Kenny Brown Season 1979

Honors & Awards

• 1980 10th Round NFL Draft Pick (Minnesota Vikings, 258th Overall)
• 2009 Nebraska Football Hall of Fame Inductee
• 1979 All-Big Eight (Omaha World-Herald)
• 1978 All-Big Eight (Omaha World-Herald)
• 1979 Big Eight Offensive Player-of-the-Week (Week 6 vs. Oklahoma State)
• 1979 Nebraska Defensive Player-of-the-Game (Week 6 vs. Oklahoma State)

1979 (Senior)
For two years, 1978 and 1979, Brown was the Huskers triple threat man–run, receive and return. Kenny was a two year first team All-Big Eight performer. In 1979 he rushed for 168 yards on 26 carries and scored once, caught 15 passes for 164 yards and scored once, he also returned 23 punts for 125 yards and a touchdown along with 11 kickoff returns for 250 yards. 

Kenny returned a 80 yard punt for a touchdown against New Mexico State. Against Oklahoma State he rushed for 11 yards on just eight carries, caught three passes for 33 and returned two punts for five yards and one kickoff for 19 yards, he was named the Big Eight and Nebraska Offensive Player-of-the-Week. Kenny helped Nebraska to a 10-2 finish in 1979.

1978 (Junior)
Brown was Nebraska’s top wingback and return specialist. In ‘78, Brown had 28 catches for 410 yards and two touchdowns, second highest on the team, and he rushed for 139 yards on 25 carries and one score. He was an excellent return man, Brown ran back 19 punts for 278 yards, a 14.6 average which ranked him third in the country, and one touchdown, a 52 yarder against Hawaii. He also returned 14 kickoffs for 248 yards, with an average of 17.7 yards. His long return was also against Hawaii (24 yards).

Nebraska finished the season with a 9-3 record and an appearance in the Orange Bowl against Oklahoma.

1977 (Sophomore)
Brown earned another varsity letter as a freshman, playing behind Curtis Craig. Nebraska finished the season with a 9-3 record and a Liberty Bowl win over North Carolina, 21-17. 

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

1975 (Freshman)
In 1975 as a freshman, Kenny played with the varsity and ended up earning his first letter. 

Elder High School (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Kenny was a great high school athlete, earning All-American honors in both football and basketball, His football coach was Ken Haupt. Brown was also drafted out of high school by the Cincinnati Reds. Kenny was a physical education major and is the son of Frank and Mattie Brown.