Nebraska football might have its 10th quarterback taken in the NFL draft in Tanner Lee. In order to mark the moment, we’re taking a look at the men who came before him.
While there are those who don’t really consider a member of the Nebraska football team, he earned his way into the Cornhusker annals as a starting quarterback.
No his numbers weren’t great, but he also had the misfortune of playing on one of the worst teams in Husker history. Who knows what Lee might have done with a better coaching staff and a better supporting cast?
As it is, Lee is entering Thursday knowing there is at least a shot his name will be called in the NFL draft. No, he’s not likely to be a first or second, or third round pick.
He is likely to find himself at least one NFL team that is willing to give him a shot. The question is whether that shot will be as a draftee or an undrafted free agent.
If he is selected in the NFL draft’s seven rounds, Lee will go down in history as the 12th former Cornhusker ever to be drafted. Considering the long history of the program and that number is incredibly small compared to other teams.
Perhaps even more surprising is that he’s the first former Cornhusker quarterback to be drafted since 1992 that was drafted as a quarterback.
When looking over this list, Eric Crouch’s absence is going to stand out. That’s because Crouch was never thought to be an NFL quarterback and he was drafted as a wide receiver.
So … 26 years have gone by since a professional football team drafted a Nebraska football quarterback with the express purpose of trying him at quarterback. Some of the names on this list you’ve obviously heard of. Others might be names you forgot ever played in Lincoln. All saw their quarterbacking dreams make it to the next level, with mixed success.