Special-Teams Records / Individual  

Return to 2001 records index

(all records since 1946 unless noted otherwise, bowls not included)

PUNTING / GAME

Punts: 18; Paul Dobson, P, vs. Notre Dame, Nov. 28, 1918

Highest Average (min. 3 punts): 57.6; Dan Hadenfeldt, P,

vs. Colorado, Nov. 26, 1999 (7 punts, 403 yards)

Longest Nebraska Punt: 87; Mike Stigge, P, vs. Okla. State, Oct. 10, 1992

Top 10 Longest Punts

1. 87 Mike Stigge, P, vs. Oklahoma State, Oct. 10, 1992

2. 74 Jesse Kosch, P, vs. Arizona State, Sept. 16, 1995

3. 73 Darin Erstad, P, at Oklahoma, Nov. 25, 1994

73 Dan Hadenfeldt, P, vs. California, Nov. 26, 1999

5. 70 Dan Wingard, P, at Missouri, Oct. 19, 1985

6. 69 Grant Campbell, P, at Iowa State, Nov. 13, 1982

7. 68 Kyle Larson, P, vs. Oklahoma, Oct. 27, 2001

68 Darin Erstad, P, vs. Kansas, Nov. 5, 1994

68 Grant Campbell, P, vs. Iowa State, Nov. 14, 1981

68 Randy Lessman, P, at Oklahoma State, Oct. 18, 1974

68 Mike Stigge, P, vs. Washington, Sept. 21, 1991

Bowl Game Record

62 Grant Campbell, P, vs. Clemson, Jan. 1, 1982, Orange Bowl

PUNTING / SEASON

Punts: 69; Dana Stephenson, CB/P, 1967 (35.1 avg.)

Highest Average (min. 30 punts): 44.98; Dan Hadenfeldt, P,

1999 (2,924 yards, 65 punts)

Top 10 Seasons, Punting Average

1. 44.98 Dan Hadenfeldt, P, 1999 (2,924 yards, 65 punts)

2. 44.94 Bill Lafleur, P, 1998 (2,337 yards, 52 punts)

3. 44.70 Jesse Kosch, P, 1996 (1,967 yards, 44 punts)

4. 43.79 Dan Hadenfeldt, P, 2000 (1,708 yards, 39 punts)

5. 43.36 Grant Campbell, P, 1981 (1,821 yards, 42 punts)

6. 43.21 Mike Stigge, P, 1992 (2,290 yards, 53 punts)

7. 42.60 Darin Erstad, P, 1994 (2,130 yards, 50 punts)

8. 42.52 Kyle Larson, P, 2001 (2,381 yards, 56 punts)

9. 42.04 Dan Wingard, P, 1985 (1,934 yards, 46 punts)

10. 42.03 Mike Stigge, P, 1991 (1,639 yards, 39 punts)

PUNTING / CAREER

Punts: 167; Mike Stigge, P, 1989-90-91-92 (41.75 avg.)

Highest Average (min. 100 punts): 44.54; Dan Hadenfeldt, P,

1997-98- 99-00 (4,632 yards, 104 punts)

Top 10 Careers, Punting Average

1. 44.54 Dan Hadenfeldt, P, 1997-98-99-00 (4,632 yards, 104 punts)

2. 42.52 Kyle Larson, P, 2001 (2,381 yards, 56 punts)

3. 41.92 Jesse Kosch, P, 1994-95-96-97 (4,234 yards, 101 punts)

4. 41.75 Mike Stigge, P, 1989-90-91-92 (6,973 yards, 167 punts)

5. 41.04 Scott Livingston, P, 1982-83-84 (3,406 yards, 83 punts)

6. 41.00 Grant Campbell, P, 1980-81-82 (3,157 yards, 77 punts)

7. 40.44 Jack Pesek, P, 1946-47 (2,831 yards, 70 punts)

8. 40.18 Rich Sanger, P/PK, 1971-72-73 (4,259 yards, 106 punts)

9. 40.03 Tim Smith, P/SE, 1977-78-79 (6,005 yards, 150 punts)

10. 39.98 John Kroeker, P, 1986-87-88 (5,038 yards, 126 punts)

39.67 Randy Lessman, P, 1975-76 (6,545 yards, 165 punts)

PUNT RETURNS / GAME

Returns: 9; Dana Stephenson, CB/P, at TCU, Oct. 25, 1967 (68 yards)

Yards: 170; Johnny Rodgers, WB, at Oklahoma St., Oct. 23, 1971 (7 ret.)

