaking through than slipping back. But they need some good weather. And they need to stick Casey Hauptman in the weekend rotation.

See also: Commentary: Doc On the Clock

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Welcome to Husker Locker’s “30 Best Players since 1980” portion of the Summer 30 series. Check throughout May to see our updated rankings; the previous rankings will be housed at the bottom of this blog post.

Like or dislike our pick? Comment on it below.

Not a member, but would like to comment? Join Husker Locker today - it's free!.

Remember, too, to weigh in on the Best Individual Performances and Best Games since 1980. Also stay tuned for our ranking of every team, 1980-2009, at the end of the series!

No. 10 Linebacker Trev Alberts (1990-1993)

Still the only Butkus Award winner in Nebraska history, Alberts was the bridge from NU’s old 5-2 defense to a more aggressive 4-3 style. Tough, savvy and more athletic than opponents guessed, Alberts finished with 248 career tackles, 45 tackles for loss and 29.5 sacks. His senior season alone - 96 tackles, 21 TFLs and 15 sacks - is one of the single best seasons in Blackshirt history.

He started his last two seasons at Nebraska, but played significant minutes in all four. A combination of speed and aggression, Alberts was a premier blitzer who could also, when necessary, cover running backs, Alberts’ best attribute appeared to be his toughness. After suffering a dislocated elbow in the 1993 Oklahoma game, he returned for the 1994 Orange Bowl and was brilliant, sacking Charlie Ward three times for 29 yards. Alberts was named Big Eight Male Athlete of the Year in 1994 and was an academic All-American. The epitome of the golden boy, Alberts spent some time as a college football analyst before becoming the athletic director at UNO. He could one day hold the same title at NU.

Check Out the Entire List!

Honorable Mention, No. 30, No. 29, No. 28, No. 27, No. 26, No. 25, No. 24, No. 23, No. 22, No. 21, No. 20, No. 19, No. 18, No. 17, No. 16, No. 15, No. 14, No. 13, No. 12, No. 11

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Now, 810 WHB, one of the Midwest largest's radio stations, is in on the "Missouri/Nebraska to the Big Ten" fun.

According to multiple sources close to the negotiations - whoever they might be - NU and Mizzou have been invited to the Big Ten, as has Notre Dame and Rutgers.

"While nothing can be approved until the Big Ten presidents and chancellors meet the first week of June in Chicago, the league has informed the two Big 12 schools, Notre Dame and Rutgers that it would like to have them join. It is not yet clear whether the Big Ten will expand to 14 or 16 teams but sources indicated Missouri and Nebraska are invited in either scenario."

WHB is stationed in Kansas City. So one can only presume the sources are Missouri administrators. The rest of the story seems to confirm that.

UNL Chancellor Harvey Perlman told the Lincoln Journal-Star there wasn't any truth to the report.

"None whatsoever," he said to the LJS. NU then released a statement on the matter, which you can read here.

Well, either way we'll see. We've been slow to hop on this train, as you know. The KC/St. Louis media is quite good, but most of the stories about Big Ten expansion have been driven by them and by proxy Missouri. And we all know where Mizzou stands as it pertains to the Big Ten.

What's your take on Big Ten expansion? Talk about it here!

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Permanent Link to this Blog Post

Welcome to Husker Locker’s “30 Best Players since 1980” portion of the Summer 30 series. Check throughout May to see our updated rankings; the previous rankings will be housed at the bottom of this blog post.

Like or dislike our pick? Comment on it below.

Not a member, but would like to comment? Join Husker Locker today - it's free!.

Remember, too, to weigh in on the Best Individual Performances and Best Games since 1980. Also stay tuned for our ranking of every team, 1980-2009, at the end of the series!

No. 7 Quarterback Turner Gill (1981-1983)

The biggest compliment you could give just about any athlete is that he made it look effortless. Gill did that and then some. Always quick, but rarely in a hurry, Gill was the first true option quarterback of Tom Osborne’s tenure - Osborne beat out Oklahoma’s Barry Switzer for Gill’s services - and the straw that stirred an incredible offensive drink. He wasn’t the most amazing of the Triplets - his name is still to come on the list - but Gill was the template for confident, steely leadership.

Taking over the starting role midway through his sophomore season at NU, Gill finished his career with 3,317 yards passing and 1,593 yards rushing. He accounted for 52 touchdowns, and served as engineer of the 1983 “Scoring Explosion” squad that ranks among the best offenses in college football history.

Best of all, he never lost to Oklahoma.

