Nebraska Cornhuskers football honors and awards

  1. Home
  2. Wiki

This is a list of Nebraska Cornhuskers football honors and awards. Nebraska players have won twenty-nine major awards, including three Heisman Trophies, and the school's nine Outland Trophy winners are the most of any program.

Heisman Trophy

[edit]
Ndamukong Suh won five major national awards and was a Heisman Trophy finalist in 2009

Winners

[edit]

Finalists

[edit]

National awards

[edit]
The Rimington Trophy, awarded to the country's best center, is named for Nebraska All-American Dave Rimington

Player of the year

[edit]

Player of the year by position

[edit]

Coach of the year

[edit]

Conference awards

[edit]
Tommie Frazier was named Big Eight player of the year in 1995

Athlete of the year

[edit]

Seven Nebraska players have been named conference male athlete of the year, across all sports.

Player of the year

[edit]
Offensive
Defensive

Freshman of the year

[edit]
Offensive
Defensive
  • Big Eight: Tyrone Byrd (1989), Trev Alberts (1990)
  • Big 12: Ralph Brown (1996)

Newcomer of the year

[edit]
Offensive
Defensive

Coach of the year

[edit]

Other conference awards

[edit]

All-Americans

[edit]
Main article: List of Nebraska Cornhuskers football All-Americans

First-team all-conference selections

[edit]

Nebraska has had 523 first-team all-conference selections: 446 in the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association and Big Eight,[n] fifty-nine in the Big 12, and eighteen in the Big Ten.[14]

