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Nebraska Ultimate Defensive Line Bracket

One of the most amazing collections of college football trench talent you will find anywhere. Period.

Sorry for the wait on this one! I had Ranchhand 2’s graduation this weekend and I am exhausted. It was a great weekend though and nice that he could get some closure for his high school career.

On to the defensive line bracket.

Brew used the same formula for the DL seedings as he did for the rush end. Here’s a reminder:

4 points for cuAA, 3 for cAA, 2 for AA, 1 for AC, and I added 1 for winning the Outland (although that didn’t change any seedings, so it was pointless). Ties were broken by draft position and I chose the 15 and 16 seeds among a bunch of 1-pointers. Some really good players didn’t make the list, this might be the deepest position in Nebraska history.

c = consensus
u = unanimous
AA = All-American
AC = All-Conference

1) Rich Glover – (8 pts) Outland, Lombardi, cuAA, AA, 2X AC. Made 22 tackles in the Game of the Century. The most ever in a game for a non-LB. That’s coming up big when it counts! (Huskers.com bio)

V

16) Terry Connealy (1) AC. 2X Academic AA. Most famous sack in Nebraska history. (Huskers.com bio)

Poll

Who is the ultimate Nebraska defensive lineman?

This poll is closed

  • 95%
    Rich Glover
    (445 votes)
  • 4%
    Terry Connealy
    (22 votes)
467 votes total Vote Now

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2) Ndamukong Suh – (7) Outland, cuAA 2X AC. Most dominant season ever for a defensive player. 7 TFL & 4.5 sacks in a conference title game. That’s coming up big when it counts! (Huskers.com bio)

V

15) Christian Peter – (1) AC. The emotional leader of a crazy-good defense (and I do mean crazy). (Huskers.com bio)

Poll

Who is the ultimate Nebraska defensive lineman?

This poll is closed

  • 94%
    Ndamukong Suh
    (446 votes)
  • 5%
    Christian Peter
    (27 votes)
473 votes total Vote Now

*************************

3) Wayne Meylan – (6) 2X cAA, 2X AC. Set records for season and career tackles (still tops for DL), blocked 3 punts in 1966 taking 2 back for TDs. (Huskers.com bio)

V

14) Jared Crick – (2) 2X AC. His 5 sacks in a single game (Baylor, 2009) set the record that stands to this day. (Huskers.com bio)

Poll

Who is the ultimate Nebraska defensive lineman?

This poll is closed

  • 56%
    Wayne Meylan
    (259 votes)
  • 43%
    Jared Crick
    (197 votes)
456 votes total Vote Now

**************************

4) John Dutton – (5) cuAA, AC. No, not Kevin Costner! The real John Dutton cracked skulls for the Huskers in the early 70’s. A top-5 pick, he played 14 years in the NFL. (Huskers.com bio)

V

13) John Parrella – (2) 2X AC. Stupid-ass Colorado yanked his scholarship offer after he signed his LOI. He came to Nebraska as a walk on and notched 4.5 TFL in Nebraska’s 49-7 rout of CU in ‘92. (Huskers.com bio)

Poll

Who is the ultimate Nebraska defensive lineman?

This poll is closed

  • 70%
    John Dutton
    (323 votes)
  • 29%
    John Parrella
    (132 votes)
455 votes total Vote Now

***************************

5) Danny Noonan – (5) cuAA, AC. Only player to ever tally double digit sacks in consecutive years, 12 (’86) & 11 (’85). (Huskers.com bio)

V

12) Kenny Walker – (3) AA, AC. Excelled despite being deaf. Senior Day 1990: when he was announced, the entire stadium signed “applause”. (Huskers.com bio)

Poll

Who is the ultimate Nebraska defensive lineman?

This poll is closed

  • 66%
    Danny Noonan
    (302 votes)
  • 33%
    Kenny Walker
    (150 votes)
452 votes total Vote Now

****************************

6) Jason Peter – (5) cAA, 2X AC. 3X National Champ, less crazy than Christian (Huskers.com bio)

V

11) Jim Skow – (3) AA, AC. His ‘85 season rivals Suh’s ‘09 season. Seriously: 15 sacks (record), 25 TFL (record), 7 TFL in a game (record), 4 sacks in a game (T-3 all time). (Huskers.com bio)

Poll

Who is the ultimate Nebraska defensive lineman?

This poll is closed

  • 78%
    Jason Peter
    (362 votes)
  • 21%
    Jim Skow
    (97 votes)
459 votes total Vote Now

*********************

7) Walter Barnes – (5) cAA, 2X AC. No, not Walt “Piggy” Barnes. The second most famous lineman named Walt Barnes was Devaney’s first defensive AA. (Huskers.com bio)

V

10) Neil Smith – (3) AA, AC. Nebraska’s most accomplished defensive pro. One of only 34 NFL players to top 100 sacks. (Huskers.com bio)

Poll

Who is the ultimate Nebraska defensive lineman?

This poll is closed

  • 13%
    Walter Barnes
    (61 votes)
  • 86%
    Neil Smith
    (386 votes)
447 votes total Vote Now

*********************

8) Larry Jacobson – (5), Outland, cAA, AC. Academic AA. His Outland was Nebraska’s first major individual award. (Huskers.com bio)

V

9) Mike Fultz – (4) AA, 2X AC. A native of Lincoln, he was a starter on the squad that held K State to -45 yards rushing. (Huskers.com bio)

Poll

Who is the ultimate Nebraska defensive lineman?

This poll is closed

  • 81%
    Larry Jacobson
    (362 votes)
  • 18%
    Mike Fultz
    (81 votes)
443 votes total Vote Now