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Barrett Ruud was an outstanding player. Ruud is Nebraska’s all-time leader in tackles, third in career tackles for loss, 

Ruud broke Murtaugh's 30-year-old mark for career tackles early in his senior season. Ruud would finish his career with 432 total tackles, 90 tackles ahead of Murtaugh.

Barrett's 2003 season total of 149 stops. That was a record until Lavonte David beat him by three tackles in 2010.

A three-year starter, Ruud was a force all over the field. He had a nose for the football on running plays, but also excelled in pass coverage, recording 12 breakups and two interceptions in his career. Strangely, he earned first team All-Big 12 honors only as a senior. But he was a three-time academic All-Big 12 performer.

There have been 95 different Nebraska Cornhuskers who earned first-team All-America honors. At 5-foot-8 and 163 pounds,* Wachholtz is the shortest and lightest of them all. 

But don't let his size fool you. The North Platte native known as "Cactus" packed a lot of ability – and punch – into his small frame.


Larry Wachholtz tackles Kansas star Gale Sayers in 1963. | Cornhusker yearbook

For starters, it really isn’t fair to Larry Wachholtz to simply list him as a “safety.” Yes, he was an outstanding defensive back, earning All-Big Eight honors twice and first-team All-American honors as a senior. His seven interceptions as a senior ranked in the top 10 nationally.


Larry Wachholtz intercepts an Alabama pass during the 1966 Orange Bowl. | Courtesy of Orange Bowl Committee


But that is not all he did. Not even close.

Wachholtz was an excellent punt returner, leading the Big Eight in return yards twice. In 1965, his junior season, he missed out on the national lead by just seven yards. And if that was not enough, Wachholtz also kicked PATs (36 of 39) and field goals (3 of 5). In 1965, he played - and kicked - with an injured foot. Here's what Bob Devaney had to say about him:

"He's just not an outstanding defensive player. He's so much more to us. Larry is a great punt returner, a real team leader, and a tremendous placekicker. He kicked six PATs against Kansas with a big toe the size of a baseball." Never missing an opportunity for a laugh, Devaney added, "We're afraid to let a doctor work on his toe for fear it'll hurt his kicking ability."


Wachholtz left Nebraska holding multiple school records for punt returns, tackles and interceptions. In 1982 he was inducted into the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame.

Larry Wachholtz was inducted into the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame in 1982.

Deserved better than one shot as the interim for Tugger.  Guy bleeds green and white

no idea he ever played college ball for the Spartans. only know who he is because Barry Sanders turned the dude inside out on a long TD run vs the Patriots. one of the great runs of all-time. but you could say that about hundreds of Barry Sanders carries. 


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jl94uX4JiTY

Need more Wattage in the Cottage. Dereck! Have more boys!

Not sure why he's Derek and not DJ.

Alberts was a two-time All-Big Eight selection. A first-team All-American. The Big Eight Player of the Year. His 1993 season, featuring a school-record 15 sacks, remains one of the greatest campaigns by a Blackshirt.

Alberts won the 1993 Butkus Award as the nation's best linebacker (the only Husker ever to win that award). In the 1994 Orange Bowl, he sacked Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Charlie Ward three times, despite having dislocated his elbow a month earlier. Trev's #34 is one of 17 retired jerseys at Nebraska. As such, his name will remain on the Memorial Stadium façade forever.