Walk-ons used to be a big deal for Nebraska weren't they?
Here's the list of all 25 of the Husker walk-ons who went on to hear their name called in the NFL Draft, listed with position and the year in which they were drafted.
Andy Janovich, FB, 2016: Janovich was drafted in the sixth round (No. 176 overall) by the Broncos.
Spencer Long, OG, 2014: The Washington Redskins drafted Long in the third round (No. 78 overall). Long was named to the All-Big Ten first team as a Husker in 2012.
Alex Henery, K, 2011: A fourth-round pick (No. 120 overall) in the 2011 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, Henery played three seasons in Philly before a short stint in Detroit in 2014. A first-team All-America kicker and standout punter at Nebraska, the Omaha native connected on 18-of-19 field goals as a senior. That senior season helped him leave Nebraska holding several records, including the NCAA marks for career accuracy rate (89.5 percent) and PAT success rate (96.7 percent). He also took the reins as punter during his final two seasons at Nebraska, punting 147 times for an average of 42.2 yards.
Stewart Bradley, LB, 2007: Bradley was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round, No. 87 overall.
Sam Koch, P, 2006: Koch was selected by the Ravens in the sixth round (No. 203 overall). He set the Huskers’ single-season punting average record (46.51 yards) as a senior in 2005, when he was also a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award.
Josh Sewell, C, 2004: Sewell was drafted in the sixth round of the 2004 NFL draft by the Denver Broncos
Scott Shanle, LB, 2003: The St. Edward, Nebraska, native was drafted in the seventh round, No. 251 overall, by the St. Louis Rams. After a stint with the Dallas Cowboys, Shanle was traded to the Saints,
Joel Makovicka, FB, 1999: A fourth-round draft choice in 1999, Makovicka played four NFL seasons with Arizona.
Jared Tomich, DE, 1997: Picked in the second round (No. 39 overall) of the 1997 NFL Draft by the Saints, Tomich was a member of the Huskers’ 1994 and 1995 national championship teams and a
two-time first-team All-America selection.Adam Treu, C, 1997: Treu was selected by Oakland in the third round (No. 72 overall) of the 1997 draft. He played in 155 games — starting 44 — over 10 seasons for the Raiders,
John Parrella, DT, 1993: Parrella was a part of three Super Bowl teams, one each with the Buffalo Bills (who drafted him in the second round in 1993), the San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders. He finished his 12-season NFL career with 26.5 sacks and more than 400 total tackles. Parrella was a first-team All-Big Eight selection and second-team All-American at Nebraska in 1992. He’s now the defensive line coach at his alma mater.
Keith Neubert, TE, 1988: Neubert played only one year of football at Nebraska, but that was enough for the New York Jets to draft him in the eighth round, No. 203 overall, in 1988.
Tim Rother, DT, 1988: The St. Paul, Nebraska, native was drafted in the fourth round, No. 90 overall, by the Los Angeles Raiders.
Shane Swanson, WR, 1985: Swanson, a Hershey graduate, was drafted in the 12th round, No. 315 overall, by the Cleveland Browns.
Mark Schellen, FB, 1984: A third-round pick in the supplemental draft by the San Francisco 49ers,
Toby Williams, DT, 1983: Williams was drafted in the tenth round (No. 265 overall) of the 1983 draft by the New Orleans Saints and was later acquired by the New England Patriots in a draft-day deal. He played three seasons at Nebraska, earning
All-America and All-Big Eight honorable mentions and finished with 137 total tackles, 10 tackles for a loss and five sacks.
Todd Brown, WR, 1983: A sixth-round draft pick (No. 154 overall) by the Detroit Lions
Rodney Lewis, DB, 1982: The New Orleans Saints drafted Lewis in the third round, No. 58 overall.
Jimmy Williams, DE, 1982: The Detroit Lions made Williams their
first-round pick in the 1982 NFL draft with the 15th overall selection. He played 12 seasons in the league, most of that with the Lions but also with the Minnesota Vikings and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He finished his pro career with 27.5 sacks. He was an All-American at Nebraska in 1981.
Derrie Nelson, DE, 1981: The defensive end from Fairmont, Nebraska, left Nebraska having earned
first-team All-American status in 1980, unanimous selection to the All-Big Eight team and Big Eight defensive player of the year honors. A fourth-round draft pick (No. 108 overall) by the Cowboys in 1981,
Jarvis Redwine, IB, 1981: Redwine was a second-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings in the 1981 draft. He was an All-American at Nebraska in 1980.
I.M. Hipp, RB, 1980: Generally regarded as the program's most famous walk-on, Hipp was a fourth-round selection (104th overall) by the Atlanta Falcons in 1980. Hipp left Nebraska as its
all-time rushing leader (2,940 yards) and the record-holder for rushing yards in a game (254), setting the single-game mark in his first career start as a sophomore. A 1995 inductee to Nebraska Football Hall of Fame, Hipp was the first Husker to have consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons.
Kelly Saalfeld, C, 1980: Saalfeld was selected in the ninth round, No. 226 overall, by the Green Bay Packers.
Steve Manstedt, LB, 1974: Manstedt, a Wahoo, Nebraska, native was the Houston Oilers’ first selection in the 1974 NFL Draft in the fourth round, No. 79 overall.
Jim McFarland, TE, 1970: The St. Louis Cardinals drafted McFarland in the seventh round of the 1970 NFL draft.