Top 10 best Nebraska football players of all time
Nebraska football is a powerhouse built on grit, dominance, and an unbreakable fan culture. Memorial Stadium isn’t just a venue – it’s a roaring cathedral filled with generations of believers. The sellout streak alone proves one thing: football in Nebraska is life.
Through decades of glory, the Cornhuskers have produced some of the greatest athletes college football has ever seen. They didn’t just win games – they defined eras. Below, premiumsoccertips proudly presents the Top 10 best Nebraska football players of all time, honoring those who turned the Huskers into a national dynasty. And hey – if you love the thrill of the game, stick around for smart football tips online at the end.
Top 10: Ahman Green
Ahman Green was a wrecking ball disguised as a running back. His speed, size, and balance made him a nightmare for defenders trying to wrap him up. Green racked up over 3,000 rushing yards during his Nebraska career, helping power the late-90s dominance.
Even after becoming a star in the NFL with Green Bay, fans always remembered him as the homegrown Huskers legend who ran through the Big 12 like a hot knife through butter.
Top 9: Trev Alberts
Fearless, ruthless, and relentless – Trev Alberts was the kind of linebacker who made quarterbacks pray before the snap. He set the edge with violence, leading a defense that opponents genuinely hated to face.
Alberts won the Butkus Award in 1993 and symbolized Nebraska’s defensive identity: aggressive, disciplined, and punishing on every down.
Top 8: Dean Steinkuhler
Dean Steinkuhler was a force of nature on the offensive line. His combination of technique and raw strength helped Nebraska own the trenches season after season. He won both the Outland Trophy and the Lombardi Award – pure lineman royalty.
His most iconic moment? Scooping and scoring on the “fumblerooski” – a play college football fans still talk about decades later.
Top 7: Roger Craig
Before NFL fans fell in love with his two-back style in San Francisco, Roger Craig was a Husker who revolutionized the position. A superb runner and exceptional receiver, Craig gave Nebraska a versatility weapon long before it was trendy.
He helped the Huskers remain an offensive powerhouse and later became one of the most complete running backs in football history.
Top 6: Dave Rimington
Centers rarely get applause, but Rimington earned every cheer. Winning the Outland Trophy twice made him a legend – and the fact that the Rimington Trophy is named after him proves he changed the position itself.
Every rushing lane Nebraska carved in the early ’80s? Rimington was the first to create the damage.
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Top 5: Johnny Rodgers
Flash, swagger, game-breaking talent – Johnny Rodgers was Nebraska’s electric superstar. Winning the Heisman in 1972, he delivered highlight after highlight as a receiver and returner.
Rodgers didn’t just play football – he made it look like a performance art. Defenders could read the play perfectly and still had no chance.
Top 4: Grant Wistrom
Grant Wistrom never took a snap off. His high motor and leadership fueled multiple national championships in the mid-90s. He turned pressure into chaos and chaos into momentum for the Huskers.
Wistrom embodied what Nebraska defense is supposed to look like – fearless and destructive until the final whistle.
Top 3: Mike Rozier
Pure explosiveness. Mike Rozier shredded any defense foolish enough to underestimate him. In 1983, he not only won the Heisman – he embarrassed opponents with outrageous yards-per-carry dominance.
Rozier’s acceleration and toughness helped Nebraska field one of the most terrifying offenses in college football history.
Top 2: Tommie Frazier
Tommie Frazier was built for big games. When championships were on the line, he took over. His balance running the option and his competitive fire carved fear into every defense he faced.
His jaw-dropping run vs. Florida in the Fiesta Bowl? Still one of college football’s most iconic moments.
Top 1: Ndamukong Suh
When Suh hit you, you remembered it. When he pressured your quarterback, you thanked the universe if it didn’t end in disaster. Suh’s 2009 season was a defensive masterclass so dominant he nearly won the Heisman.
He didn’t just disrupt plays – he destroyed entire offensive gameplans. Suh is the blueprint of modern defensive line greatness.
Final thoughts
These best Nebraska football players of all time turned Lincoln into one of college football’s greatest battlegrounds. Their toughness, talent, and mentality created a culture opponents both feared and respected.
Nebraska’s golden era isn’t gone forever – history has proven the Huskers always rise again.
Refer to: Top 8 Notre Dame best football players of all time