Elusive and possessing an excellent touch on the football, Gill stands as Osborne’s best pass/run threat at quarterback. Only 2.57 percent of his passes were ever intercepted. And yet two games - a controversial 1982 loss to Penn State and the 1984 Orange Bowl - prevented Gill from ever winning a national title as a player. Neither loss was Gill’s fault; the Penn State game, in fact, was one of his more memorable performances, with 239 yards passing.

He made up for it as quarterbacks coach of Tommie Frazier and Scott Frost winning in 1994, 1995 and 1997. He recently became head coach of Kansas after returning Buffalo to some measure of respectability.


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Honorable Mention, No. 30, No. 29, No. 28, No. 27, No. 26, No. 25, No. 24, No. 23, No. 22, No. 21, No. 20, No. 19, No. 18, No. 17, No. 16, No. 15, No. 14, No. 13, No. 12, No. 11, No. 10No. 9, No. 8

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No. 14 Offensive guard Will Shields (1989-1992)

Big, smart and athletic, Will Shields started for three years at guard, and nabbed the Outland Trophy during his senior season, 1992. A picture of durability, Shields was equally good whether trapping or drive-blocking his opponent. Often casually mentioned by former head coach Tom Osborne as one of the highest-grading offensive linemen in Nebraska history, Shields was a third-round pick in the NFL Draft. The Kansas City Chiefs were richly rewarded for the selection; Shields started more than 200 consecutive games, went to 11 Pro Bowls and was named the NFL’s Man of the Year in 2003. One day - perhaps soon - he’ll be poised to join the NFL Football Hall of Fame.

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Honorable Mention, No. 30, No. 29, No. 28, No. 27, No. 26, No. 25, No. 24, No. 23, No. 22, No. 21, No. 20, No. 19, No. 18, No. 17, No. 16, No. 15

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Welcome to Husker Locker’s “30 Best Players since 1980” portion of the Summer 30 series. Check throughout May to see our updated rankings; the previous rankings will be housed at the bottom of this blog post.

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No. 17 Running back Lawrence Phillips (1993-1995)

We know what you’re thinking: Too low. Too low for a running back who rushed for s school-record 1,722 yards as a sophomore, in a season where every person in the stadium knew who was getting the ball. Too low for a running back who ripped off 11-straight 100-yard rushing games, despite those same circumstances. Too low for a running back who, pound for pound, was one of the most breathtaking runners in NU history.

And we know what you’re thinking: Too high. Too high for a criminal who helped drag Nebraska’s name through the media mud and possibly helped drive Tom Osborne to an early retirement. Too high for a guy who couldn’t control his temper around men or women, in college or in the pros. Too high for a guy who was, let’s face it, suitably replaced by true freshman Ahman Green during the 1995 season.

Phillips is the hardest case. He wasn’t the only miscreant on that 1995 Nebraska team. His childhood spent in Los Angeles was more difficult than most. Some swear by his surprisingly gentle nature. He was also sentenced to 31 years in prison last year.

There’s no question he was a great college running back. His pro career was a different story. What happened? Was it the turmoil and bad publicity, or did Phillips benefit too much from the best offensive line in college football?

The debate rages on.

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Honorable Mention, No. 30, No. 29, No. 28, No. 27, No. 26, No. 25, No. 24, No. 23, No. 22, No. 21, No. 20, No. 19, No. 18

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Welcome to Husker Locker’s “30 Best Players since 1980” portion of the Summer 30 series. Check throughout May to see our updated rankings; the previous rankings will be housed at the bottom of this blog post.

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No. 11 Running back Ahman Green (1995-1997)

Second on NU’s all-time rushing list with 3,880 yards, Green’s excellent freshman season - in which he stepped in for Lawrence Phillips without much of a drop-off and gained 1,086 yards - is at times forgotten in the overall greatness of that particular team. His sophomore season chopped short by a difficult turf toe injury, Green rebounded with an extraordinary junior campaign, rushing for 1,877 yards.

He finished with 42 career touchdowns and averaged nearly seven yards per carry during his career. Because Green’s playing career happened to coincide with two of the most prolific running backs in college football history - Texas’ Ricky Williams and Wisconsin’s Ron Dayne - he didn’t win as many awards, nor did he appear on a first-team All-American squad. No matter; Green’s effortless style and big-play ability was only marred by his occasional fumble; even still he only lost one game that he played in during his college career. In the NFL, Green was a five-time Pro Bowler for Green Bay, where he may play again in 2010.