MVIAA / Big Eight

[edit]
  • Bill Chaloupka – 1907
  • Harold Cook – 1907
  • S. T. Frum – 1907
  • John Weller – 1907
  • Ernest Kroger – 1908
  • Owen Frank – 1909, 1910
  • LeRoy Temple – 1909, 1910
  • W. F. Chauner – 1910, 1911
  • Sylvester Shonka – 1910, 1911
  • Leon Warner – 1910, 1911
  • E. B. Elliott – 1911
  • E. Z. Hornberger – 1911
  • Vic Halligan – 1912, 1913, 1914
  • J. D. Harmon – 1912
  • J. T. M. Pearson – 1912
  • Leonard Purdy – 1912, 1913
  • Charles Beck – 1913
  • Guy Mastin – 1913
  • Dick Rutherford – 1913, 1914, 1915
  • Max Towle – 1913
  • E. L. Abbott – 1914, 1915
  • Roy Cameron – 1914
  • Guy Chamberlin – 1914, 1915
  • H. H. Corey – 1914, 1915, 1916
  • Warren Howard – 1914
  • Paul Shields – 1915
  • Hugo Otopalik – 1916
  • John Cook – 1917
  • Paul Dobson – 1917
  • Roscoe Rhodes – 1917
  • E. H. Schellenberg – 1917
  • Edson Shaw – 1917
  • Chick Hartley – 1921
  • Glen Preston – 1921, 1922
  • John Pucelik – 1921
  • Clarence Swanson – 1921
  • Joy Berquist – 1922, 1923
  • Chick Hartley – 1922
  • Dave Noble – 1922, 1923
  • Leo Scherer – 1922
  • Bub Weller – 1922
  • Adolph Wenke – 1922
  • Rufus Dewitz – 1923
  • Ross McGlasson – 1923
  • Choppy Rhodes – 1924, 1925
  • Ed Weir – 1924, 1925
  • Harold Hutchinson – 1925
  • Glenn Presnell – 1926, 1927
  • Lonnie Stiner – 1926
  • Blue Howell – 1927, 1928
  • Ted James – 1927, 1928
  • Dan McMullen – 1927, 1928
  • Roy Randels – 1927
  • Clifford Ashburn – 1928
  • Marion Broadstone – 1928, 1930
  • Glen Munn – 1928
  • Lafayette Russell – 1928
  • Clair Sloan – 1928, 1929
  • Steve Hokuf – 1929, 1930, 1932
  • Ray Richards – 1929
  • Harold Frahm – 1930
  • Elmer Greenberg – 1930
  • Hugh Rhea – 1930, 1931
  • Lawrence Ely – 1931, 1932
  • George Koster – 1931
  • Everett Kreizinger – 1931
  • George Sauer – 1931, 1932, 1933
  • Corwin Hulbert – 1932
  • Chris Mathis – 1932
  • Lee Penney – 1932, 1933
  • Clair Bishop – 1933
  • Hubert Boswell – 1933
  • Warren DeBus – 1933
  • Bruce Kilbourne – 1933
  • Bernie Masterson – 1933
  • Frank Meier – 1933, 1934
  • Gail O'Brien – 1933
  • Henry Bauer – 1934
  • Lloyd Cardwell – 1934, 1935, 1936
  • Bernard Scherer – 1934, 1935
  • Sam Francis – 1935, 1936
  • Jerry LaNoue – 1935
  • Fred Shirey – 1935, 1936, 1937
  • Charles Brock – 1936, 1937, 1938
  • Ron Douglas – 1936
  • Les McDonald – 1936
  • Elmer Dohrmann – 1937
  • Ted Doyle – 1937
  • Johnny Howell – 1937
  • Bob Mehring – 1937
  • Jack Dodd – 1938
  • Warren Alfson – 1939, 1940
  • Harry Hopp – 1939, 1940
  • Herman Rohrig – 1939
  • Forrest Behm – 1940
  • Vike Francis – 1940
  • Walter Luther – 1940
  • Roy Petsch – 1940
  • Ray Prochaska – 1940
  • Ed Schwartzkopf – 1940
  • George Abel – 1941
  • Dale Bradley – 1941
  • Fred Preston – 1941
  • Charles Duda – 1942
  • Vic Schleich – 1942
  • Gerald Moore – 1945
  • John Sedlacek – 1945
  • Dick Hutton – 1946
  • Tom Novak – 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949
  • Carl Samuelson – 1946, 1947
  • Sam Vacanti – 1946
  • Charles Toogood – 1949, 1950
  • Fran Nagle – 1950
  • Bobby Reynolds – 1950
  • Don Strasheim – 1950
