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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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4. Ameer Abdullah

Records were made to be broken. Enter Ameer Abdullah. The Auburn Tigers wanted him as a defensive back, but the Nebraska Cornhuskers saw something special in the Homewood, Ala. native as a running back.

Did the scouting report ever pay off for the Huskers?

By the time he was a senior, Abdullah would garner a litany of awards including being named a Second-Team All-American by the Walter Camp Football Foundation, CBS, Scout.com, Athlon Sports, the Associated Press and SI.

The accolades weren’t what made him a household name, though.

It was his uncanny ability to get five yards when there were two, his danger as a receiver out of the backfield and a rather impressive ability to pass block for a 5’9″ 195-pounder.

About that previously mentioned record, there was one that Abdullah was on the cusp of breaking and Husker fans whispered amongst themselves: Could he be the guy to topple Heisman Trophy winner Mike Rozier’s career rushing mark?

Well, he came close. After 813 carries, he managed 4,588 yards on the ground, only 192 yards short. Despite not breaking the record, Abdullah frequently helped the Huskers out of sticky situations.

In fact, without his heroics, Nebraska may have suffered one of its most embarrassing losses of all-time against McNeese State.

He would go on to be selected with the 54th overall pick by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft. Wherever his career takes him, it will be exciting to see just as it was a thrill to watch him in Memorial Stadium on Saturdays.

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