Nebraska Football: All-Time Leaders in Rushing Yards

LINCOLN, NE - NOVEMBER 24: Offensive tackle Cole Conrad #62 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers and offensive lineman Nick Gates #68 lead the team on the field against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Memorial Stadium on November 24, 2017 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Eric Francis/Getty Images) /

ALL-TIME LEADERS IN RUSHING YARDS – NUMBER 6: REX BURKHEAD (3,329)

Nebraska Running Back from 2009-2012

Splitting half of his college career between the Big 12 and Big Ten, Rex Burkhead is sixth all-time in rushing yards for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Burkhead had a nice four-year career in Lincoln, rushing for 3,329 yards off of 635 carries and had 30 rushing touchdowns and five receiving scores.

Burkhead was a fan favorite during his time at Nebraska (he’s still a fan favorite actually) and for good reason. As a sophomore in 2010, Burkhead rushed for 951 yards and seven touchdowns in what was Nebraska’s final year in the Big 12.

In their first Big Ten season in 2011, Burkhead rushed for 1,357 yards and 15 touchdowns and also had two receiving touchdowns. While injuries plagued Burkhead as a senior in 2012, he still rushed for 675 yards and five touchdowns in a year that saw the Cornhuskers win the Big Ten “Legends” division.

Burkhead went on to be drafted in the sixth round by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2013, where he spent the first four years of his career. He became a bigger name in 2017 when he signed with the New England Patriots and got to play in a Super Bowl with them (though in a losing effort).

It’s interesting to think about had Rex Burkhead not gotten hurt in 2012 how much higher on this list he’d have been. He’d likely have cracked the top five, but he still goes down as one of the best running backs Nebraska has ever had.

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