Bill Barnett Season 1979

Honors & Awards

• 1980 3rd Round NFL Draft Pick (Miami Dolphins, 75th Overall)
• 1979 Second Team All-Big Eight 
• 1979 First Team Academic All-Big Eight (UPI, AP)
• 1979 Nebraska Defensive Player-of-the-Week (Week 6 vs. Oklahoma State and Week 8 vs. Missouri)
• 1979 Co-Nebraska Weightlifter-of-the-Year
• 1978 Co-Nebraska Weightlifter-of-the-Year

1979 (Senior)
Bill was a three-year letterman at Nebraska, He finished the season with 47 tackles, including 26 unassisted, seven stops behind the line for a loss  of 31 yards, three fumble recoveries and two passes broken up. For his efforts he earned second team All-Big Eight honors and first team Academic All-Big Eight. He helped Nebraska to a 10-2 finish and a Cotton Bowl appearance against Houston in 1979.

1978 (Junior)
As a part time starter, Barnett had 44 tackles, including four stops behind the line for a loss of 26 yards, while recovering one fumble. Bill's best game came against Iowa State where he finished with five tackles, including four solo, and one stop behind the line for a loss of 11 yards. Nebraska finished the season with a 9-3 record and an appearance in the Orange Bowl against Oklahoma.

1977 (Sophomore)
Barnett was a part-time starter and letterman in 1977, but broke his leg that kept him out for almost half the season. He finished with 16 tackles, five unassisted and one tackle for a loss of one yard. Bill helped the Huskers finish with a 9-3 record and a Liberty Bowl win against North Carolina, 21-17.

1976 (Redshirt)
Bill redshirted his second season as a Husker. 

1975 (Freshman)
Barnett played with the undefeated 1977 Husker freshman team after missing his initial freshman season in 1974 because of a broken leg suffered in the Minnesota Shrine game. 

Stillwater High School (Afton, Minn.)
Bill earned All-American and All-State honors at Stillwater High School under Coach George Thole, also lettered in hockey in high school. Bill was an advertising major and is the son of Robert and Bernice Burnett. Bill played six seasons for the Miami Dolphins, starting nine games and finishing with 13 tackles.