Nebraska football: 5 great players who didn’t live up to the NFL hype

Few players have enjoyed as much team success at Nebraska than Jason Peter. The defensive lineman came to Lincoln in 1993 and redshirted but, when he finally got on the roster in the 1994 season, he would be a part of a team that would bring him the first of three National Championships that he’d win throughout his time with the Cornhuskers.

Peter didn’t do all that much as a redshirt freshman, registering only eight total tackles in seven games. The following season as the Huskers captured a second straight title, Peter was a starter on the defensive front and made an impact with 30 total tackles and five tackles for loss. He earned his first All-Big 12 first-team honors as a junior with 58 total tackles, four sacks, and 10 tackles for loss. For good measure, he also starred in an Orange Bowl win with a fumble return touchdown.

In his final season suiting up for Nebraska football, not only did Peter help lead the way as a co-captain to his third title in four seasons but he had his best individual year as well. The big man finished with a career-high 60 total tackles, seven sacks and 15 tackles for loss, which earned him All-American honors while also emerging as an Outland Trophy finalist.

Given his collegiate success, it was little surprise that the Carolina Panthers selected him with the No. 14 pick in the 1998 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, his NFL career never amounted to much. He started in just 20 games and played in only 38 over four years with 88 total tackles and only 7.5 sacks. An injury derailed two his career and, ultimately, ended it prematurely.