  • Dennis Emanuel – 1951, 1952
  • Jerry Minnick – 1951, 1952, 1953
  • Bill Schabacker – 1951, 1952
  • Frank Simon – 1951
  • Don Boll – 1952
  • Clayton Curtis – 1952
  • John Bordogna – 1953
  • Ted Connor – 1953
  • Charles Bryant – 1954
  • Don Glantz – 1954
  • Bob Smith – 1954
  • Rex Fischer – 1955
  • Willie Greenlaw – 1955
  • Jon McWilliams – 1955
  • LaVerne Torczon – 1955, 1956
  • Jerry Brown – 1956
  • Don Olson – 1959
  • Don Purcell – 1960
  • Bill Thornton – 1961
  • Bob Brown – 1962, 1963
  • Dennis Claridge – 1962, 1963
  • Tyrone Robertson – 1962
  • Lloyd Voss – 1963
  • Walt Barnes, MG – 1964,[o] 1965
  • Tony Jeter, TE – 1964, 1965
  • Larry Kramer, OT – 1964
  • Kent McCloughan, DB – 1964
  • Lyle Sittler, C – 1964
  • Ted Vactor, DB – 1964
  • Freeman White, SE – 1964, 1965
  • LaVerne Allers, OG – 1965, 1966
  • Dennis Carlson, OT – 1965
  • Mike Kennedy, LB – 1965
  • Frank Solich, FB – 1965
  • Larry Wachholtz, DB – 1965, 1966
  • Kaye Carstens, DB – 1966
  • Bob Churchich, QB – 1966
  • Wayne Meylan, MG – 1966, 1967
  • Kelly Petersen, C – 1966
  • Bob Pickens, OT – 1966
  • Lynn Senkbeil, LB – 1966
  • Carel Stith, DT – 1966
  • Harry Wilson, HB – 1966
  • Dick Davis, FB – 1967
  • Jim McCord, DT – 1967
  • Dennis Richnafsky, OE – 1967
  • Joe Armstrong, OG – 1968
  • Ken Geddes, LB/MG – 1968, 1969
  • Dana Stephenson, DB – 1968, 1969
  • Bob Liggett, DT – 1969
  • Jim McFarland, TE – 1969
  • Jerry Murtaugh, LB – 1969, 1970
  • Bill Kosch, DB – 1970, 1971
  • Donnie McGhee, OG – 1970
  • Bob Newton, OT – 1970
  • Joe Orduna, IB – 1970
  • Ed Periard, MG – 1970
  • Johnny Rodgers, HB/WB – 1970, 1971, 1972
  • Paul Rogers, K – 1970
  • Dave Walline, DT – 1970
  • Jim Anderson, DB – 1971
  • Joe Blahak, DB – 1971, 1972
  • Rich Glover, MG – 1971, 1972
  • Willie Harper, DE – 1971, 1972
  • Larry Jacobson, DT – 1971
  • Carl Johnson, OT – 1971
  • Jeff Kinney, IB – 1971
  • Dick Rupert, OG – 1971
  • Jerry Tagge, QB – 1971
  • Bob Terrio, LB – 1971
  • Daryl White, OT – 1972, 1973
  • Frosty Anderson, SE – 1973
  • John Dutton, DT – 1973
  • Steve Manstedt, DE – 1973
  • Rik Bonness, C – 1974, 1975
  • Marvin Crenshaw, OT – 1974
  • David Humm, QB – 1974
  • Bob Martin, DE – 1974, 1975
  • Tom Ruud, LB – 1974
  • Dave Butterfield, DB – 1975, 1976
  • Mike Fultz, DT – 1975, 1976
  • Wonder Monds, DB – 1975
  • Vince Ferragamo, QB – 1976
  • Bob Lingenfelter, OT – 1976
  • Ray Phillips, DE – 1976
  • Clete Pillen, LB – 1976
  • Dan Schmidt, OG – 1976
  • Tom Davis, C – 1977
  • I. M. Hipp, IB – 1977
  • Greg Jorgensen, OG – 1977
  • Jim Pillen, LB – 1977, 1978
  • George Andrews, DE – 1978
  • Rick Berns, IB – 1978
  • Kenny Brown, WB – 1978, 1979
  • Kelvin Clark, OT – 1978
  • Rod Horn, DT – 1978, 1979
  • Steve Lindquist, OG – 1978
  • Junior Miller, TE – 1978, 1979
  • John Havekost, OG – 1979
  • Derrie Nelson, DE – 1979, 1980
  • Jarvis Redwine, IB – 1979, 1980
  • Dean Sukup, K – 1979
  • Kelly Saalfeld, C – 1979
  • Tim Smith, SE – 1979
  • Kerry Weinmaster, MG – 1979
  • David Clark, DT – 1980
  • Andra Franklin, FB – 1980
  • Russell Gary, S – 1980