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Honorable Mention, No. 30, No. 29, No. 28, No. 27, No. 26, No. 25, No. 24, No. 23, No. 22, No. 21, No. 20, No. 19, No. 18, No. 17, No. 16, No. 15, No. 14, No. 13, No. 12

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Welcome to Husker Locker’s “30 Best Players since 1980” portion of the Summer 30 series. Check throughout May to see our updated rankings; the previous rankings will be housed at the bottom of this blog post.

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Remember, too, to weigh in on the Best Individual Performances and Best Games since 1980. Also stay tuned for our ranking of every team, 1980-2009, at the end of the series!

No. 29 Center Jake Young (1986-1989)

Twice named an All-American center for Nebraska in 1988 and 1989, Young was the first Husker in 14 years to earn a letter as a true freshman, and the first to start as a true sophomore in 14 years, as well. Not even Dave Rimington and Dean Steinkuhler could claim that. Young was an integral part of some of NU’s best option offenses in history, helping to lead the Huskers to rushing titles in 1988 and 1989 despite two different starting quarterbacks.

More than his on-field play, Young was a man worth knowing off of it. He was a two-time Academic All-American as a finance major. He later graduated from the UNL Law School in 1994. He was an international lawyer and a board member of the UNL Alumni Association. He was killed, along with more than 200 others, by a terrorist’s bomb in an Indonesian hotel on Oct. 12, 2002. Young was set to retire from a rugby career after the trip.

Before Young’s funeral, former NU offensive line coach Milt Tenopir told Huskers.com: "Jake was the most intense player that I have ever coached. His zest for the game was infectious for all his teammates.”

Rare praise for a terrific player.

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Honorable Mention, No. 30

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No. 15 Dominic Raiola (1998-2000)

The last of the great Nebraska centers was one of the best, and easily the nastiest. Quick, mean and blunt like a Mack Truck, Raiola red shirted in 1997, then served as the first great lineman of the Frank Solich era, winning the Rimington Award in 2000, becoming a finalist for the Outland and Lombardi trophies and nabbing first-team All America honors. Raiola and his linemates helped keep NU afloat while quarterback and running debates raged behind them.

He left school early; otherwise, he might have been higher on this list. He’s played for the Detroit Lions since 2001, he’s started 124 of the 140 games he’s played in, and every game since 2002. On a better team, he likely would have made the Pro Bowl several times by now.

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Honorable Mention, No. 30, No. 29, No. 28, No. 27, No. 26, No. 25, No. 24, No. 23, No. 22, No. 21, No. 20, No. 19, No. 18, No. 17, No. 16

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Welcome to Husker Locker’s “30 Best Players since 1980” portion of the Summer 30 series. Check throughout May to see our updated rankings; the previous rankings will be housed at the bottom of this blog post.

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Remember, too, to weigh in on the Best Individual Performances and Best Games since 1980. Also stay tuned for our ranking of every team, 1980-2009, at the end of the series!

No. 23 Quarterback Scott Frost (1996-1997)

Because he originally committed to and played for Stanford out of Wood River High School, Frost never quite earned the admiration from NU fans that he probably earned. An ugly game at Arizona State in 1996 didn’t help things. But, by the end of his short Husker career, Frost was statistically as accomplished as any quarterback to wear a Nebraska uniform. He also gave a surprisingly persuasive speech on the podium after the 1998 Orange Bowl that likely swayed crucial votes toward NU’s fifth national championship.

It began, actually, during his redshirt year, with a surprising spring game victory in 1995 over Tommie Frazier and Brook Berringer. In 1996, the awful ASU game aside, Frost passed for 1,440 yards and rushed for 438 in leading Nebraska to a 11-2 record. In 1997, Frost was nothing short of brilliant - even if the student section booed him - rushing for 1,095 yards and passing for 1,237. He accounted for 24 touchdowns that season, and was durable to the last.

One of Frost’s biggest strengths, other than his toughness, was to avoid turnovers; in two years, he threw only seven interceptions.

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Honorable Mention, No. 30, No. 29, No. 28, No. 27, No. 26, No. 25, No. 24

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Welcome to Husker Locker’s “30 Best Players since 1980” portion of the Summer 30 series. Check throughout May to see our updated rankings; the previous rankings will be housed at the bottom of this blog post.

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Remember, too, to weigh in on the Best Individual Performances and Best Games since 1980. Also stay tuned for our ranking of every team, 1980-2009, at the end of the series!

