As the NFL Draft draws nigh, there has been a lot of talk about the possibility of the Nebraska football program having more players drafted than it has in quite some time. That’s the good news.
The bad news is that while the current crop of Huskers are excited to see where they go, it’s also the time of year when analysts from all over the country take a long look at past drafts. And one list in particular is one that no former Cornhusker should ever want to be on.
Nebraska football connected to harsh NFL Draft busts list
Nate Davis of USA Today recently put together the Top 50 NFL Draft busts. Unfortunately, one former Nebraska star was on it prominently. Lawrence Phillips was in fact, one of the top players ever, as he was ranked No. 6 among a group that is truly embarrassing to be a part of this time of year.
Davis had the usual suspects at the very top of the list. Ryan Leaf was No. 1 and Tony Mandarich was No. 2 on the list of busts. Former Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell was No. 3, and then there was a group of players at No. 4, as Davis, for some reason, couldn’t just rank them usually. Trey Lance was No. 4, Zach Wilson was 4a, Mac Jones was 4b, and Justin Fields was 4c. We’ll ignore that 4 and 4a are essentially the same thing.
Former Illini quarterback Jeff George was No. 5, and then, it was time for Nebraska to take the spotlight. Phillips is ranked No. 6 on this particular list, and it’s hard not to say that he has a point.
“Bad player. Bad dude. And St. Louis should have known better. The Rams parted with DT Sean Gilbert to acquire the Phillips pick – Eddie George was still available – and they exported Jerome Bettis to Pittsburgh in a separate deal to clear the way for Nebraska’s fallen star. Phillips averaged 3.4 yards per carry and didn’t make it through his second season with the Rams, cut amid excessive in-season drinking.”
We all know what happened to Phillips after he was cut. It was both a sad and reprehensible story for someone who had all the talent in the world.
And because the NFL Draft is officially here tonight, Nebraska fans have to be reminded of what could have been and never was. Not a list anyone wants a part of.