Yards Per Return (min. 3 ret.): 37.00; Larry Wachholtz, S, vs. Colorado,

Oct. 23, 1965 (3 ret., 111 yards)

Touchdowns: 1; by several players, most recently

DeJuan Groce, RCB, vs. Miami, (Rose Bowl), Jan. 3, 2002 (71 yards);

DeJuan Groce, RCB, vs. Kansas State, (regular season) Nov. 10, 2001 (60 yards)

Longest Punt Return: 94 (TD); Bobby Newcombe, WB, vs. Missouri, Sept. 30, 2000

Longest Punt Return, No TD: 68; Corey Dixon, SE, at Colorado, Oct. 30, 1993

Top 10 Longest Punt Returns

1. 94 Bobby Newcombe, WB, vs. Missouri, Sept. 30, 2000 (TD)

2. 92 Johnny Rodgers, WB, at Oklahoma State, Oct. 23, 1971 (TD)

3. 87 Dave Butterfield, CB, vs. Texas Christian, Sept. 25, 1976 (TD)

4. 84 Pat Fischer, HB, vs. Oklahoma State, Nov. 12, 1960 (TD)

5. 82 Don Bloom, HB, vs. Kansas State, Nov. 6, 1948 (TD)

82 Ron Clark, HB, at Penn State, Oct. 15, 1949 (TD)

82 Irving Fryar, WB, at Hawaii, Dec. 4, 1982 (TD)

8. 80 Kenny Brown, WB, vs. New Mexico State, Oct. 6, 1979 (TD)

80 Rod Smith, SE, vs. Utah State, Sept. 5, 1987 (TD)

10. 79 Mike Fullman, CB, vs. Kansas State, Oct. 21, 1995 (TD)

Bowl Game Record

77 Johnny Rodgers, WB, vs. Alabama, Jan. 1, 1972 Orange Bowl (TD)

PUNT RETURNS / SEASON

Returns: 39; Johnny Rodgers, WB, 1972 (618 yards) Yards: 618; Johnny Rodgers, WB, 1972 (39 ret.)

Yards Per Return (min. 10 ret.): 20.33; Bobby Newcombe, WB, 1997 (12 returns, 244 yards)

Touchdowns: 3; Johnny Rodgers, WB, 1971

Top 10 Season Punt Return Yards

1. 618 Johnny Rodgers, WB, 1972 (39 ret.)

2. 548 Johnny Rodgers, WB, 1971 (33 ret.)

3. 469 DeJuan Groce, RCB, 2001 (33 ret.)

4. 452 Larry Wachholtz, S, 1965 (31 ret.)

5. 349 Johnny Rodgers, WB, 1970 (26 ret.)

6. 330 Dana Brinson, WB, 1986 (27 ret.)

7. 318 Irving Fryar, WB, 1981 (24 ret.)

8. 299 Larry Wachholtz, S, 1966 (29 ret.)

9. 294 Bobby Newcombe, WB, 1999 (16 ret.)

10. 285 Mike Fullman, CB, 1995 (21 ret.)

Note: Johnny Rodgers (1971) and Joe Walker (1998) are the only Huskers to return a punt and kickoff for a touchdown in the same season. In 1971, Rodgers had a 98-yard kickoff return against Texas A&M and three punt returns for touchdowns (92 at Oklahoma State, 62 vs. Iowa State, 72 vs. Oklahoma). In 1998, Walker tied an NCAA record by returning a punt, a kickoff and an interception for touchdown in the same season. Walker had a 99-yard kickoff return touchdown against Louisiana Tech, a 73-yard punt return for a touchdown against Oklahoma State and a 65-yard interception return at Iowa State.

PUNT RETURNS / CAREER

Returns: 98; Johnny Rodgers, WB, 1970-71-72 (1,515 yards)

Yards: 1,515; Johnny Rodgers, WB, 1970-71-72 (98 ret.)

Yards Per Return: 18.33; Pat Fischer, HB, 1958-59-60 (30 ret., 550 yards)

Touchdowns: 7; Johnny Rodgers, WB, 1970-71-72 (ties NCAA record)

Top 10 Career Punt Return Yards

1. 1,515 Johnny Rodgers, WB, 1970-71-72 (98 ret.)

2. 829 Bobby Newcombe, WB, 1997-98-99-00 (48 ret.)

3. 817 Tyrone Hughes, WB, 1989-90-91-92 (65 ret.)

4. 788 Larry Wachholtz, S, 1964-65-66 (62 ret.)

5. 767 Dana Brinson, WB, 1985-86-87-88 (77 ret.)

8. 708 Irving Fryar, WB, 1981-82-83 (60 ret.)

6. 665 Jeff Smith, IB, 1981-82-83-84 (44 ret.)

7. 653 Joe Walker, ROV, 1997-98-99-00 (78 ret.)

