Honors & Awards

  • University of Nebraska Graduate (1998)
  • Free-Agent Signee with the Houston Oilers (1996)
  • Member of Two Nebraska National Championship Teams (1994, 1995)
  • Honorable-Mention All-Big Eight (Coaches, 1995)

Career

Jeff Makovicka had a successful career as a fullback as he rushed for 902 yards on 143 attempts, averaging 6.3 yards each time he touched the ball. He scored six touchdowns, including three his sophomore year. He was backup to Cory Schlesinger in 1994 when Nebraska won its third national title, and was the Husker starter in 1995 when NU repeated as champions. In 41 games and 143 attempts, Makovicka lost only 14 yards rushing.

1995 (Senior)

Makovicka earned honorable-mention All-Big Eight honors from the league coaches in 1995 as he rushed for 371 yards on 63 carries and one touchdown as Nebraska's starting fullback. He played in 11 games, starting 10 and averaged 33.7 yards per game and 5.9 per carry. He also caught one pass for 10 yards (against Colorado). His one touchdown was a 13-yard run against Arizona State. He set two career highs with a 54 yard run against Washington State and 64 yards in the game (on four carries). He had a career-best nine carries against Michigan State and carried at least four times in every game, and rushed for 25 yards or more in eight games and at least 15.

1994 (Junior)

After splitting time between I-back and fullback in 1993, Makovicka concentrated on fullback in 1994 and although he served as Cory Schlesinger's backup, he was a valuable factor in Nebraska's success. The junior walk-on played in every game and rushed 47 times for 321 yards. He averaged 6.8 yards per carry and 26.8 per game, scored two touchdowns and was never tagged for a loss. He also caught one pass (against Oklahoma State) for a five-yard gain. Makovicka rushed for over 50 yards three times on the season; 3-59 against Pacific, 7-50 against UCLA and 7-56 and a touchdown against Kansas State. Against the No. 16 Wildcats, all of Makovicka's 56 yards came in the fourth quarter. His 15-yard touchdown gave Nebraska a 14-6 lead in the 17-6 victory which saw walk-on Matt Turman start at quarterback. On the season, he and his counterpart, Schlesinger, combined to rush for 777 yards on 110 carries, an average of 7.1 yards per carry with six touchdowns and just three yards lost. Their combined total was just 104 yards short of Tom Rathman's fullback record of 881 yards in 1985. A special team member, Makovicka had three tackles. He also had one kickoff return against Missouri for 10 yards. In the 1995 Orange Bowl against Miami, Makovicka played but did not have any carries.

1993 (Sophomore)

Makovicka played in all 11 games and had 22 carries for 165 yards and three touchdowns for a 7.5 average per carry and 15 yards per game. He also caught one pass for four yards and had two tackles as a member of the Husker special teams. He had a then-career-long 30-yard touchdown against Texas Tech; and a then-career-high 7-62 against Colorado State with a 22-yard touchdown. He also scored a TD against Missouri. He caught one pass for a four-yard gain against Oklahoma and had two solo tackles on special teams including one for a 5-yard loss. In the 1994 Orange Bowl against Florida State, Makovicka carried twice for seven yards.

1992 (Freshman)

A reserve I-back, Makovicka played in seven games as a redshirt freshman and traveled to the Federal Express Orange Bowl but did not play against Florida State. On the season, he carried the ball 11 times for 45 net yards, losing just one yard for a 4.1 average per play.

East Butler High School

An I-back and linebacker for the 1989 and 1990 D-1 state championship teams, Makovicka rushed for 1,850 yards in 1989 and amassed 4,000 yards in his four-year career. He was a two-year all-state player, set three state playoff records, broke two Eight-Man All-Star Game records and rushed for 1,000-plus yards in two different seasons.

Personal

Born in Rochester, Minn., on Sept. 24, 1972, Jeff is the son of John and Connie Makovicka. His younger brother, Joel, also played for the Huskers. Jeff majored in health, physical education and recreation and graduated with a bachelor's degree from Nebraska in 1998. He was a volunteer speaker for the National American Education Week and the Omaha Youth Rap Session in 1993 and 1994 and with the Golden Key Best of America program in 1993.

Makovicka's Career Statistics

 Rushing             
 Year
G/S Att. Yds. Y/A Y/G LP TD
 1991 Redshirted            
 1992 7/0 11 45 4.1 6.4 9 vs. Middle Tennessee State 0
 1993 11/0 22 165 7.5 15.0 30 vs. Texas Tech 3
 1994 12/0 47 321 6.8 26.8 50 vs. Pacific 2
 1995 11/10 63 371 5.9 33.7 54 vs. Washington State 1
 Totals 41/10 143 902 6.3 22.0 54 vs. Wasington State 6

Tackles: 2 UT, 0 AT, 2 TT, 1 tackle for 5-yards lost in 1993; 1 UT, 2 AT, 3 TT in 1994
Receiving: 1-4 in 1993; 1-5 in 1994
Kickoff Returns: 1-10 in 1994

1994 Orange Bowl vs. Florida State: Rushing, 2-7
1995 Orange Bowl vs. Miami: Rushing, None
1996 Fiesta Bowl vs. Florida: Rushing, 6-32-0; Receptions, 1-8-0