Football
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Keith Wortman Season 1971

#65
PositionRG
Weight238 lbs
Height6-3
YearSenior
HometownWhittier, Calif.

Honors & Awards

  • 10-Year NFL Career (Packers, Cardinals, 1972-81)
  • 10th Round NFL Draft Pick (Green Bay Packers, 1972)
  • Letterman on Nebraska's 1970 and 1971 National Championship Teams

Career Summary
Keith Wortman was a two-year letterman as an offensive guard on Nebraska's 1970 and 1971 national championship teams. Wortman, who started for Hall of Fame Coach Bob Devaney's Cornhuskers as a senior guard in 1971, never lost a game during his two years at NU after transferring from Rio Hondo Community College.

The 6-3, 237-pounder from Whittier, Calif., helped the Huskers to a 24-0-1 record during his NU career, including a perfect 13-0 season as a starter in 1971.

Following his national championship career at Nebraska, Wortman was chosen in the 10th round of the 1972 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers. He spent four seasons with the Packers from 1972 to 1975, before spending his final six seasons in the league with the St. Louis Cardinals. He played a total of 97 games during his NFL career.

Senior (1971)
In his only season as a starter, Wortman helped the Huskers to their second straight national championship with a perfect 13-0 record. He helped NU's offense rank third nationally in scoring offense with 39.1 points per game, while ranking eighth nationally in total offense with 437.7 yards per contest.

One of the most dominant teams in college football history, Nebraska was only threatened by No. 2 Oklahoma, which fell 35-31 to NU on Nov. 25 in Norman, Okla. Nebraska's next closest margin of victory came with a 31-7 win over No. 9 Colorado on Oct. 30. The Huskers cruised to a 38-6 win over No. 2 Alabama in the 1972 Orange Bowl national championship game.

Junior (1970)
Wortman helped the Huskers capture their first national championship as one of NU's top reserves on the offensive line, serving behind starter Dick Rupert at guard.

The 1970 Cornhuskers produced an 11-0-1 record with their only blemish coming in a 21-21 early season tie at No. 3 USC on Sept. 19. NU claimed the national title with a 17-12 win over LSU in the 1971 Orange Bowl, after defeating Oklahoma 28-21 to win the Big Eight crown.

Wortman helped the Huskers rank second nationally in scoring offense at 37.2 points per game, while ranking 11th in the nation in total offense at 421.3 yards per contest.

Rio Hondo Community College
Wortman was an All-Southern California Conference lineman at Rio Hondo.

Personal
The son of Mr. and Mrs. A.H. Wortman, Keith Delane Wortman was born July 30, 1950, in Billings, Mont. He lettered in football and wrestling at Whittier High School in California. He was a public relations/business administration major at Nebraska.