8 Best Nebraska Cornhuskers Football Players

The odds of winning may not have been in the Cornhuskers favour in recent history, but there was a time when they were one of the most dominant programs in the country. 

From 1970 to 2001, the program saw five national championships and three Heisman Trophy winners. 

With Matt Rhule as head coach and Kyle McCord transferring over from Ohio State, the Cornhuskers could be a fun addition to college football parlays this season, but that remains to be seen.

Regardless, the Cornhuskers have a rich history. Below, I’ve ranked the top eight players in program history. 

8 Best Nebraska Cornhuskers Football Players

1. Mike Rozier

Rozier had a stellar career at Nebraska during the 1980s and still holds the record for the most rushing yards in program history with 4,780. Additionally, he’s second in rushing touchdowns (49), third in all-purpose yards (5,445), sixth in scoring (312), and second in total touchdowns (52). 

His best season came in his final college season, rushing 300 times for 2,295 yards and 29 touchdowns. Rozier’s college career began in 1980 at Coffeyville Junior College. 

Rozier was the No. 2 overall pick in the 1984 NFL Draft and is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. 

2. Tommie Frazier

A two-time national champion, Fiesta Bowl MVP, and two-time Orange Bowl MVP, I think I’m safe saying that Frazier is the best quarterback in Cornhuskers history. 

He ranks ninth in passing yards (3,521), sixth in rushing touchdowns (43), sixth in total offence (5,476), and seventh in total touchdowns (36). 

🎥 #ChampionshipMoments 1994
NEBRASKA 24 | MIAMI 17

Fullback trap to win a National Title

Tom Osborne brilliantly rotates QB's Brook Berringer & Tommie Frazier — wins his 1st National Championship pic.twitter.com/2NBZ13bScg

— Pick Six Previews (@PickSixPreviews) January 8, 2024

The team retired his No. 15, and he’s a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. 

3. Johnny Rodgers

The first receiver to make my list is none other than Johnny Rodgers. A first-round draft pick in the 1973 NFL Draft, Rodgers is littered across the Cornhuskers record books. 

He’s sixth in receptions (143), fourth in receiving yards (2,497), first in receiving touchdowns (25), second in all-purpose yards (5,586), ninth in scoring (264), fifth in total touchdowns (44), first in punt return yards (1,515), and ninth in kick return yards (847). 

Get all that? Yeah, it’s a lot. 

He won the 1972 Heisman Trophy and also two national championships. 

In 1972, he had 58 catches for 1,013 yards and nine touchdowns and added 73 carries for 348 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. 

Despite going in the first round of the 1973 draft, he signed with the CFL initially before returning to the NFL in 1977. 

4. Ndamukong Suh

After redshirting his freshman season upon undergoing knee surgery, Suh was dominant in the following four years. He started 38 games, and in 2009, he won the Outland Trophy, Lombardi Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Award, and Bill Willis Trophy, and was named the AP College Football Player of the Year. 

He ranks second in tackles for loss (57) and fourth in sacks (24). 

His No. 93 was retired by the team. 

5. Dave Rimington

A member of the College Football Hall of Fame, Rimington was a two-time Outland Trophy award winner. He also won the Lombardi Award, was named the UPI Lineman of the Year, and was a two-time unanimous All-American. Rimington is one of 13 players to win the Outland and Lombardi awards. 

He went on to be the No. 25 overall selection in the 1983 NFL Draft. 

6. Eric Crouch

While Crouch is credited with a 1997 national championship, he did redshirt that season. Starting his career with the team in 1998, Crouch won the Heisman Trophy, Walter Camp Award, Davey O’Brien Award, and SN Player of the Year in 2001. He was also a first-team All-American, a two-time Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, and a two-time first-team All-Big 12, and his No. 7 was retired by the team. 

He ranks eighth in passing yards (4,481), fourth in rushing yards (3,434), first in rushing touchdowns (59), fourth in total offence (7,915), 10th in all-purpose yards (3,543), third in scoring (368), and first in total touchdowns (61). 

Crouch’s Heisman season consisted of 1,510 passing yards, seven touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 203 carries, 1,115 yards, and 18 rushing touchdowns. 

7. Rich Glover

A two-time national champion, Glover, a defensive tackle, won the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award, was a unanimous All-American and first-team All-American, and his No. 79 was retired by the team. 

He ranks fifth in Cornhuskers history for most tackles in a single game, with 22 against Oklahoma in 1971. 

Glover is in the College Football Hall of Fame. 

8. Ameer Abdullah

To round out the list, I wanted to give some flowers to a more recent player in Abdullah. 

A running back, Abdullah received first-team All-Big Ten honours and was also a two-time second-team All-Big Ten recipient. 

He ranks second all-time in rushing yards (4,588), fifth in rushing touchdowns (39), first in all-purpose yards (7,186), seventh in scoring (288), third in total touchdowns (48), and third in kick return yards (1,592).