Husker Rushing Tiers
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Average RB Stats by Tier (1998- 2018)
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|||||||
|
Att
|
Yards
|
TD
|
Avg
|
Rec
|
Rec.Yds
|
Rec.TD
|
|
|
Tier 1
|
22.31
|
127.17
|
1.26
|
5.70
|
1.75
|
16.07
|
0.09
|
|
Tier 2
|
17.26
|
89.78
|
0.82
|
5.20
|
1.54
|
13.74
|
0.07
|
|
Tier 3
|
12.71
|
61.98
|
0.56
|
4.88
|
1.28
|
11.04
|
0.06
|
|
Tier 4
|
9.01
|
38.31
|
0.35
|
4.25
|
0.97
|
7.98
|
0.04
|
Frank Solich
Somewhat surprising was the lack of elite production from the Solich era producing only a single Tier 1 rusher. What Solich may have lacked in quality he made up for in quantity. In 2002, three Huskers qualified for sports-reference.com rushing leader list. Quarterback Jamal Lord qualified as a Tier 2 rusher that season after failing to qualify for the passing leader lists. While no player in 2003 cracked the top two tiers, three Huskers qualified as Tier 4 rusher with another as a Tier 3 rusher. Any two of the player’s production combined would easily qualify as a Tier 2 player and maybe even a Tier 1 player.
Bill Callahan
Bill Callahan’s “Pound the Rock” era graded out better than expected. The only year that did not produced a top two tier rusher was 2006. While they did not qualify for the rushing leader lists, Cody Glenn and Kenny Wilson combined to produce another 705 yards rushing along a dozen more TDs in 2006. While the 2007 season was perhaps more remembered for Marlon Lucky’s ability to catch the check down from Sam Keller, Lucky still produced a Tier 2 rushing season with nearly 85 yards per game.
Bo Pelini
Bo Pelini’s rushing attack was blessed with a future NFL running back headlining the attack each season he coached. With three players splitting the load in 2008, no player qualified as a top two tier rusher. He would not fail to reach this mark again in his tenure with Roy Helu Jr. producing Tier 2 seasons in 2009 and 2010, Rex Burkhead reaching Tier 2 in 2011 and 2012, and Ameer Abdullah reaching the top tier in 2013 and 2014.
Mike Riley
The Mike Riley era was the darkest era in terms of ground production. None of his running backs ever reached Tier 2 status. Terrell Newby in 2016 had the best rushing season for Riley, averaging 67 YPG.
Scott Frost
Only two Husker head coaches produced a Tier 2 rushing or better in their inaugural season: Bill Callahan and Scott Frost. While Cory Ross and Brandon Jackson produced similar per game numbers to Devine Ozigbo and Maurice Washington, the 2004 duo didn’t have a third player stealing rushing yards from them. Tierre Green only managed 284 rushing yards for the Huskers in 2004. Adrian Martinez rushed for 629 additional yards on the ground in 2018. Despite a similar start, the Husker rushing attack appears to be headed in a better direction than in 2004. In 2019, “Run the Ball” guy may be able to smile again.
Who was your favorite Nebraska rusher the past 20 years?
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Nebraska RB Tiers since 1998
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Name
|
Year
|
G
|
Att
|
Yards
|
Avg
|
TD
|
Rec
|
Rec.Yds
|
Rec.TD
|
Tier
|
|
Devine Ozigbo
|
2018
|
12
|
12.92
|
90.17
|
6.98
|
1.00
|
1.92
|
16.92
|
0.00
|
2
|
|
Maurice Washington
|
2018
|
11
|
7.00
|
41.36
|
5.91
|
0.27
|
2.18
|
20.09
|
0.09
|
4
|
|
Mikale Wilbon
|
2017
|
11
|
8.00
|
34.45
|
4.31
|
0.55
|
1.91
|
7.27
|
0.00
|
4
|
|
Devine Ozigbo
|
2017
|
10
|
12.90
|
49.30
|
3.82
|
0.30
|
1.60
|
12.30
|
0.00
|
4
|
|
Terrell Newby
|
2016
|
13
|
14.62
|
67.62
|
4.63
|
0.54
|
1.38
|
11.46
|
0.08
|
3
|
|
Devine Ozigbo
|
2016
|
9
|
10.78
|
45.78
|
4.25
|
0.56
|
0.56
|
11.11
|
0.00
|
4
|
|
Terrell Newby
|
2015
|
13
|
11.31
|
58.85
|
5.20
|
0.46
|
1.85
|
12.23
|
0.08
|
3
|
|
Imani Cross
|
2015
|
12
|
9.33
|
37.58
|
4.03
|
0.50
|
0.17
|
0.83
|
0.00
|
4
|
|
Ameer Abdullah
|
2014
|
13
|
20.31
|
123.92
|
6.10
|
1.46
|
1.69
|
20.69
|
0.23
|
1
|
|
Imani Cross
|
2014
|
11
|
6.82
|
34.91
|
5.12
|
0.45
|
0.00
|
0.00
|
0.00
|
4
|
|
Ameer Abdullah
|
2013
|
13
|
21.62
|
130.00
|
6.01
|
0.69
|
2.00
|
17.85
|
0.15
|
1
|
|
Imani Cross
|
2013
|
13
|
6.54
|
34.38
|
5.26
|
0.77
|
0.31
|
1.00
|
0.00
|
4
|
|
Rex Burkhead
|
2012
|
8
|
12.25
|
84.38
|
6.89
|
0.63
|
1.38
|
11.50
|
0.25
|
2
|
|
Ameer Abdullah
|
2012
|
14
|
16.14
|
81.21
|
5.03
|
0.57
|
1.71
|
12.71
|
0.14
|
2
|
|
Rex Burkhead
|
2011
|
13
|
21.85
|
104.38
|
4.78
|
1.15
|
1.62
|
13.62
|
0.15
|
2
|
|
Roy Helu Jr.