No. 22 Tom Rathman (1982-1985)

A remarkably athletic fullback whose full talents weren’t truly seen until the NFL, Rathman had the entire package: Speed, size (6-1, 230 pounds), strength, smarts. Had Nebraska not had such accomplished running backs in the program during Rathman’s time - Mike Rozier, Jeff Smith and Doug Dubose, all of whom played in the NFL - his numbers might have been even more memorable. As it was, he gained 1,425 career yards on just 220 carries, a 6.47-yard average, along with 12 touchdowns. In 1985, Rathman’s senior year, he gained 881 yards and averaged more than seven yards per carry. During that year, he had six carries for more than 30 yards, including an 84-yarder vs. Colorado. Never before or since has NU had the same kind of big-play threat at the position.

In the NFL, Rathman won two Super Bowls with San Francisco and amassed 2,020 yards rushing and 2,684 yards receiving. He was the prototype fullback for the West Coast Offense, retiring after nine seasons. He’s now a coach for the 49ers.

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Honorable Mention, No. 30, No. 29, No. 28, No. 27, No. 26, No. 25, No. 24, No. 23

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Welcome to Husker Locker’s “30 Best Players since 1980” portion of the Summer 30 series. Check throughout May to see our updated rankings; the previous rankings will be housed at the bottom of this blog post.

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No. 12 Safety Mike Brown (1996-1999)

Former defensive coordinator Charlie McBride once called Brown the best defensive player he ever coached; if those words weren’t endorsement enough, Brown’s on-field play and numbers - 287 career tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 14 pass breakups and nine interceptions - do the talking for him.

An All-American in 1999, Brown was a textbook tackler who also knew how to pack a wallop on an unsuspecting ball carrier. He started his final three seasons at NU, and his 1999 season was jaw-dropping for a safety: 96 tackles, six fumbles caused, five interceptions, five pass breakups, eight tackles for loss and two sacks. His finest game, however, was a 19-tackle performance in a 20-16 home loss to Texas.

Brown has played 10 seasons in the NFL - missing most of three because of devastating knee or Achilles’ injuries - make the pro bowl once and All-Pro another time. The testament to his greatness is this: In the last 13 years, college or pro, whenever he’s suited up - he’s started. That’s a warrior.

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Honorable Mention, No. 30, No. 29, No. 28, No. 27, No. 26, No. 25, No. 24, No. 23, No. 22, No. 21, No. 20, No. 19, No. 18, No. 17, No. 16, No. 15, No. 14, No. 13

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Welcome to Husker Locker’s “30 Best Players since 1980” portion of the Summer 30 series. Check throughout May to see our updated rankings; the previous rankings will be housed at the bottom of this blog post.

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No. 28 Calvin Jones (1991-1993)

Few Husker running backs looked as fast or electric taking an option pitch than Jones, whose upright style and excellent straight-line speed left slower defenders in his wake. In three years at NU, he finished with 3,153 yards and 40 touchdowns despite only starting 12 career games. He split time with Derek Brown as a “We” back” in 1991 and 1992, bursting onto the scene with a 294-yard, six-touchdown, school-record performance vs. Kansas in 1991. NU trailed 17-0 in the game before Jones, turning the corner like a fine-tuned Indy Car, broke off giant runs of 47 and 68 yards for scores. The Huskers eventually won 59-23.

The game set the tone for the rest of Jones’ career. When a big play was needed - especially on a toss or option play - No. 44 was the man to call. He averaged nearly seven yards per carry for his career.

Jones was especially excellent in three games vs. Oklahoma - all won by NU. As a freshman, he rushed for 117 yards in the sleet and rain in a dramatic 19-14 comeback win. He rushed for 137 in 1992, and 82 in 1993. More importantly, Jones scored the clinching touchdown in the 1993 game, which sent the undefeated Huskers to the Orange Bowl.

Injuries dogged Jones throughout his career, and by the end of his junior season, it seemed clear that Lawrence Phillips, a tougher, studier back in between the tackles, was about to catch Jones on the depth chart. He declared for the NFL Draft and played three years for the Raiders and Packers.

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Honorable Mention, No. 30, No. 29

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Welcome to Husker Locker’s “30 Best Players since 1980” portion of the Summer 30 series. Check throughout May to see our updated rankings; the previous rankings will be housed at the bottom of this blog post.