  • Dave Rimington, C – 1980, 1981, 1982
  • Randy Schleusener, OG – 1980
  • Roger Craig, IB – 1981
  • Tony Felici, DE – 1981, 1982
  • Turner Gill, QB – 1981, 1982, 1983
  • Dan Hurley, OT – 1981
  • Jeff Krejci, S – 1981
  • Ric Lindquist, CB – 1981
  • Mike Rozier, IB – 1981, 1982, 1983
  • Sammy Sims, LB – 1981
  • Jamie Williams, TE – 1981, 1982
  • Jimmy Williams, DE – 1981
  • Steve Damkroger, LB – 1982
  • Mike Mandelko, OG – 1982
  • Randy Theiss, OT – 1982
  • Bret Clark, S – 1983, 1984
  • Irving Fryar, WB – 1983
  • Mike Knox, LB – 1983
  • Scott Raridon, OT – 1983
  • Dean Steinkuhler, OG – 1983
  • Mark Traynowicz, C – 1983, 1984
  • Mark Behning, OT – 1984
  • Doug DuBose, IB – 1984, 1985
  • Harry Grimminger, OG – 1984
  • Scott Livingston, P – 1984
  • Marc Munford, LB – 1984, 1985, 1986
  • Greg Orton, OG – 1984
  • Jeff Smith, IB – 1984
  • Scott Strasburger, DE – 1984
  • Bill Weber, DE – 1984
  • Brian Blankenship, OG – 1985
  • Dale Klein, PK – 1985
  • Bill Lewis, C – 1985
  • Tom Rathman, FB – 1985
  • Jim Skow, DT – 1985
  • Keith Jones, IB – 1986, 1987
  • Danny Noonan, MB – 1986
  • Chris Spachman, DT – 1986
  • Broderick Thomas, DE/OLB – 1986, 1987, 1988
  • Tom Welter, OT – 1986
  • LeRoy Etienne, ILB – 1987, 1988
  • Steve Forch, ILB – 1987
  • Keven Lightner, OT – 1987
  • John McCormick, OG – 1987
  • Tim Rother, DT – 1987
  • Neil Smith, DT – 1987
  • Steve Taylor, QB – 1987, 1988
  • Dana Brinson – 1988
  • Ken Clark, IB – 1988, 1989
  • Charles Fryar, CB – 1988
  • Willie Griffin, DT – 1988
  • Tim Jackson, FS – 1988
  • Andy Keeler, OG – 1988
  • Todd Millikan, TE – 1988
  • Lawrence Pete, MG – 1988
  • Bob Sledge, OT – 1988
  • Jake Young, C – 1988, 1989
  • Reggie Cooper, SS – 1989, 1990
  • Gerry Gdowski, QB – 1989
  • Doug Glaser, OT – 1989
  • Jeff Mills, OLB – 1989
  • Bruce Pickens, CB – 1989, 1990
  • Pat Tyrance, ILB – 1989, 1990
  • Kent Wells, DT – 1989
  • Mike Croel, OLB – 1990
  • Johnny Mitchell, TE – 1990, 1991
  • Tom Punt, OT – 1990
  • Will Shields, OG – 1990, 1991, 1992
  • Kenny Walker, DT – 1990
  • Brian Boerboom, OT – 1991
  • Jon Bostick, SE – 1991
  • Derek Brown, IB – 1991, 1992
  • Tyrone Legette, CB – 1991
  • Keithen McCant, QB – 1991
  • Mike Stigge, P – 1991
  • Erik Wiegert, OG – 1991
  • John Parrella, DT – 1991, 1992
  • Trev Alberts, OLB – 1992, 1993
  • Tyrone Byrd, DB – 1992
  • Calvin Jones, IB – 1992, 1993
  • Travis Hill, OLB – 1992
  • Jim Scott, C – 1992
  • Zach Wiegert, OT – 1992, 1993, 1994
  • Terry Connealy, DT – 1993
  • Lance Lundberg, OT – 1993
  • Ken Mehlin, C/OG – 1993
  • Barron Miles, CB – 1993, 1994
  • Kevin Ramaekers, DT – 1993
  • Troy Dumas, LB – 1994
  • Aaron Graham, C – 1994, 1995
  • Donta Jones, OLB – 1994
  • Lawrence Phillips, IB – 1994
  • Brenden Stai, OG – 1994
  • Ed Stewart, LB – 1994
  • Tyrone Williams, CB – 1994, 1995
  • Eric Anderson, OT – 1995
  • Chris Dishman, OT – 1995
  • Terrell Farley, LB – 1995
  • Tommie Frazier, QB – 1995
  • Ahman Green, IB – 1995
  • Christian Peter, DT – 1995
  • Aaron Taylor, OG – 1995
  • Jared Tomich, OLB – 1995
  • Grant Wistrom, OLB – 1995