|
2010
|
14
|
13.43
|
88.93
|
6.62
|
0.79
|
0.36
|
3.29
|
0.00
|
2
|
|
Rex Burkhead
|
2010
|
14
|
12.29
|
67.93
|
5.53
|
0.50
|
1.07
|
10.57
|
0.00
|
3
|
|
Roy Helu Jr.
|
2009
|
14
|
15.71
|
81.93
|
5.21
|
0.71
|
1.36
|
10.64
|
0.00
|
2
|
|
Roy Helu Jr.
|
2008
|
12
|
10.42
|
66.92
|
6.42
|
0.58
|
2.08
|
22.17
|
0.00
|
3
|
|
Quentin Castille
|
2008
|
13
|
8.15
|
35.92
|
4.41
|
0.46
|
0.69
|
8.38
|
0.00
|
4
|
|
Marlon Lucky
|
2008
|
12
|
10.42
|
43.08
|
4.14
|
0.58
|
2.17
|
24.00
|
0.08
|
4
|
|
Marlon Lucky
|
2007
|
12
|
17.17
|
84.92
|
4.95
|
0.75
|
6.25
|
58.75
|
0.25
|
2
|
|
Quentin Castille
|
2007
|
12
|
6.33
|
28.58
|
4.51
|
0.33
|
0.25
|
2.75
|
0.00
|
4
|
|
Brandon Jackson
|
2006
|
14
|
13.43
|
70.64
|
5.26
|
0.57
|
2.36
|
22.36
|
0.14
|
3
|
|
Marlon Lucky
|
2006
|
14
|
10.07
|
52.00
|
5.16
|
0.43
|
2.29
|
27.36
|
0.00
|
3
|
|
Cory Ross
|
2005
|
12
|
18.75
|
73.50
|
3.92
|
0.42
|
3.58
|
32.67
|
0.25
|
2
|
|
Cory Ross
|
2004
|
11
|
18.82
|
100.18
|
5.32
|
0.55
|
1.91
|
23.82
|
0.18
|
2
|
|
Brandon Jackson
|
2004
|
10
|
8.50
|
39.00
|
4.59
|
0.60
|
0.00
|
0.00
|
0.00
|
4
|
|
Jammal Lord
|
2003
|
13
|
16.54
|
72.92
|
4.41
|
0.77
|
0.00
|
0.00
|
0.00
|
3
|
|
Cory Ross
|
2003
|
13
|
10.00
|
44.23
|
4.42
|
0.31
|
0.15
|
2.77
|
0.00
|
4
|
|
Josh Davis
|
2003
|
13
|
10.62
|
46.15
|
4.35
|
0.15
|
0.31
|
1.62
|
0.00
|
4
|
|
David Horne
|
2003
|
12
|
8.92
|
36.75
|
4.12
|
0.33
|
0.08
|
0.42
|
0.00
|
4
|
|
Jammal Lord
|
2002
|
14
|
17.93
|
100.86
|
5.63
|
0.57
|
0.00
|
0.00
|
0.00
|
2
|
|
Dahrran Diedrick
|
2002
|
14
|
12.79
|
66.50
|
5.20
|
0.43
|
0.29
|
1.36
|
0.00
|
3
|
|
David Horne
|
2002
|
9
|
14.11
|
72.33
|
5.13
|
0.78
|
0.44
|
0.78
|
0.00
|
3
|
|
Thunder Collins
|
2001
|
12
|
7.83
|
53.92
|
6.88
|
0.42
|
1.58
|
15.75
|
0.00
|
3
|
|
Dahrran Diedrick
|
2001
|
11
|
21.18
|
118.09
|
5.58
|
1.36
|
0.09
|
-0.45
|
0.00
|
1
|
|
Correll Buckhalter
|
2000
|
11
|
9.64
|
68.18
|
7.08
|
0.64
|
0.45
|
7.73
|
0.09
|
3
|
|
Dan Alexander
|
2000
|
11
|
16.55
|
104.91
|
6.34
|
0.73
|
0.18
|
1.55
|
0.00
|
2
|
|
Dan Alexander
|
1999
|
12
|
11.17
|
72.08
|
6.46
|
0.67
|
0.33
|
4.67
|
0.00
|
3
|
|
Correll Buckhalter
|
1999
|
11
|
10.09
|
60.18
|
5.96
|
0.55
|
0.27
|
1.91
|
0.00
|
3
|
|
Correll Buckhalter
|
1998
|
12
|
11.83
|
66.58
|
5.63
|
0.67
|
1.08
|
7.33
|
0.00
|
3
|
|
Joel Makovicka
|
1998
|
12
|
8.08
|
38.17
|
4.72
|
0.17
|
0.33
|
5.58
|
0.00
|
4
|
|
Bobby Newcombe
|
1998
|
6
|
13.83
|
38.00
|
2.75
|
1.33
|
0.00
|
0.00
|
0.00
|
4
|