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No. 25 Barrett Ruud (2001-2004)

Before Suuuh there was Ruuud. The record holder for career tackles (432) and tackles in a season (149), Ruud was one of those rare Huskers who played all four seasons at NU, and played extensively, starting for his last three campaigns. He suffered through two of the Huskers’ tougher years - a 7-7 campaign in 2002 and a 5-6 season in 2004 - but bloomed under a single year of coaching from Bo Pelini in 2003, finishing with 149 tackles and 14 tackles for loss.

Smart, rangy and tough, Ruud's best game came in 2003 vs. Texas A&M, when he returned a pass for a touchdown, caused a fumble, notched a sack and finished with ten tackles. Always consistent, he never missed a game in his time at Nebraska. He’s now a top-flight linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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Honorable Mention, No. 30, No. 29, No. 28, No. 27, No. 26

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Welcome to Husker Locker’s “30 Best Players since 1980” portion of the Summer 30 series. Check throughout May to see our updated rankings; the previous rankings will be housed at the bottom of this blog post.

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No. 20 Aaron Taylor (1994-1997)

The 1997 Outland Trophy winner excelled at two different positions - guard and center - during his Husker career. He won three national titles, and was an integral part of the 1995 and 1997 squads. The school record-holder in pancake blocks until Toniu Fonoti surpassed him in 2001, Taylor is the only Husker to be named an All-American at two different positions.

Amiable and friendly off the field, but rawhide-tough on it, Taylor wasn’t of prototypical size - about 6-foot, 300 pounds - but he was quick around the corner, powerful and smart. His low center of gravity, along with a sharp, quick burst on his first step, often set back opposing defensive tackles on his heels. Few NU offensive linemen were better in NU’s history, and none were tougher.

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Honorable Mention, No. 30, No. 29, No. 28, No. 27, No. 26, No. 25, No. 24, No. 23, No. 22, No. 21

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Welcome to Husker Locker’s “30 Best Players since 1980” portion of the Summer 30 series. Check throughout May to see our updated rankings; the previous rankings will be housed at the bottom of this blog post.

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No. 16 Linebacker Broderick Thomas (1985-1988)

The Sandman was one of Nebraska’s biggest talkers - and most dynamic playmakers, too. An All-American in 1987 and 1988 - and a finalist for the Lombardi and Butkus Awards in 1988, Thomas finished his career with 242 tackles, 39 tackles for loss and 22.5 sacks. In his senior season he was particularly dominant (98-17-10).

At 6-foot-3, 235 pounds, Thomas was a perfect fit for the rangy 5-2/3-4 defense NU was running in the 1980s. Fast enough to cover tight ends not named Keith Jackson, and a terrific pass rusher, Thomas had to be accounted for on every play. His dangerous style opened up lanes for his teammates like Danny Noonan and Neil Smith.

He was often thwarted by Oklahoma, but got his revenge - plus the keys back to Memorial Stadium - in a 7-3 win at OU in 1988. That day, the Sooners’ powerful offense gained just 137 yards.

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Honorable Mention, No. 30, No. 29, No. 28, No. 27, No. 26, No. 25, No. 24, No. 23, No. 22, No. 21, No. 20, No. 19, No. 18, No. 17

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No. 27 Cornerback Barron Miles (1992-1994)

He didn’t look the part at 5-foot-8, 165 pounds. And his career statistics (101 tackles, 19 pass breakups, 7 interceptions) look small compared to some of Nebraska’s great cornerbacks.

But none of them blocked a school-record seven kicks, either. And Miles, small, tough and undaunted, was an excellent lockdown corner in the new era of Nebraska’s defense. The guy whose coverage skills and leaping ability allowed defensive coordinator Charlie McBride to take so many chances with blitzes. His crowning achievement was the 1995 Orange Bowl, in which he was brilliant, with 12 tackles and three pass breakups against the pass-happy Miami team. If Miles isn’t there, NU doesn’t win that game. It’s that simple.

A natural jumper with terrific catch-up speed and uncanny time, Miles paved the way for guys Tyrone Williams, Ralph Brown and Fabian Washington. Although they eventually eclipsed some of his statistics, Miles’ impact on the Husker defense was no less profound.

After a knee injury derailed his NFL career, Miles resurfaced in the CFL, where he was a five-time All Star and the CFL’s career leader in interceptions and blocked kicks. He just retired in 2009 and immediately became a coach. If Bo Pelini ever needs another secondary coach, he knows where to look.

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Honorable Mention, No. 30, No. 29, No. 28

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Welcome to Husker Locker’s “30 Best Players since 1980” portion of the Summer 30 series. Check throughout May to see our updated rankings; the previous rankings will be housed at the bottom of this blog post.