Big 12

[edit]
  • Chris Dishman, OG – 1996
  • Jon Hesse, LB – 1996
  • Mike Minter, DB – 1996
  • Jason Peter, DT – 1996, 1997
  • Aaron Taylor, C/OG – 1996, 1997
  • Jared Tomich, RE – 1996
  • Grant Wistrom, RE – 1996, 1997
  • Eric Anderson, OT – 1997
  • Ralph Brown, CB – 1997, 1998, 1999
  • Ahman Green, IB – 1997
  • Josh Heskew, C – 1998
  • Sheldon Jackson, TE – 1998
  • Mike Brown, DB – 1999
  • Eric Crouch, QB – 1999, 2001
  • Russ Hochstein, OG – 1999, 2000
  • Carlos Polk, MLB – 1999, 2000
  • Dominic Raiola, C – 1999, 2000
  • Steve Warren, DT – 1999
  • Tracey Wistrom, TE – 1999, 2000
  • Dan Alexander, IB – 2000
  • Dan Hadenfeldt, P – 2000
  • Keyuo Craver, CB – 2001
  • Dahrran Diedrick, IB – 2001
  • Toniu Fonoti, OG – 2001
  • Josh Brown, K – 2002
  • DeJuan Groce, KR – 2002
  • Josh Bullocks, FS – 2003
  • Matt Herian, TE – 2003
  • Richie Incognito, OT – 2003
  • Kyle Larson, P – 2003
  • Demorrio Williams, WL – 2003
  • Barrett Ruud, MLB – 2004
  • Adam Carriker, DE – 2005, 2006
  • Brandon Jackson, RB – 2006
  • Bo Ruud, LB – 2006
  • Zac Taylor, QB – 2006
  • Dane Todd, FB – 2006
  • Ndamukong Suh, DT – 2008, 2009
  • Prince Amukamara, DB – 2009, 2010
  • Larry Asante, S – 2009
  • Jared Crick, DT – 2009
  • Pierre Allen, DE – 2010
  • Jared Crick, DT – 2010
  • Lavonte David, LB – 2010
  • Eric Hagg, DB – 2010
  • Ricky Henry, OG – 2010

Big Ten

[edit]
Lavonte David was named Big Ten linebacker of the year in Nebraska's first season in the conference
  • Rex Burkhead, RB – 2011
  • Lavonte David, LB – 2011
  • Alfonzo Dennard, DB – 2011
  • Brett Maher, K – 2011, 2012
  • Brett Maher, P – 2011
  • Spencer Long, OG – 2012
  • Eric Martin, DE – 2012
  • Taylor Martinez, QB – 2012
  • Daimion Stafford, S – 2012
  • Ameer Abdullah, RB – 2013
  • Ciante Evans, CB – 2013
  • Randy Gregory, DE – 2013, 2014
  • Kenny Bell, WR – 2014
  • Sam Foltz, P – 2015
  • Connor Culp, K – 2020
  • Austin Allen, TE – 2021

Retired numbers and jerseys

[edit]

Nebraska has permanently retired the number of two players: Tom Novak, the only four-time all-conference selection in Nebraska history; and Bob Brown, the first All-American coached by Bob Devaney.[14] Novak's no. 60 and Brown's no. 64 have not been worn since being retired.[p]

Nebraska has retired the jersey of twenty-three other players, allowing the numbers to remain in circulation. The name and number of each honoree is displayed below the North Stadium press box at Memorial Stadium. Each major award winner has his jersey retired, typically in an on-field ceremony following the end of his collegiate career.[14] In 2017, the school recognized eight early College Football Hall of Fame inductees, including Guy Chamberlin, whose career predated the use of numbers on jerseys.[14]

No. Player Position Career Retired[q]
Retired numbers[p]
60 Tom Novak C 1946–1949 1949
64 Bob Brown OT 1961–1963 2004
Retired jerseys
1 Clarence Swanson E 1918–1921 2017
7 Eric Crouch QB 1998–2001 2002
12 Bobby Reynolds HB 1950–1952 2017
15 Tommie Frazier QB 1992–1995 1996
20 Johnny Rodgers WB 1970–1972 1972
25 George Sauer FB 1931–1933 2017
30 Mike Rozier IB 1981–1983 1983
33 Forrest Behm OT 1938–1940 2017
34 Trev Alberts LB 1990–1993 1994
35 Ed Weir OT 1923–1925 2017
38 Sam Francis FB 1934–1936 2017
50 Dave Rimington C 1979–1982 1982
54 Dominic Raiola C 1998–2000 2002
66 Wayne Meylan MG 1965–1967 2017
67 Aaron Taylor OG 1994–1997 1998
71 Dean Steinkuhler OG 1980–1983 1983
72 Zach Wiegert OT 1991–1994 1995
75 Larry Jacobson DT 1969–1971 1994
Will Shields OG 1989–1992 1994
79 Rich Glover MG 1970–1972 1972
93 Ndamukong Suh DT 2005–2009 2010
98 Grant Wistrom DE 1994–1997 1998
Guy Chamberlin E 1913–1915 2017

