The top 25 football players in Nebraskan history.

Perhaps more than any other university, Nebraska is renowned for turning out some of the best linemen in college football history, both on and off the ball. However, the Cornhuskers have also produced a number of renowned skill players.

The top 25 players to graduate from the Nebraska program are listed below. Presented chronologically, with statistical rankings valid for the 2021 campaign.

Francis was one of the first real collegiate athletes from Nebraska, finishing second in the 1936 Heisman Trophy competition. Francis was named an All-American and helped the Cornhuskers win two Big Six titles while he was in Lincoln thanks to his ability to run the football. Francis was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1977. He was also a standout shot putter for the Cornhuskers track and field team.

In the Nebraska program’s history, Novak is the only player to be selected to the all-conference team four times. He is also the first of three Cornhuskers to have his uniform number (No. 60) retired by the university. Known by his nickname, “Train Wreck,” Novak excelled for the Cornhuskers on both sides of the ball, occasionally filling the roles of fullback and center on offense. His 11 career interceptions set a record for Cornhuskers linebackers and are tied for fifth most in school history. Five of those selections were made by Novak in the 1948 campaign.

Likewise referred to as “Mr. Touchdown.” Reynolds, a 1950 Heisman Trophy finalist who ran for 1,357 yards (ninth most in school history for a season) and 19 rushing touchdowns (tied for fourth most), is still regarded as one of the most well-liked characters in Nebraska football history. Even though Reynolds’s final two seasons with the Cornhuskers were hindered by health issues, his 2,196 career rushing yards still rank in the top 30 in school history. In 1984, he was admitted to the College Football Hall of Fame.

Brown becomes the second Cornhusker, after Tom Novak, to have the number 64 on his jersey retired by the university. At 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds, Brown was a massive physical presence for his time and was a unanimous choice as a 1963 All-American. Despite playing some linebacker at Nebraska, where he recorded 49 tackles and an interception, Brown has long been regarded as one of the greatest offensive guards of his generation. In 1993, he was admitted to the College Football Hall of Fame.

In the latter half of the 1960s and early 1970s, Newton was the star of the Nebraska offensive line, although Bob Brown was a key member of the unit during that time. Newton arrived in Lincoln following two years of attendance at a junior college in California. He got right up front and had an instant impact with the Cornhuskers. In his final season of 1970, Newton helped Nebraska win its first national championship with an offense that averaged 421.1 total yards. The Associated Press named him a first-team All-American.