Best college football players of all time from every state

Nebraska – Johnny Rogers

Nebraska, with its wildly successful banner-bearer school the University of Nebraska, has been a football program at the center of college football excellence and tradition. This tradition came to be one of the nation’s powerhouse programs under Bob Devaney, who won back to back championships with the Cornhuskers in 1970 and 1971.

Johnny Rogers, an Omaha native, was one of the best players on these important Nebraska teams, slotting in at running back and receiver from 1970 to 1972, setting the collegiate record for total yards at 5,586 during his collegiate career, along with eight special teams’ touchdowns.

Rodgers earned All-American honors as a junior, with 269 rushing yards and two touchdowns to go with 956 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns on just 57 catches. Rodgers was 1972’s Heisman Trophy winner and earned his second consecutive All-American title in his senior season.

The production that led to him winning the aforementioned honors, as well as the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, came from 348 rushing yards and ten touchdowns, to pair with 1,013 receiving yards and nine receptions for scores, even throwing a 52-yard touchdown pass.

In Nebraska’s Orange Bowl victory over Notre Dame in 1973, Rodgers scored three rushing touchdowns, caught a 50-yard touchdown pass, and threw for another 54-yard touchdown in a blowout win.

Rogers sits on the throne for the football giants in the state of Nebraska, which also plays home to Eric Crouch, Ahmad Green and more.