Academic honors and awards

[edit]
Main article: Nebraska Cornhuskers academic honors and awards

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ The Bronko Nagurski Trophy was established by the Football Writers Association of America in 1993 to honor the country's best defensive player.[2]
  2. ^ The Chuck Bednarik Award was established by the Maxwell Football Club in 1995 to honor the country's best defensive player.[3]
  3. ^ The Maxwell Award was established in 1937 by the Maxwell Football Club to honor the country's best player.[4]
  4. ^ The Walter Camp Award was established in 1967 by the Walter Camp Football Foundation to honor the country's best player.[5]
  5. ^ The Butkus Award was established in 1985 to honor the country's best linebacker.[6]
  6. ^ The Davey O'Brien Award was established in 1977 to honor the best player in the Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. Four years later, it began honoring the country's best quarterback.[7]
  7. ^ The Jet Award was established in 2011 to honor the country's best return specialist.[8]
  8. ^ The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award was established in 1987 to honor the country's best upperclass quarterback.[9]
  9. ^ The Lombardi Award was established in 1970 to honor the country's best lineman.[10]
  10. ^ The Outland Trophy was established in 1946 by the Football Writers Association of America to honor the country's best interior lineman.[11]
  11. ^ The Rimington Trophy was established in 2000 by the Boomer Esiason Foundation to honor the country's best center.[12]
  12. ^ a b Jerry Murtaugh and Rich Glover were named Big Eight player of the year prior to the creation of separate offensive and defensive awards in 1972.
  13. ^ a b c d e All position-specific conference awards were presented by the Big Ten only.
  14. ^ In 1928, the ten member schools of the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association agreed to a splintering of the conference – Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma retained the MVIAA name and Drake, Grinnell, Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State), and Washington University formed the Missouri Valley Conference. The MVIAA became commonly known as the Big Six, and later the Big Seven and Big Eight. Its name was officially changed to the Big Eight in 1964.[13]
  15. ^ The 1963 season was the final college football season to require a one-platoon system. Beginning in 1964, teams were allowed unlimited substitutions to create dedicated offensive, defensive, and special teams units, and the Big Eight began publishing all-conference teams with players listed by position.[15]
  16. ^ a b Novak also wore no. 68 and no. 61 during his career, which are not retired. Brown's no. 64 was worn by many players prior to its retirement in 2004, most recently by offensive lineman Kurt Mann.
  17. ^ The year the player's jersey or number was retired by the university.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Evan Bredeson (April 3, 2022). "Nebraska's Heisman Winners and Finalists". Cornhuskers Wire. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  2. ^ "Trophy History – The Bronko Nagurski Trophy". Charlotte Touchdown Club. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  3. ^ "Bednarik Award". Maxwell Football Club. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  4. ^ "The Robert Maxwell Award". Maxwell Football Club. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  5. ^ "The Walter Camp Player of the Year". Walter Camp Football Foundation. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  6. ^ "Butkus Award – College". Butkus Award. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  7. ^ "National Quarterback Award – Davey O'Brien Award Winners". Davey O'Brien Award. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  8. ^ "Jet Award Legacy Winners". Jet Award. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  9. ^ "Our History". Golden Arm Foundation. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  10. ^ "About The Lombardi Award". Lombardi Award. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  11. ^ "FWAA Outland Trophy". Football Writers Association of America. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  12. ^ "Rimington Trophy". National College Football Awards Association. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  13. ^ Braden Gall (June 29, 2012). "The History of Big 12 Realignment". Athlon Sports. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  14. ^ a b c d "2024–25 Football Record Book" (PDF). Nebraska Athletics. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  15. ^ "Huskers to Hit Gophers With 2 Teams Saturday". Lincoln Journal Star. September 24, 1964. Retrieved April 28, 2025.