Dana Brinson Season 1985

Honors & Awards
Nebraska Football Hall of Fame (2009)
First-Team All-Big Eight (Coaches, 1988)
Honorable-Mention All-Big Eight (UPI, 1988)
Eighth-Round NFL Draft Pick (San Diego Chargers, 1989)
San Diego Chargers (1989)

1988 (Senior)
One of the nation’s top return men, Dana Brinson set the Nebraska season and career records for kickoff returns and return yardage as a senior for the Big Eight champion Huskers. Brinson, who earned first-team All-Big Eight honors as a kick returner from the conference coaches, registered 23 returns for 510 yards (22.2 ypr) on the year to finish his career with 1,154 yards on 51 returns (22.6 ypr). Brinson added 196 yards on 21 punt returns (9.3 ypr), including the second punt return touchdown of his career. He also rushed 20 times for 84 yards and added 11 receptions for 148 yards (13.5 ypc) and another touchdown. He earned honorable-mention All-Big Eight recognition as a wingback from United Press International. He finished the season with 938 all-purpose yards. Brinson helped Nebraska claim the NCAA rushing title (382.3 ypg). The Huskers also ranked sixth nationally in scoring (39.5 ppg) and seventh in total offense (477.9 ypg). In the 1989 Orange Bowl against Miami, Brinson contributed two kickoff returns for 43 yards and managed one reception.

A four-time letterman, Brinson totaled 3,105 all-purpose yards on 259 touches in his career, including 1,154 kickoff return yards on 51 attempts, 767 punt return yards (2 TDs) on 77 attempts, 634 rushing yards (2 TDs) on 92 carries (6.9 ypc) and 550 receiving yards (3 TDs) on 39 receptions (14.1 ypc). Following his final year at Nebraska, Brinson competed in the Senior Bowl all-star game. He was an eighth-round pick of the San Diego Chargers in the NFL Draft (204th overall pick) and played for the Chargers in 1989. He had 17 carries for 64 yards, while adding 12 receptions for 71 yards. He also returned 11 punts for 112 yards over 10 games in his only NFL season. He played for the London Monarchs in the World League of American Football in 1991. He was inducted into the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame in 2009.

1987 (Junior)
Brinson amassed 990 all-purpose yards as a junior wingback for the Huskers in 1987. He ranked second in the Big Eight in kickoff return average (23.5 ypg), third in punt return average (10.1 ypg) and fifth in all-purpose yards. He added 13 receptions for 189 yards and a touchdown to tie for second on the team in receptions. He also contributed 250 rushing yards on 33 carries (7.6 ypc). Brinson uncorked two punt return touchdowns as a junior, including a 57-yarder against Utah State in the season opener and a 52-yarder against Florida State in the Fiesta Bowl. He added three kick returns for 68 yards while contributing two carries for 16 yards against the Seminoles. He helped the Big Red to a 10-2 overall record. Nebraska ranked second nationally in total offense (489.0 ypg), while ranking third in the NCAA in rushing (373.5 ypg) and scoring (38.5 ppg).

1986 (Sophomore)
Brinson led Nebraska with 14 receptions for 208 yards and one touchdown while leading the Big Eight in all-purpose yards with 1,104 (101.3 ypg). He also led the conference by averaging 7.7 yards per carry with 286 yards and two touchdowns on 37 attempts. He ranked seventh nationally in punt return average (12.2 ypr) with 330 yards on 27 returns. He helped the Huskers to an appearance in the 1987 USF&G Sugar Bowl, where they defeated LSU 30-15. He had five carries for four yards while adding one reception for four yards against the Tigers. Nebraska finished second nationally in rushing offense (305.5 ypg) and third in scoring (37.8 ppg).

1985 (Redshirt Freshman)
In his second season at Nebraska, Brinson earned his first varsity letter. He recorded two carries for 14 yards, while adding one reception for five yards. He added a 35-yard kickoff return and returned seven punts for 19 yards to finish with 73 all-purpose yards.

1984 (Medical Redshirt)
A scholarship recruit, Brinson played two games for the Husker freshman team before being sidelined with meningitis. He was granted a medical hardship.

Valdosta High School
Brinson rushed for 954 yards and registered 500 receiving yards to help Valdosta High School finish with an 11-1 record as a senior in 1983. Brinson’s three teams at Valdosta combined for a 37-3 record and won a state title while adding two regional championships. 

Personal
The son of Leonard and Beaulah Brinson, Dana was born in Valdosta, Ga. He was a consumer science major at Nebraska.