9. 550 Pat Fischer, HB, 1958-59-60 (30 ret.)

10. 539 Shevin Wiggins, WB, 1996-97-98 (41 ret.)

KICKOFF RETURNS / GAME

Returns: 7; Joe Walker, ROV, at Missouri, Nov. 8, 1997 (185 yards)

Yards: 185; Joe Walker, ROV, at Missouri, Nov. 8, 1997 (7 returns)

Yards Per Return (min. 3 ret.): 51.0; Tyrone Hughes, WB,

at Kansas State, Oct. 6, 1990 (3 ret., 153 yards)

Touchdowns: 1; by several players, most recently

Joe Walker, ROV, vs. Louisiana Tech, Aug. 29, 1998 (99 yards)

Longest Kickoff Return: 105 (TD); Owen Frank, B, vs. Kansas State, Oct. 14, 1911;

Modern record: 100 (TD); Ron Clark, HB, at Kansas State, Oct. 8, 1949

Top 10 Longest Kickoff Returns

1. 105 Owen Frank, B, vs. Kansas State, Oct. 14, 1911

2. 100 Ron Clark, HB, at Kansas State, Oct. 8, 1949

3. 99 Tyrone Hughes, WB, at Kansas State, Oct. 6, 1990

99 Joe Walker, ROV, vs. Louisiana Tech, Aug. 29, 1998

5. 98 Keith Jones, IB, vs. Kansas, Nov. 16, 1985

98 Johnny Rodgers, WB, vs. Texas A&M, Sept. 25, 1971

7. 93 Mike Rozier, IB, at Kansas State, Nov. 7, 1981

8. 92 Pat Fischer, HB, vs. Penn State, Sept. 20, 1958

92 Bob Smith, HB, at Missouri, Oct. 27, 1951

10. 89 Frank Solich, FB, vs. Oklahoma State, Nov. 14, 1964

Bowl Game Record

92 Willie Ross, HB, vs. Miami, Fla., Dec. 15, 1962, Gotham Bowl

KICKOFF RETURNS / SEASON

Returns: 25; Josh Davis, IB, 2001 (675 yards)

Yards: 675; Josh Davis, IB, 2001 (25 ret.)

Yards Per Return (min. 5 ret.): 33.71; Pat Fischer, HB, 1958 (7 ret., 236 yards)

Touchdowns: 1; by several players, most recently

Joe Walker, ROV, vs. Louisiana Tech, Aug. 29, 1998 (99 yards)

Top 10 Season Kickoff Return Yards

1. 675 Josh Davis, IB, 2001 (25 ret.)

2. 523 Tyrone Hughes, WB, 1990 (18 ret.)

3. 510 Dana Brinson, WB, 1988 (23 ret.)

4. 424 Tyrone Hughes, WB, 1992 (19 ret.)

5. 389 Joe Walker, ROV, 1997 (15 ret.)

6. 372 Frank Solich, FB, 1965 (17 ret.)

7. 366 Joe Walker, ROV, 1998 (17 ret.)

8. 359 Johnny Rodgers, WB, 1970 (17 ret.)

9. 338 Tyrone Hughes, WB, 1991 (16 ret.)

10. 332 Bob Smith, HB, 1950

KICKOFF RETURNS / CAREER

Returns: 53; Joe Walker, ROV, 1997-98-99-00 (1,159 yards)

Yards: 1,443; Tyrone Hughes, WB, 1989-90-91-92 (51 ret.)

Yards Per Return (min. 10 ret.): 27.00; Josh Davis, IB, 2000-01

(25 ret., 675 yards); 25.35; Pat Fischer, HB, 1958-59-60 (31 ret., 786 yards)

Touchdowns: 1; by several players, most recently Joe Walker, ROV, 1997-98-99-00

Top 10 Career Kickoff Return Yards

1. 1,443 Tyrone Hughes, WB, 1989-90-91-92 (51 ret.)

2. 1,159 Joe Walker, ROV, 1997-98-99-00 (53 ret.)

3. 1,154 Dana Brinson, WB, 1985-86-87-88 (51 ret.)

4. 847 Johnny Rodgers, WB, 1970-71-72 (35 ret.)

5. 818 Frank Solich, FB, 1963-64-65 (35 ret.)

6. 797 Ron Clark, HB, 1949-50-54

7. 786 Pat Fischer, HB, 1958-59-60 (31 ret.)

8. 783 Bob Smith, HB, 1951-52-53-54 (31 ret.)

9. 770 Damon Benning, IB, 1993-94-95-96 (32 ret.)

10. 763 Curtis Craig, HB, 1975-76-77 (32 ret.)

Source: University of Nebraska Athletic Dept.