Irving Fryar Season 1981
#27Honors & Awards
- Drafted No. 1 Overall by the New England Patriots
- 1983 First-Team All-American (AP, UPI, Walter Camp, Kodak, Football Writers, Football News, Sporting News)
- 1983 First-Team All-Big 8 (AP, UPI)
- 1983 Two-Time Husker Player-of-the-Week (Minnesota, Missouri)
- 1983 Big 8 Player-of-the-Week (Minnesota)
- 1983 Chevrolet Player-of-the-Game (Missouri)
- 1982 Second-Team All-Big 8 (AP, UPI)
- 1982 Two-Time Husker Player-of-the-Week (Iowa, Iowa State)
Part of Nebraska’s “Triplets” with Turner Gill and Mike Rozier, Fryar became the 17th player in Nebraska history to be selected in the first round of the NFL draft and the Husker’s first overall No. 1 selection when the New England Patriots made him the first selection in the draft. With Fryar’s selection as the top NFL pick and Mike Rozier being the top pick of USFL, the “Jersey Jets” swept the top spots in the pro football drafts. The most explosive player at Nebraska since the days of Johnny Rodgers, Fryar was a consensus All-American as a senior, becoming only the second receiver since the dawn of two-platoon football to earn consensus All-American honors while playing on a team that led the county in rushing (NU’s Freeman White was the first in 1965). Despite playing on team that led the county in rushing twice and finished second once, Fryar still wound up second all-time at Nebraska in receiving yardage (1,196) and in a tie for sixth in catches with 67.
As a senior, Fryar ranked second in the conference in all-purpose yardage (1,267 yards, 105.6 per game), fifth in punt returns (6.3 average on 18 returns), sixth in receiving (40 catches for 780 yards), and eighth in scoring (64 points, 5.3 per game). Helped boost an already healthy team rushing average by gaining 318 yards on just 23 carries (13.8 average) Top game of his career, yardage-wise, came against Minnesota, when he earned Big 8 player-of-the-week honors after piling up 253 all-purpose yards against the Gophers, rushing for 92 yards on three carries (and a 41-yard TD), catching two passes for a position-record 138 yards and two touchdowns (68 and 70 yards), and returning three punt for 23 yards. Picked up Chevrolet player-of-the-game honors for his seven catches (good for 95 yards and two touchdowns) on national television against Missouri. Those seven catches were his career high. Grabbed at leas one pass in every game except vs. Syracuse, when he left early in the first quarter after suffering a concussion.
One of the fasts Huskers in history, Fryar covered the 40 in an electronically-timed 4.43 seconds. Also had a vertical leap of 37 inches and 315 pound bench press. Led the league in punt returns as sophomore and junior before turning the lead over to teammate Jeff Smith as a senior. Returned three punts for touchdowns in his career. Set a freshmen team recorded with 432 yards receiving for unbeaten 1980 squad. Son of David and Ailene Fryar and was born Sept. 28, 1962.
Fryar’s Career Receiving Statistics
| Year | No. | Yds. | Y/R | Long | TDs |
| 1981 | 3 | 70 | 23.1 | 49 | 1 |
| 1982 | 24 | 346 | 14.4 | 41 | 2 |
| 1983 | 40 | 780 | 19.5 | 70 | 8 |
| Totals | 67 | 1,196 | 17.9 | 70 | 11 |
Fryar's Career Rushing Receiving Statistics
| Year | Att. | Gain | Loss | Net | Avg. | Long | TDs |
| 1980 | 2 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 7.0 | 11 | 0 |
| 1981 | 7 | 30 | 4 | 26 | 3.7 | 9 | 1 |
| 1982 | 20 | 253 | 8 | 245 | 12.3 | 45 | 2 |
| 1983 | 23 | 318 | 0 | 318 | 13.8 | 54 | 2 |
| Totals | 52 | 615 | 12 | 603 | 11.6 | 54 | 5 |
Fryar's Career Punt Returns Statistics
| Year | No. | Yds. | Avg. | Long | TDs |
| 1981 | 24 | 318 | 13.3 | 82 | 2 |
| 1982 | 18 | 277 | 15.4 | 70 | 1 |
| 1983 | 18 | 113 | 6.3 | 15 | 0 |
| Totals | 60 | 708 | 11.8 | 82 | 3 |
Fryar's Career Kickoff Returns Statistics
| Year | No. | Yds. | Avg. | Long | TDs |
| 1980 | 1 | 26 | 26.0 | 26 | 0 |
| 1981 | 4 | 55 | 18.3 | 22 | 0 |
| 1982 | 4 | 125 | 31.3 | 58 | 0 |
| 1983 | 2 | 56 | 28.0 | 34 | 0 |
| Totals | 11 | 262 | 23.8 | 58 | 0 |
Fryar's Career All-Purpose Yards Statistics
| Year | No. | Yds. | Avg. |
| 1980 | 3 | 40 | 13.3 |
| 1981 | 38 | 469 | 12.3 |
| 1982 | 66 | 993 | 15.0 |
| 1983 | 83 | 1,267 | 15.3 |
| Totals | 190 | 2,769 | 14.6 |
Fryar's Career Scoring Statistics
| Year | TD | 2 Pt. Conv. | TP |
| 1981 | 4 | 0 | 24 |
| 1982 | 5 | 0 | 30 |
| 1983 | 10 | 2 | 64 |
| Totals | 19 | 2 | 118 |
Bowl Statistics
1982 Orange Bowl vs. Clemson: Passing 1-0-0-0.
1983 Orange Bowl vs. LSU: Rushing 2-12; Receiving 5-84; Punt Returns 2-56; Kickoff Returns 1-18.
1984 Orange Bowl vs. Miami: Rushing 2-4; Receiving 5-61; Punt Returns 3-21; Kickoff Returns 2-44.