Nebraska Football: The 20 Greatest Defensive Players in School History

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While most people associate the option offense with Nebraska Cornhusker football, NU has a storied defensive history as well.

The legacy of the Blackshirts is known throughout college football, and that legacy has helped Nebraska win conference and national championships.

So let's take a look through the history books, and see who are the greatest Blackshirts in Nebraska history.

UPDATE: As many of you have pointed out, Rich Glover is a glaring omission to this list. You all are absolutely right, and not including Glover was a huge own goal on my part. My apologies. Thanks to you all for helping to keep me honest!

Josh Bullocks

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Bullocks holds Nebraska’s single-season record for interceptions and is second for interceptions in a career. He was also an All-American and all-conference selection.

Michael Booker

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At corner, Booker was a two-year starter and won two national championships in 1995 and 1996.

His career highlight, though, was his defensive MVP award in the 1996 Fiesta Bowl, leading Nebraska’s domination of the Florida Gators.

Sam Koch

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A punter? Yes, a punter. My love affair with kickers is well-documented, but it shouldn’t diminish the punter’s importance on any given team.

Koch holds Nebraska records for punting average in a season, and is second for career punting average.

Kenny Walker

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The program's first deaf player, it’s easy to remember Walker for the deaf clap moment on Senior Day.

But Walker was an All-American and all-conference player, and is tied for fifth in sacks for a season and fourth in tackles-for-loss in a season.

Marc Munford

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One of the great defensive players in from the 80s, Munford still is third in Nebraska history for unassisted tackles. He was an all-conference player for three years.

Dana Stephenson

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Stephenson still is the co-leader for career interceptions, as well as interceptions in a game, and tied for second in interceptions for a season. 

Stephenson was also a three-time letterman, and won all-conference honors twice.

Ed Stewart

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Ed Stewart has a national championship ring on his finger from 1994. He was an all-conference player, a Butkus Award finalist, and a member of Nebraska’s All-Century team.

Mike Minter

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Minter was a key member of the Blackshirts defense that won national titles in '94 and '95. He is tied for eighth in Nebraska history for interceptions in a season.

Minter is a member of Nebraska's All-Century and was inducted into Nebraska’s Hall of Fame in 2006.

Jerry Murtaugh

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Jerry Murtaugh was a key component to Nebraska’s first national title, holding Nebraska’s season record for tackles (later eclipsed by Barrett Ruud in 2003). 

He was an all-conference and All-American.

Mike Brown

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Brown holds a number of individual defensive records for Nebraska, including total tackles in a game, assisted tackles in a game, unassisted tackles for a defensive back in a season, and total career tackles for a defensive back.

He was selected as an all-conference and All-American during his senior season.

Barrett Ruud

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Ruud was one of six family members who played for Nebraska, and the most prolific of the group.

He broke Jerry Murtaugh’s record for tackles in a season in 2003, then broke his own record again in 2004.

Ruud was the team’s defensive MVP and an all-conference player his senior season.

Broderick Thomas

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A three-time all-conference selection, “the Sandman” is fifth overall in career tackles and sixth overall in career sacks for Nebraska.

He was also a finalist for the Butkus and Lombardi awards.

Jason Peter

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Peter was a linchpin in the defense that helped Nebraska win three national championships in four years from 1994 through 1997.

He was an All-American and two-time all-conference selection.

Neil Smith

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While Smith enjoyed more success in the NFL, his career at Nebraska was impressive as well.

He is tied for ninth in Nebraska history for sacks in a season, and was an all-conference and All-American selection his senior year.

Ralph Brown

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Ralph Brown was an all-conference selection three times, and played in 52 consecutive games for Nebraska.

He is fourth overall in interceptions for a career at Nebraska, and holds Nebraska’s record for pass breakups in a game and career, and is second in career interception return yards.

Tom Novak

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One of two Nebraska players to have his number retired, Novak excelled in the pre-Bob Devaney era which brought national glory to Lincoln.

However, Novak was a four-year all-conference standout, including playing a key role in Nebraska’s upset over top-ranked Notre Dame in 1947.

He remains tied for fourth all time in career interceptions and is first all time for interceptions by a linebacker.

Grant Wistrom

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Wistrom won three national titles while helping to define the modern position of rush end for Nebraska.

He was a Lombardi Award winner, as well as a multiple all-conference and all-American selection. He is second overall in sacks for Nebraska, and has the most tackles-for-loss.

Larry Jacobsen

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Nebraska’s first Outland Trophy winner, Jacobsen was part of Nebraska’s first two national championship teams in 1970 and 1971.

In addition to the Outland Trophy, Jacobsen was selected an All-American selection his senior year.

Trev Alberts

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Trev Alberts anchored Nebraska’s defense from 1990-1993, helping the Blackshirts set the stage for their run of championships.

He is the only Nebraska player to win the Butkus Award, and was also an all-conference and All-American selection.

He holds Nebraska records for career sacks, and is fourth in tackles-for-loss.

Ndamukong Suh

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It’s hard to think that Suh was once considered an underperformer at Nebraska. But early in his career, it appeared he would end up as a solid player, but nothing special.

Along came Bo Pelini and Suh became one of the most dominant defensive players in school history. His senior season was one for the history books, earning him a trip to New York as a Heisman Trophy finalist.

Suh won the Outland Trophy, Lombardi Award and the Bronco Nagurski Trophy, in addition to being a multiple all-conference and All-American selection.

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