Nebraska Football’s All-Time Top 5 Tight Ends

2. Matt Herian

Matt Herian is one of those players whose career might have taken a decidedly different turn if not for a gruesome injury. Herian was a member of the Nebraska football program from 2002 to 2006.

When his career began, he was the go-to player when Jamal Lord wanted to throw deep. When Bill Callahan took over the helm, Herian seemed to be someone who could thrive in the West Coast offense. He was indeed thriving in 2004 through the first eight games of the year. He had 24 catches for 308 yards and three touchdowns in that season.

In that eighth game the tight end suffered a broken leg that was so severe it kept him out for the entire 2005 season. The player returned in 2006 but he was clearly a shadow of his former self. In his final year with the Nebraska football team he managed to post 12 catches for 150 yards and a couple of touchdowns.

Herian finished his career with 65 catches for a school record for tight ends 1,243 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also holds the single game record for catches by a tight end with eight. There are few players in Nebraska history more ripe for the “what could have been” game than Matt Herian.

Next: Junior Miller