Huskers Best in College, NFL, or Both: Top 5 Lists

[Thanks_Tom RR]

Who are the top five Huskers that had outstanding college careers setting themselves up for the next level, but after getting drafted were a bust in the NFL. Conversely, which five Huskers had a pedestrian or underrated career at Nebraska due to depth chart issues, injuries, hem-hawing, inconstancies, personal issues, etc., but after a late round draft or free agency, developed into a stud in the NFL. Finally, let's recognize those guys who just perform, no matter the level of talent they play against.

 

College Greats, NFL Busts

1. Tommy Frazier (Undrafted, CFL)

2. Eric Crouch (95th Overall Selection)

3. Lawrence Phillips (6th Overall Selection)

4. Michael Booker (11th Overall Selection)

5. Trev Alberts (5th Overall Selection)

 

***Honorable Mentions: Johnny Rodgers (25th Overall Selection) and Mike Rozier (1st Overall Selection, USFL)

 

College Unherald, NFL Stars

1. Mick Tinglehoff (Undrafted free agent---Pro Football Hall of Famer)

2. Keith Bishop (1 yr at Nebraska and transferred to Baylor---Pro Bowler)

3. Eric Johnson (Back-up first two year, solid junior year, injury senior year, and Undrafted free agent---8+ yrs in Pros, blocked punt and returned it for TD in Super Bowl win)

4. Andra Franklin (Unappreciated fullback career---Pro Bowler, lead NFL in rushing attempts 1982)

5. Mike Rucker (Back-up to Wistrom---Pro Bowler)

 

***I cheated a bit with Franklin and Rucker as both were 2nd Rd picks but definitely both are unheralded.

 

All-time College and NFL Greats

1. Will Shield

2. Bob Brown

3. Roger Craig

4. Ahman Green

5. Irving Fryar

 

***Honorable Mentions: Kyle Vanden Bosch, Mike Brown, Mike Minter, Kris Brown, Ndamukong Suh (current)

[hskrpwr13]

Neat lists. For Rozier, I'd add he was first pick for the USFL. He went to the NFL after the USFL folded.

[Red Five]

Rucker was 2nd team Big 12 as a senior, not what I would call unheralded.

[HuskerNationNick]

College Unherald, NFL Stars

1. Mick Tinglehoff (Undrafted free agent---Pro Football Hall of Famer)

It is nice to see family on your list. If it wasn't so expensive for me to take time off, and the trip itself with tickets, I would be going up to Canton!

 

+1

[NUance]

Wow, hard to decide who to leave off those lists. I need to put some thought into it. But I gotta think I'd put Pat Fisher on the NFL list. He played 17 years and made three Pro Bowls. +1

[ColoradoHusk]

Rucker was 2nd team Big 12 as a senior, not what I would call unheralded.

I agree that Rucker was not exactly a bum at

NU. The guy was basically a starter in '97 (shared time with Kelsay) and the 2nd team Big 12 as a senior. I wouldn't just call him "Wistrom's back-up".

[ColoradoHusk]

Just to nit-pick, Eric Johnson's block punt in the Super Bowl came in the Raiders' blowout loss to Tampa Bay. He had a decent NFL career, but I wouldn't exactly call him a star.

[True2tRA]

Neil Smith has to be on my list as a college and NFL great.

[Landlord]

Correll Buckhalter had a great career that was probably more....how do you want to say it, indicative of his true ability than his career here.

[ColoradoHusk]

Correll Buckhalter had a great career that was probably more....how do you want to say it, indicative of his true ability than his career here.

I always thought Buckhalter should have been given the bulk of the I-back carries in '99. He was just a better runner than Alexander and wasn't the fumbler that DA was.

[Red Five]

Shout out to Tom Rathman

 

Not sure if he makes a top 5 college/NFL great, but he was darn good in both leagues.

[huskerfan333157]

How can Neil smith not be on the list? Dude was a beast in the nfl.

[huskerfan333157]

Neil smith: 6 pro bowls, on nfl 90s all decade team, first team all pro selection,

[Thanks_Tom RR]

 

Rucker was 2nd team Big 12 as a senior, not what I would call unheralded.

I agree that Rucker was not exactly a bum at

NU. The guy was basically a starter in '97 (shared time with Kelsay) and the 2nd team Big 12 as a senior. I wouldn't just call him "Wistrom's back-up".

Rucker gets added because he had to play second string for three of his four years. For as good of a player that he was in college, he is was limited, to a degree, by the depth chart. Plus, he gets recognition now as one of the great DE to come through Nebraska but gets overlooked for guys like Wistrom, Neil Smith, Tomich, Chamberlain, Alberts, and Broderick Thomas.

[ColoradoHusk]

 

 

Rucker was 2nd team Big 12 as a senior, not what I would call unheralded.

I agree that Rucker was not exactly a bum at

NU. The guy was basically a starter in '97 (shared time with Kelsay) and the 2nd team Big 12 as a senior. I wouldn't just call him "Wistrom's back-up".

Rucker gets added because he had to play second string for three of his four years. For as good of a player that he was in college, he is was limited, to a degree, by the depth chart. Plus, he gets recognition now as one of the great DE to come through Nebraska but gets overlooked for guys like Wistrom, Neil Smith, Tomich, Chamberlain, Alberts, and Broderick Thomas.

But Rucker wasn't "2nd string" as a junior. He was basically a co-#1 Rush End with Kelsay in '97. He, Wistrom, and Kelsay basically had a 3 man rotation at rush end that year.