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No. 21 Neil Smith (1984-1987)

A quick, versatile defensive tackle/end that was part of several stout defenses at NU featuring a number star players - Danny Noonan, Broderick Thomas, Marc Munford, Jim Skow and Chris Spachman among them - that probably reduced, to some extent, Smith’s career statistics, although they’re still impressive: 133 tackles, 26 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks. Like Ndamukong Suh, Smith was taken second in the 1988 NFL Draft to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Smith’s reign of terror in 1987 actually began in the Sugar Bowl to end the 1986 season - a 30-15 win over LSU - when he had five tackles in his hometown of New Orleans. During the 1987 season, Smith’s incredible first step overwhelmed many an offensive linemen. In a key game vs. Colorado at the end of the year, Smith was brilliant with 12 tackles, a sack, a recovered fumble and a blocked kick.

In the NFL, Smith became one of the most accomplished Huskers in history, with 104 career sacks, six Pro Bowls and two Super Bowl victories over 12 seasons.

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Honorable Mention, No. 30, No. 29, No. 28, No. 27, No. 26, No. 25, No. 24, No. 23, No. 22

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Welcome to Husker Locker’s “30 Best Players since 1980” portion of the Summer 30 series. Check throughout May to see our updated rankings; the previous rankings will be housed at the bottom of this blog post.

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No. 26 Nose guard Danny Noonan (1983-1986)

If there ever was to be a poster boy for Nebraska’s revolutionary strength and conditioning program in the 1980s, Noonan just might be the best fit. An absolute rock of a man - 6-foot-4, 280 pounds - who could throw massive amounts of weight, Noonan also possessed a hot motor and a quick first step. Although he was surrounded by excellent defensive players like Broderick Thomas, Neil Smith, Jim Skow and Marc Munford for the balance of his NU career, Noonan still put up dominant career numbers (126 tackles, 33 tackles for loss, 24 sacks).

A first-team All American in 1986, Noonan’s signature game was a primetime contest vs. Florida State on national TV. With NU reeling because of an NCAA investigation over players selling tickets, the Huskers overcame a 17-10 third quarter deficit by holding the Seminoles to -2 yards in the second half and sacking FSU quarterback Chip Ferguson seven times. Noonan had three of them, and was named Big Eight Player of the Week for his efforts. He was later named Big Eight Athlete of the Year.

Drafted in the first round of the 1987 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys, Noonan played six years in the NFL, mostly with Dallas.

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Honorable Mention, No. 30, No. 29, No. 28, No. 27

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Welcome to Husker Locker’s “30 Best Players since 1980” portion of the Summer 30 series. Check throughout May to see our updated rankings; the previous rankings will be housed at the bottom of this blog post.

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No. 24 Guard Toniu Fonoti (1999-2001)

When this humongous man - 6-foot-4, 340 pounds - chose to dominate, well, nobody stood in his way. Fonoti, in three years, shattered the Nebraska record for pancake blocks, amassing 379 overall. In 2001 alone, he had 201, also a school record.

For good measure, he holds the single-game record, too, with 32 vs. Texas Tech in 2001. He’s one of the few Husker in history who could have stood toe-to-toe with Ndamukong Suh and maybe won his share of battles. With Fonoti at guard, Nebraska made a killing on fullback traps, quarterback draws and option plays for three years. He lost to Miami’s Bryant McKinnie for the Outland Trophy in 2001.

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Honorable Mention, No. 30, No. 29, No. 28, No. 27, No. 26, No. 25

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Welcome to Husker Locker’s “30 Best Players since 1980” portion of the Summer 30 series. Check throughout May to see our updated rankings; the previous rankings will be housed at the bottom of this blog post.

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No. 19 Cornerback Ralph Brown (1996-1999)

He started every game of his Husker career, 52 games in all. He finished his career with school records in pass breakups in a game (7), season (15) and career (50). Despite being a lockdown corner for years, he still managed 11 interceptions, and three defensive touchdowns, to go along with his 143 career tackles. Brown had a quick first step, good instincts, and the confidence to take on any receiver. His aggressive style sometimes got him burned, but it also allowed Nebraska to unleash impressive blitzes, as well.

A three-time All Big 12 player and a first-team All-American in 1999, Brown enjoyed a long career in the NFL as a nickel and dime cornerback. He is best known, however, for being a constant on the lonely Husker island.

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Honorable Mention, No. 30, No. 29, No. 28, No. 27, No. 26, No. 25, No. 24, No. 23, No. 22, No. 21, No. 20

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