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Nebraska Football: 10 Best Running Backs of All-Time

By Brandon Cavanaugh

Jan 24, 2015; Mobile, AL, USA; North squad running back Ameer Abdullah of Nebraska (28) runs past the tackle attempt of South squad defensive end Trey Flowers of Arkansas (86) in the first quarter of the Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Glenn Andrews-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 24, 2015; Mobile, AL, USA; North squad running back Ameer Abdullah of Nebraska (28) runs past the tackle attempt of South squad defensive end Trey Flowers of Arkansas (86) in the first quarter of the Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Glenn Andrews-USA TODAY Sports /
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10. Roy Helu, Jr.

Helu may not jump out as a must-have name on the list, but he quietly made waves. A second-team All-Big 12 selection in 2009 by the coaches, Kansas City Star, Dallas Morning News and Rivals.com along with a 2010 second-team selection by the coaches and Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Helu did yeoman’s work for the Huskers.

His career spanned two head coaching regimes, starting under Bill Callahan and finishing up under Bo Pelini, but he’d heat up most under the second. Busting out for 1,000-plus yards in his final two years, he’d finish his career at Nebraska with 3,404 yards and 28 touchdowns with a 5.9 per

Busting out for 1,000-plus yards in his final two years, he’d finish his career at Nebraska with 3,404 yards and 28 touchdowns with a 5.9 per carry average.

Perhaps the most memorable game of his career came during his senior season against the Missouri Tigers. No. 14 Nebraska torched No. 7 Missouri thanks to a Helu performance during which the Danville, Calif. native appeared to have his hair on fire.

No. 14 Nebraska torched No. 7 Missouri thanks to a Helu performance during which the Danville, Calif. native appeared to have his hair on fire.

He’d rush for 11 percent of his career yardage alone that day tallying 307 yards on 28 carries including runs of 53, 66 and 73 yards that left the Tigers gassed. He finished his final season at Nebraska with 1,245 yards, 98 more than the previous year and on 32 fewer carries.

He finished his final season at Nebraska with 1,245 yards, 98 more than the previous year and on 32 fewer carries.

The effort against Missouri earned him Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week, Rivals.com National Player of the Week and Walter Camp National Player of the Week honors.

After being drafted in the fourth round of the 2011 NFL Draft, Helu has enjoyed a five-year career in the pros playing for both the Washington Redskins and Oakland Raiders.

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